River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-09
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, M. CO.

dreams of old time Washington resi-
denters. Shortly before the decla-
ration Of war the number of vacant
residences in this city were estimat-
ed to reach about 5000, but since
that time over fifty thousand people
have been added to the population
some authorities p a e it nearer
seventy-five thousand-an as a re-
suit all buildings from mansions to
shacks have lost their rent signs.
From a city once overWorked by a
boss building fever, Washington has
not vacant house or apartment
building, and agents are jumping
prices on all kinds of property with
the "blue sky" for the only limit. A
drastic law will soon be passed by
Congress to prevent owners n d
landlords from profteering and it
will fix limitations on rents during
the war and effectively block the
eviction of tenants who are unable
to buy premises at eXorbitant prices
demanded. The Government is con-
structing a few temporary buildings,
and this will furnish working quart
ers for portion of the new force
called to the city, but m in
which to sleep cannot be had for
love or money by many Of these new
arrivals.
The writer has been requested by
constituents to ascertain from the
Department just w h a t ruling is
made by the Food Administration
for keeping flour and wheat on hand
for private household use. Several
branches of Mr.. Hoover's Depart
ment were called up in an effort to
locate the proper officials. and the
writer was finally advised to take it
up by long distance telephone with
the New York office. ThatZoffice
advised me no specific or federal law
was involved, but that the matter
should be taken up with the state
Foo d Administrator at Madison.
This experience is not offered to
show the circumlocution now exist
ing with Departments but to dis
close the difficulties occurring at this
end of the line in tryingto secure in
formation from proper official sour
ces.
A bill providing for vocational
training and rehabilitation of wound
ed soldiers was before the or t
committee Of the two Houses last
week. Following til experience
of all European countries and of
Canada, it is proposed to t al n
wounded soldiers in some self7sus-
tanning occupation and in order to
do this the particular future EN-.
ployment of the convalescing soldier
will be determined after careful in
vestigation of his mental and physi-
cal equipment and former occupa-
ton. The Government takes the
wounded in the hospitals and starts
training at the earliest possible mo-
ment. so that no delay will occur in
the soldier becoming a self-support-
ing member of society. Congress
will also pass some measure to give
the e turn d soldiers, wherever
practicable, preference in employ
ment.
Two communications w ere e.
ceived last week regarding soldiers
who had died from natural causes
and left insurance to their benefci-
aries. In both cases notification to
the proper division of the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance was given from
this office, and applications were for
warded at once by the Department
to beneficiaries thereby expediting
settlement. If anything can be done
in any way to relieve the anxiety or
delay in matters connected with our
boys in France the writer should be
called upon. Sometimes little aid
can be given, but wherever possible,
it will be afforded. By new order
issued last Thursday the addresses
of soldiers receiving casualties will
be published so far as practicable in
an effort to relieve undue anxiety
through the similarity of names.
This wise modification of the order
previously issued is credited to the
Presidents own interference in IA
vor of the relatives and friends at
home.
White House social functions have