Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01

dives on the sa,ary received sseOre COM
Ing. ,,,--,. .....s;.,..s !
seriously object TO being catfed un-
patriotic BY ono who has evidently NO
conception Of the patriotism OF the real
s'native" who has lived in the shadow
Of the Capitol from infancy. When the
prices of rooms in other cities are COM
pared to those of our own city we ma
that Washingtonians are not gouglnG
to the bone" the newcomer THAT the na-
|tives'' are accused Of fattening on
In justification Of these same natives
please let me say we are not trying to
abstract" from the newcomer prices "A
5000 official could pay" nor are. We
animated by the buccaneerin1 spirit
The Star signed Lura e. Headle.
Allow me to cite few facts concern
ing conditions that have evidently been
overlooked. In the first place, there are
many homes in the northwest that are
the homes of private families. lawyers.
doctors. Army officers, high officials and
retired business men. who do not find 1t
necessary to rent rooms as source OF
income Are they to be denied the privt-
lege of living as private families? Sure
" not. Let us, then, consider the board
ing house keeper. generally woman
battling for the necessities of lie not
only for herself, but for child or two.
The business world has no place for
perience; she turns, therefore. to room
renting as a means of support, just as
the clerk seeks an office. She finds
house which rents for $40. having
twelve rooms flour small. six 1arge),
and q dining room and kitchen. She
must invest in furniture II she does not
happen to have enough for twelve
rooms, and she must reserve three
rooms. at least. for her own use. leay-
ing nine rooms to rent for an income.
For the four small rooms she can get
Sc each per month, for the six large
rooms she can get $15 when occupied
by one person, or $40 if she is fortunate
enough to find two people to rent them.
A maid will cost her $40 a month, If
she finds one who will work for that
The gas bill will be no less than 81.
Wear and tear on her furniture, replen-
ishing the linen, with other inciden-
tails will amount to $40. Add to this
bill of So. with the coal bill of
$50. We find the total expense to be
$50. including $40 rent. The total in
come is 1924, so that the housekeeper
a month of hard work. il every one
pays.
The housekeeper must pay the grocer
out Of this. likewise buy the clothes for
herself or those supported by her.
The clerk with a salary Of $75 ana
an expense Of $50 for room and board.
with SO for incidentals, has SIS left
for herself: and upon investigation it
will be found that the average typist's
salary is ss5. with many getting 500.
On these facts base my statement
that the housekeeper in Washington
finds 1t far more difficult to live on the
income from her rooming house than
the clerk does on her salary. with the
salary as low as SIS.
The "old residents" are not the Of
tenders. but a community Of people
most grossly offended, whose patriot
ism has been criticised by the "stran-
gers within our gates" who have
that Westinghouse would gladly ac-
cept at the insufficient salary of SIS.
The newcomer forgets there are thou
sands of old residents with homes al
ready esta blished here who sought po-
sftions and could not get them and who
were willing to accept salary as low
as $50. who would consider themselves
fortunate In being a part of this great
government. besides being able to give
the bare necessities OF life and a few
comforts to those dependent upon them.
The natives" as we are called, feel
the congested condition as well as the
newcomers, Rents have increased.
owner finds expenses greater, ana is
thus forced to ask a small amount more
rent But that is the least Of the .old
residents" problems.
This is not a BRIEF protecting real es-
tate owners or boosting District appoint
nents. but 1t appears to me the newcomer
Is trying to persuade the native that pa
triotism means taking the newcomers in
and doing for them for the pleasure of
their company. Room-renting to the ma
tive Is just as unpleasant as room-seek-
Ing is to the newcomer many times es-
pecially when the room-renting is not prof
table. There seems to be, in the mind
Of the newcomer. no reason for the old
adage. Live and let live
This is not a personal kick on my
part for am not hunting for new
corners to 'gouge." The newcomers fail
to remember that they are mot ordered
here. but come for the qualification OF
personal benefits derived from coming. &
hardly think the letters sent home by those
who are here will prevent the government
from being able to secure any number Of
clerks that might be needed. It win not
DO necessary to censor the outgoing
mall
The opportunity to live in Washington Is
not lightly refused by any one Wash
ington is wonderfully attractive to every
American citizen and Is in the ''1imelight."
not only for trying to extract exorbitant
rent from the terribly abused, undergrad
clerks who rush here. but on account Of
the proper appreciation" the world has
Tor the President Of this great republic,
the Stars and Stripes that float above us
and the "buccaneering spirit Of the pop
pie who back up their President in his
principles for the cause Of humanity.
FLORENCE L. CHAMBERS