Evening star., 1918-01-05
ASK CONGRESS
TO HOUSE CLERKS
Representative FairchiId
Wants Government to Provide
Homes for Newcomers.
BILL TO APPEAR MONDAY

Congress is going to be asked when
1t meets Monday to take effective steps
for the relief OF the serious housing
problem here. which threatens to be-
come more acute when thousands OF
other war workers are brought to the
capital within the next six months.
Representative Benjamin l.. Fairchild
of New York. a member of the House
District committee, who represents a
district that has sent many young
men and women to Washington. where
proper homes have not been ready for
will introduce Monday.
He calls upon Congress TO anticipate
the famine in lodgings tina; will make
hardship for all those coming to the
capital, and which is already making
1t difficult for the civil Service Com
mission to induce workers to come here
from many places throughout the
the construction Of temporary bar
racks. dormitories or resident club
houses for these temporary workers.
In presenting this emergency meas
ure, Mr.. Fairchild cites the fact that
the Cfvil Service Commission has al
ready brought to the attention of de-
partment heads the fact that many Of
those whom they have notified of ap-
pointment to the government service
have responded that they cannot ac-
no quarters in Washington for them
and that the government clerks are
forced to sleep in tents.
Time Now for Acton.
Representative Fairchild believes
that now is the time for action by Con-
gress. He said the money should be
made Immediately available for this
work. Temporary dormitories are
needed now. and they will be needed
more each week. The only rooms now
available in the city, he points out. are
so far from the government buildings,
and the street car service so uncertain,
that it is great hardship for the
clerks TO occupy these rooms.
Representative Fairchild proposes
that these dornlitories should be bull
by the government. through direction
OF the Council of National Defense OF
the War Department, but that they
should be under the charge Of such or
ganizations as the Y. NJ. c. A. and the
Y. W. G. A.. which are beth already
recognized as cooperative agencies in
the War Department work under the
commission on training camp activi-
ties.
BY building dormitories for men and
separate structures for women Repre-
sentative Fairchild believes that In each
one of these barracks a home spirit and
club spirit can be fostered. The occu-
pants would be comfortable, happy
could write home with contented minds
could then enjoy life in the National
Capital. They could do their work bet
ter for the government.
Representative Fafrchild points out
that this line Of activity ty the gov!
ernment would ease up OH the work
now being done by the central room
bureau. in charge of Leroy Thomas, q
statistician from the census office, fol
which the Council of National Defense
has made an appropriation of $1,000 a
mouth. In urging immediate te action BY
Congress Representative Fafrchild en-
phasizes the fact that the Council OF
National Defense has taken up the local
housing problem at the request of the
Civil Service Commission.
Praise for Local Women.
Representative Fairchild in discussing
this problem paid tribute to the efficient
work that is being done for the relief o
young women coming to Washington b,
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, as chairman o.
the local division of the women's com.
mittee of the Council Of National De
fense. This committee has been leasing
large houses. putting competent women II
charge and giving something like homs
life to the young women at actual cost.
out the number of vacant buildings tha
could easily be converted into temporar,
homes for the strangers coming TO Wash
ineton.
Besides being an active m ember OF th
House District committee Represents
tive Fairchild takes a keen interest il
all Washington affairs. for ne has spent
practically all of his life here and call
the District home He was educated
in the public schools here and in thu
old Columbian University, now George
Washington University. He does no
like to see STRANGERS getting a false i'm
preston about the capital and educat
ing a feeling of dissatisfaction. At tbs
same time he wants to help in getting
proper accommodations made here fol
the young men and young women from
his home state and district who arr
coming here to help the government
win the war.
Seeks Adequate Pay for Women.