The Washington herald., 1918-06-20
HOUSING PUT
UP TO WILSON
BY PRESIDENT
Secretary Of Labor to Ad-
ministcr $60,000,-
600 Fund.

Full charge OF the housing problem
was vested In Secretary of Labor
Wilson. under the Overman act, by
President Wilson In an executive or
der issued yesterday.
Work will be begun Immediately
on the various projects which have
been under consideration, by the Blu.
reau Of Industrial Housing and
Transportation of the department, ac-
cording to a statement issaed by the
Department of Labor yesterday.
The Bureau Of Industrial Housing
and Transportation, Of which Otto
NJ. Eidlitz was appointed director in
March by Secretary Wilson, will be
in charge Of the administration of the
appropriation OF $50. .oOo. 900, $4,000. 600 of
which Is for housing within the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Presidents Order.
The executive order announces:
"T hereby direct that the Secretary
Of Labor shall have and exercise all
powers and authority invested in me
by act OF Congress entitled An act
to authorize the President to pro-
vide for housing for war needs" ap-
proved May 16. 1913, and by the act
Of Congress entitled An act maxi
ing appropriations to supply addi-
tional urgent deficiencies in appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1913, on account OF war ex-
penses and otherpurposes.' approved
June 4. 1918, in SO far as same relates
to housing forvar needs"
Proposed sites. o.
A site on the Plaza, near the Union
Depot, will probably be accepted for
one Of the housing operations, ac-
cording to Mr.. Eidlitz. Another site
is on Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth
streets adjoining the War Industries
Board.
The plans. according to Mr.. Ed
litz. contemplate the erection of COM
Portable, sanitary, single-room DOR
mitories for women. Cafeterias will
be conducted In connection with the
buildings, and there will be ample
recreation facilities and safeguards
for health and comfort.
Five thousand women will be ac-
commodated in the building to be
erected on these two sites.
A loan will probably be made to
the National Y. w. c. A. by means
of which 1t will be able to take care
Of $50 women at the site on the
Plaza.
May Aid Y. N. G. A.
The bureau has under considera-
tion a similar loan to the Y. N. c.
A. for the purpose of building dor
mitories to accomodate $50 men at
1874 to 1892 G street.
Plans for permanent housing have
not been announced as yet, but Mr..
Eidlitz indicates that his organiza-
tion expects to erect permanent
houses for the use Of workers in
the Navy Department Munitions
workers are also to be housed. The
bureau is making Investigations and
will be ready to aid housing in the
following places:
Bath. Me-; Bethlehem, Pa: Bridge
port, Conn: Charleston, W. Va:
Erie. Pa; Norfolk. Va: Portsmouth.
N. H.; Portsmouth. Va; Rock Island,
Moline, E. Moline, ILL.,: Davenport.
Ia; Quincy. Mass; watertown. N.
rs Indian Head. Nd; New Bruns-
wick. N. j.; New London, Conn.
Mare Island. Cal; Philadelphia. Pa.
Puget Sound. Wash: Niagara Falls,
N. Y: Alliance. Ohio: Hapmond.
Ind; Sharon. Pa: Niles, Warren,
Ohio; Lowell, Mass: Aberdeen, Nd;
Newport, r. !.
The War Industries Board will CO.
operate with the Department of La
Dor in granting priorities for ma
tertals needed for the housing con-
struction. The Railroad Admins
tration will rush shipments.