The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-18
BIG PAY FAILS TO HOLD
GIRLS AT WAR WORK
lezr. washington Of Prohbfe Cos.
e. Recreatson Froneh
lnsorse

crowded. Even standing room LIS at a
premium On Washington trolifys IN
these days
Two girl stenogrpahsrs we're com
rarins notes the other day, while
watching a Liberty loan parade Their
salaries al home appropriated ~
glgss wear. Their salaries here ara
81 .4ea Both discovered that at the
end Of a month they had less spend
ing money than they did before they
came TO washington
The nigh prices are one trouble
The crowded living conditions are an
other. The red tape Of the government
* stfl another There is lack OF
teamwork among the government ce-
parments which are concerned IN the
employment OF these girls and women.
There is. TOO, rigidity about civil
service rules that does not 1T in win
government needs for help, in many
cases. A great many girls who are
doing work that is entirely satisfactory
10 their superiors leave the service
because they cannot obtain the neces-
sary percentage on civil service ex-
aminations.
There are many. for instance. who
are required to take examinations Tor
typ;st-clerks, that is. CLERKS with a
knowledge Of typewriting- In their
employment by the government Jney
are not required to use typewriter
at all. but in their civil service tests
they must demonstrate certain &c
gree Of proficiency in using it, IN
this and in other ways the civil Serv-
ice rules do not make it easy for the
government TO keep needed clerks.
Il is true that good many girls
have come 10 Washington merely In
gpirit OF adventure. They want TO 90
their bit for the government and then
20 away. They never intended TO stay
during the hot weather and they 20
not take the work seriously But their
number is small minority OF the
total who have come here. Most OF
the women and girls have come here
with the serious intention OF staying
so long as the war work lasts. not only
animated by spirit Of patriotism, but
also attracted by good salaries. They
do not understand before they come
that it costs more money to 1--we than
IL did at home, or that crowded
Washington is not congeniai place
for the stranger 10 live. Lots OF them
get homesick. of course; but there
would be more who resisted the nome
sickness IL the government and the
city itself made things a little easier
Government regulation Of rents VIII
help some. Government construction
of living quarters for war workers,
which will soon come. will De an ad-
dttionaI help. But unless the people
of the city itself help to make Things
easier and less expensive for the girl
army. even the government will not
be able 10 solve the present problem.
In order to keep the girl war workers
on the Job, Washington at least ought
to rival the attractions OF home IN
supplying good living quarters at lair
prices
There is a big opportunity, both Tor
the government and the people OF the
city. to get together and work out
this war-gfrl problem. which is grow
ing more complicated and trouble
some instead of simpler. II 10000
more employees are wanted by next
December. most of whom win be
girls. big scheme Of Improvement IN
present living conditions will have TO
be worked out Advertisements on
movie screens all over the country
that the government needs war work
ers will bring plenty OF girls TO wash
ington. but the advertisements viii
not keep them here