Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20
Departmental
Cooperation.

SPSAoGAOAs Slble efficiency 6
needed on tho part of every essential
cooperating element. Certainly the
civilian forces Of the government,
enormously enhanced in numbers dur
ing the past year, constitute most
important agency In the effectiveness
or the war operations. study has
the situation, and it is significant that
for a recent period of fifteen weeks,
the separations from the service have
been nearly half the number of the
additions. And If it be true that well
conducted welfare agencies are able
ployes, a consideration Of accomplish
ments. plans and possibilities in this
line for the employees of the United
States in Washington is well worth
while.
heads: housing, which is a special
field; the provision of good lunch
facilities, health measures. which in
clude emergency hospital and visiting
nurse work. and recreation. including
educational work of a social nature.
Restaurants and lunchrooms, pro-
viding lunches and other meals for
the employees at reasonable prices
are operated in most of the govern
ment buildings. One of the most in
CCTCSIlHS examples Is dI Inc DuTedu
of engraving and printing, which is
managed comparatively by an asso-
citation OF the employees. Three shifts
are now working at the bureau. SO
that the cafeteria Is open most of the
time. day and night. The combined
at the bureau rs now some 900. Many
Of the other departments are similar
ly provided for in one way or another.
During the summer the war camp
community service committee operat-
, cd motor trucks from which lunches
ton and will doubtless be Continued
during the winter months also.
To safeguard the health of employees
most OF the offices have restrooms for
the use of women. In some of the
small offices first aid is rendered by
employees Of the office who are ply
s1cians. and who may be summoned
to the restroom in case of need The
larger departments have special
rooms for emergency treatment of
employees in case of illness. with ply
sicians and nurses in attendance.
A visiting nurse system Is also MAIN
tanned by the government, and alb
ssentees reported from any OF the Of
lflces are visited. since during the
period of high pressure of government
work It Is not expected that employees
will absent themselves without per-
LulSSIOu uuiCSS ltbSy are SICK Inc
visiting nurse service is particularly
important to the newcomers to WASH
ington, most Of whom have no family
connections and few acquaintance
and who often board at place apart
from their lodgings.
In addition to a complete program
along the above lines the War Depart
ment has fnaugurated health educa-
tion for the benefit of its own en-
ployes and all others who may at
lite. by securing the services Of ply
sicians for weekly lectures on health
and hygiene and of an expert to carry
out measures for the physical welfare
of the female employees of the War
Department.
The health and housing division Of
the War Department initiated the
movement by which an appropriation
Of $4,000 was secured from Congress
to open the recreational facilities of
the plants at schoo1houses, under the
supervision Of the community cerlters,
for the use Of government clerks gem
lerally. These facilities comprise play
grounds gymnasiums swimming
pools and halls for dancing. Commu-
nifty dancing parties are given in the
halls, the women Of the community
acting as hostesses.
A social club has been carried on in
the State Department for some
months, holding monthly meetings
with music, speaking and dancing. Or
foundations Of similar nature have
also been started in other departments.
and so the welfare work goes on FOR
the benefit of all