Evening star., 1918-11-21
HERE
OPEN SOLDIERS
Nearly An Business Houses
Have Vacancies, Says
Mt. Columbus.
CIVIL SERVICE TO HELP
CIVIL SERVICE TO HELP

~-~-V
ment to soldiers returning from
camp, Charles J. Columbus. secretary
Of the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, stated today.
The government, both in Washing
ton and throughout the country, also
has many opportunities to offer men
about to be discharged from the mill
tary service. according to an official
Of the Civil Service Commission.
The commission today invited men
in nearby camps and cantonments to
visit civil service headquarters, 1874
F street. and examine the list Of po-
sitions in which vacancies now exist
or are likely to exist in the near
future.
Soldiers not in the vicinity Of Wash
ington may write to the headquarters
of the commission here for this in
formation or they may obtain it, at
the post Office in almost any large
city. The civil service commission
posts Its opportunities in 5000 impor-
tant cities.
Will Retain Many Newcomers.
Discussing the question Of finding
jobs for soldiers from q local stand-
point. Mr.. Columbus predicted that
Washington will retain a large per-
centage OF the new population which
was brought to the city by tho war.
Take the building trades for an
example," :" said Mr.. Columbus. THE
city needs more homes to house its
growing population, and that will
make a great deal Of work for the
building trades. Business generally
will enjoy a perio1 Of activity that
will not be temporary.
in washington that does not need
more help, and. needless to say. they
will offer their opportunities to re-
turning soldiers. Each business head
will be glad to get back his old EN-
ployes who answered the call to the
colors, because those men are already
experienced"
MI. Peyser Expects Many to Stay.
Capt julius L Peyser. chief Of the
housing and health division Of the
War Department, also expressed the
opinion today that Washington will
retain the present increased popula-
complete figures being compiled by
Capt Peyser's office show that there
are in the neighborhood Of 125,000
government employees in Washington,
not, counting Army men detailed here.
Process One Of Absorption.
Business men here universally de-
clare that tho whole process of read
tustment will be largely one Of alb
sorption; that present meager work.
ing forces would leave plenty of va
cancies for tho returning soldiers If
there were no other factors and that
the employers will welcome with
open arms" former soldiers who left
to wear the khaki.
The entire reabsorption Of former
employees will take place, all agree,
with practically no discharge Of new
employees added since tho war began.
I'VE expect to take hack all our
clerks who went into the SERVICE" an
official of the Southern railway de-
clared today. I'm fact, we will well
come with open arms our former
skilled employees
Because Of Increased work there
will be no displacement, either. Of new
employees On the whole Southern
system: we expect to reabsorb about
1,500, clerks and other employees taken
in the. draft. Hero in Washington
about 500 men viii be employed again,
il they desire"
Twenty-eight letter carriers and
eighty former clerks Of the city post
Office will find their old jobs awaiting
them, Malcolm Kerlin, assistant city
postmaster, stated today.