The Washington herald., 1918-02-04
Uncle Sam to Construct
Homes for Workers Here
of Millions Will Be Asked of
Congress to Overcome Housing Problem
in the District

So serious has the room situation
grown that Congress will be asked
within the next few days to make
an appropriation running into the
millions for the erection of gov
ernment boarding houses for in
coming Federal employees.
As soon as the necessary funds
are appropriated by Congress,
building work will be rushed and
it is believed that adequate housing
arrangements will be completed
within sixty days from the COM
mencement of building operations.
u. L. Potter. chief Of the War
Department welfare work. made
this admission last night. when he
discussed the necessity of a dras-
tic remedy for the situation.
DOrmitorIes Planned.
While sites have not yet been
determined on. it is said that huge
dOrmitories with attached dining
rooms will be built on government
ground near the downtown section
and within easy walking distance
Of the big War Department offices
\ hotel will also be built near
Union Station to accommodate new
corners for three or four days until
they can be assigned to their per-
manent rooms in the big boarding
establishment.
Increasing pressure of the room
question has caused the Housing
Committee of the Council of Nation
al Defense to formulate the plan
of erecting temporary government
structures to solve the problem. The
War Department has given it's sane
tiOn to the proposition.
O. Fifty per cent of the persons now
being offered positions by the Civil
Service Commission are declining
because of living conditions in
Washington. Numbers of eligible
persons are also refusing to take
Civil Service examination, believing
positions in Washington to be unde-
sirabIe on account of housing con-
ditions. Many others. whose serv-
ices are badly needed, are leaving
the government employ and return
ing to thei. homes.
10000 Workers Expected.
ATwrnty thousand employees will be
lded to the government forces in
ashinston during 1918. if the war
sontinues. 1t is estimated that these
employees will bring at least 5000
members Of their families with them.
New military and naval officers and
their families will add another 5000
individuals.
Fifteen hundred clerks, in round
numbers. were added to the govern
ment office forces during the last
week. During the same period, 1,76
rooms were listed with the various
official room registration bureaus.
Only about 1000 of these rooms were
really available, however. Some had
been listed several times in different
agencies. Others were rented. >And
still others were of an Objectionable
character. such as cellar rooms or
attic rooms without heat.
Although definite plans have been
formulated for government housing,
several months must eIapse before
any relief can ensue.
Room Campaign Due.
To meet this emergency. a Rent
YOurEXtra-Room' campaign is being
planned by the War Department We'll
fare Commission. Washington peo-
pie will be urged to rent all their
available rooms to girl department
clerks as a patriotic duty.
Mr.. Potter, in charge of the War
Department welfare work, has issued
q statement in which he says, THE
time has come when not only the
boys who go into the trenches, but
the people in WASHINGTON. must make
a real sacrifice for the government.
Some girls are walking the streets
until 10 and IL o'clock at night. ap-
Dealing to people to give them shell
ter. Many homesick Girls are living
under conditions which are decreas-
ing their efficiency and. in many
cases, driving them back to their
home towns.
IF the war is going to be won, the