The Washington times., 1919-02-06
SAYSU. S. WORKERS
ARE EBADLY TREATED
CONTINUED from First PageJ

istration Of every empIoye on taking
the oath Of office; which will fire.
Quently take a census OF employees,
obtaining their addresses, and WhlcA
will do its utmost to provide healthy
living conditions, including recreation
for the young people working for
Uncle Sam.
He points out that often Govern
ment employees are practically lost in
this city. They change addresses
without having il recorded. They
change positions without any central
body having notice. They become i'll,
or members Of their family away
from Washington become i'll or die.
lt IS practically impossible to find
them. Mr. Mcfarland looks back with
horror over the influenza terrOrs OF
last fall
Estimates $1,000 Workers.
Washington has normal accommo-
dattons for approximately 10000 Gov
eminent workers" Mr.. Mcfarland be-
Heves. AT the present moment
there are living here not less than
10000 Government workers. 1t is
straIning the word to say that they
are actually housed II would be
better to say that they are stored in
various places in which sleeping may
be INDUCED in IL the girl Is tired
enough: in which washing may be in
ctdentally done, at times, with cold
water, and from which the young
woman may issue to chase food Oh
the fly.
THE factor OF recreation is con-
spicuously scanty. Secretary Baker
recently told a committee Of Congress
that he could get along with 25 per
cent less employees If they were prop
erly housed, properly fed and prop
erly provided with wholesome recres-
ton.
THE commission Of which I am a
member has this week made vigorous
personal effort with members of Con-
gress toward the retention Of the ap-
propriation for the support or the
community center movement in
Washington, so far WITHOUT. success.
''Pre-war conditions viii never re-
turn to this city. Washington Is
, great plant, manufacturing an article
called government for the nation. It
IS as much the function Of the United
States government to look after hous-
ing, transportation and living con-
ditions in this city as IL is for any
factory owner. also manufacturing
something for the public to similarly
concern himself as to his employees
that he may obtain greater efficiency
in his plant
II the law Of supply and dempand Is
relied on in the future there will be
continuance OF the present dis
pleasing conditions. The wrongs Of
the past must not be allowed to go
on happening.
Future Of Washington.
"The future of Washington must
spread materially. It must include
provision of rapid transportation in
an organized and rapid way: ample
. recreational facilities within reach Of
al workers; food st favorable prices
and or proper quality. The same at
tention should be paid to the living
conditions of workers for the Gov
ornment as has been paid to the liv-
ing conditions Of soldiers who serve.
the nation in the field"
OF the difficulties in locating Coy.
ernment workers who may be want
ed. Mr.. Macfarland said:
Yes a war worker who came to
Washington last fall may easily have
been lost in the shuttle in this city,
because there seems to be no definite
central recording place at which in
formation OF authentic character may
be obtained concerning any employe
1T has occurred, for example, that
a war worker has changed from one
department to another. and from one
been Inaccessible in the emergency OF
her mothers death because no ad-
dress had been kept or given. In
my own knowledge, one young
woman has seemingly disappeared. /
suppoBe she is all right, but the only
way ] would have 10 find her would
be TO go to every one OF the depart
ments and painstakingly . interview
the personnel clerk.
-
keep track OF the Government per
sonneI particularly when It began to
be said that il was being rapidly
reduced. AS a matter Of fact, Il has
not been rapidly reduced. and while
thousands have gone home other
thousands have come in. so that the
total personnel is not very far from
100000 at the present moment.
Would Compel RegistratIOn.
THE situation VIII never be bust
nessliEe. or right until there - an
enforced postal-card registration,
giving name, working place. Wash
ington home, permanent home, and
other vital facts, all to be carefully
classified and maintained In a "en-
tral office, preferably that u The
Civil Service Commission. II it was
made impossible for any Government
emploTe thereafter TO begin duty, or
get OF the payroll. until similar
card u information had been filled
out and filed, and IL the record q
chanEp Of location Of work ami OF
Wash ngton home were also required
as an incident TO being on Uncle
Sans payroll. il might be expected
that We would come TO know how
many are actually here, and who
they gre and wnere they came from.
"Of course realize that probably
bv every worker Some time. some
place and somehow. II Is net def
nitely centered anywhere, however.
as il ought TO be-