Evening star., 1925-05-06
No Effort at Segregation.

he had information to the effect tEa
ii would be forthcoming in larle
amounts.
Cites Earnings of Workers
Discussing the need for the adop-
ton of such d building plan, Senator
Ball cited the fact that in the Dis
trict today there are nearly iG,ggI
employees OF the Government receiving
less than 2.100 a year and that more
than $4,000 of these employees receive
less than S1.500
These people, he said. cannot afford
to pay the high rents demanded ami
at the same time to live under salts
factory conditions necessary to make
efficient workers of them.
Il have frequently been asked why
/ am taking an interest in the housing
problem in Washington after my sen
atorial term has expired, said Sen
ator Ball today. There is but one
reply to that inquiry-my interest in
the future of the city.
II believe every business has d
moral responsibility for the living con
ditions of its employees. The United
States Government is the biggest bust
ness in the world. Therefore its re
sponsibility becomes greater than that
of any private corporation or business.
Unless employees are fairly comfort
able and not continually troubled over
living expenses they are not efficient
in their work For efficient service
the living conditions of Government
employees must be fairly satisfactory.
Suggests Rent Budget.
Il do not believe it is possible for
the employees to pay more than one
quarter of their salaries for rent with
out its becoming a hardship upon
them.
I'VE have living in the District of
Columbia nearly $4,000 employees of
the Government receiving less than
81, 100 a year.
More than one-half of this num-
Der receive less than 1900 a year.
For proper living conditions ii will
he necessary for these employees TO
have moderate priced apartments OF
houses in the city. l have been in
formed by builders and owners in
Washington that under present condi-
tions it is impossible to build apart.
ments that can rent for less than $40
month a room with bath.
THE cost of building in Washing
ton, or rather the prices asked for
buildings recently constructed, are
unreasonably high. There is too
=
be the cost of that building and the
selling price. and all rentals in the
city are fixed on the values placed by
the owners or builders and owners.
Sees No Other Solution.
THE solution of the problem. SO far
as l am able to determine at this time,
is either through a finance corpora
ton or a building and loan associa-
ton that would be willing to finance
the erection of a number of apart
ment houses and moderate sized dwell
ings in outlying parts of the city for
Government employees.
IF this were done, these employees
would at least be able to get rentals
at real cost.
LAS the government employees are
vitally interested in the solution OF
the problem, an organization effected
by them and assisted by properly
financed separate organization 40 me
seems the most feasible plan. If this
organization of the employees should
be effected, then every effort will be
made to assist it in carrying out the
plan outlined.
Senator Ball made it clear, how
ever, that the success of any such
would depend upon the
interest manifested in it by the EN-
DlOYSS lllclllSSlNOS. IlS ldlu oil co..
on the fact that ii is the lower paid
Government employees that constitute
the real problem in Washington,
along with the people in private en-
ployment at small salaries and wages.
He does not look for a general in
crease in rents in the District. He
maintains that the rents now charged
for moderate sized and modest apart
ments and homes are too high for the
Government employees to meet.
VIII Confer With Coolidge.
Before the expiration of the life of
the Rent Commission Senator Ball
hopes to whip his proposal into
definite shape. He will hold further
with both the President
and Secretary Hoover.
It is expected that Senator Ball win
Continued on Page 5. Column 2.)