Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-04
j, s, GIRL CLERKS
FIGHT LANDLORDS
BY EARL III. HARDEN
Leased Wire Service to The JournaD
Copyright, 1922


WASHINGTON, April 1.-The
war isn't over yet-between the
landlords and the girl government
clerks. The former are trying to
have the governments hotels abol-
ished. These were opened during
the war, in an effort to solve the
housing problem. Since then they
have been regarded by their girl
occupants as a haven from avaric-
iousness, protecting them from ex-
orbitant eXactions of profiteering
boarding house and hotel proprie-
tors.
When brothers, husbands and
sWeethearts were being rushed over
seas to turn the tide of the war,
their women relatives came to Wash
ington to do their share of the work
here. These devoted girls and Wom-
en- encountered at the start a flood
tide of exaction when they tried to
find places to sleep and eat. Their
influence was sufficient to have the
government to erect a series of gov
eminent hotels near the capitol and
Union station, where they were able
to entrench themselves from the at
Ever since the boarders have had
the better of it. Now the land.
lords are assailing the Notifications
with frontal and flank attacks. The
landlords have succeeded in closing
one of the twelve hotels. Now they
are appealing to congress to shut
up the remainder. The bill carry
ing the appropriation for the main.
tenance of the structures is in con-
ference. The girls allege that the
Association of Hotel and Boarding
House PrCprietors have combined
with powerful real estate dealers
here to have the conference elimi.
nate from the appropriation meas
ures the items, totaling more than
100000, to carry on the hotels for
the fiscal year that begins on July
1 next.
What is known as the council OF
twelve representing the residents OF
the hotels, and which is made up OF
an elected chairman from each Of
thenf is fighting the effort in every
possible way. 1t has dug up Stats
tics, which itcontends definitely com.
bats the assertion of the enemy
that the government will not get its
money back through the operations
of the system.
During the last two years." said
Miss Bessie Henderson, chairman of
the council, a profit of 100000 and
$40, 900 was shown, while last year
he appropriation was $1,005,0 900. This
year the appropriation will be only
100000. 1t is charged that, even
though we do break even, the gov
eminent loses because it advances
the money without interest. But
the $4,000 profit last year is sut-
ficient interest, we believe. And
these hotels protect the girl clerks
and makes it possible for them to
live on their salaries and report for
work 100 per cent efficient"
The girls pay $45 a month. This
includes a single room artiStically
furnished, maid service, scientifical-
ly prepared meals, and the use of
cozy recreation rooms, electrically
equipped laundries, kitchenettes to
cook late snacks," plenty of bath
rooms, and an unlimited supply OF
hot and cold water.
1.-THE whole constitutes very in
teresting and successful experiment
in community life" said Miss Hen.
derson today. Through the person
al efforts Of the girls who conduct
ed subscription dances and the like
two tennis courts are maintained
and a man is paid $50 a month to
care for them. Many new furnish
ings for the recreation rooms are
being purchased"
The girls are appealing to mem
| bers of congress to insist on the
! hotels being continued.