South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-05

House Committee Will Report
Bill For Nearly 200 Mil
lions Dollars For Next
Six Months.
BY j. BART CAMPBELL

WASHINGTON, Oct. $50 seri-
Gus has become the utter lack of
adequate housing for essential
workers In the war industry centers
of the United States, that the out
put of munitions necessary for
American soldiers overseas is being
greatly retarded, the war, navy and
labor departments have informed
the house committee on public
grounds and buildings.
Chairman Clark of the committee,
today stated that as a result. that
not later than next Tuesday he
would report a bill embOdying es-
tjmates aggregating 100000 the
government has asked for housing
during the next six months.
Accompanying the bill will be a
report of the committee in which
will appear the declaration of Maj.
Hayden Aymes, chief OF the small
arms division of the war depart
ment that living conditions at Ed
dystone, near Philadelphia, are so
frightful that we are one million
rifles behind at what is the largest
rifle plant in the entire world"
Main Rife Plant.
This is our principal rife plant"
Mai Aymes informed the commit
tee. in speaking Of the Eddystone
5000 rifles a day whereas we should
be producing $500 a day. There we
are short 1000 men owing TO the
living or housing conditions. This
does not mean that anybody has to
go without a rife, for we contem-
plate overtaking our entire rifle pro-
gram in the spring Of 1919, but we
ought to have 100000 more rifles
than we have.
Otto NJ. Eidlitz. director Of the
bureau of housing of the department
Of labor. has told the committee that
during the next six months temper
ary housing facilities at least must
be provided as a most pressing war
necessity"
win the War is First.
The first idea is TO win the war. q"
Eidlitz said. "and not what becomes
Of what we use 10 win the war. We
have got past the time when we can
give too much thought to what Is
going 10 happen TO war funds. We
must first get the funds and quick
ly
War material must be delivered
to the American forces overseas in
full measure by next spring and
must be kept at the highest rate OF
production next summer. To effect
this manufacturing plants turning
out war products in this country
must be kept running at full capac-
ity by the end of this winter"
Eidlltz said that, therefore. prop
er facilities for those engaged in
such manufacturing must be COM
pleted and ready for occupancy six
months from now, whether they be
temporary or permanent. he esti-
mated that the $1g4,6O7.OOO asked
Tor as the minimum lump sum ur-
gently needed TO provide war work
ers with housing commensurate with
the American war program.
Eidlitz explained that the navy
now intends 10 build a storage ware
house distributing center. embrac-
ing 40 permanent store houses at
Philips0urs. y. j., which would ne
cessitate housing for 400 persons.
Needs Grow Constantly.
This means the building of
houses, recreation halls, cafeterias
and other structures at a cost OF
$S,O00,O00." he said. he pointed out
proper housing or home facilities
for war workers necessitate the ex-
penditure Of $3,OOO.O00 for 100
persons.
Richard S Childs, war depart
ment housing representative, in
formed the Clark committee. that
COL Jameson. chief of the produc-
tion division OF the war department.
had served notice that by next April
we, will have to be in France with
our entire army and at that time,
We will have 10 furnish our own
supplies and equipment in full as
our allies will then be no lonser able
10 make up jehciencies-and our
needs will be great"
Childs said that this means that
in ;he plant in which We are trying
10 put on the three-shift basis, . 200
or 5000 workers will have 20 be
brought into town where 1000
were necessary before"