Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12

In this connection, Government of
f1cer writes me as follows:
THE conditions of employment OF
this city do not make for the estab-
lishment of permanent business or
home ties After the man with a
family enters the Government service
he may remain in Washington long
enough to educate his children. but
after they are through school he is
very apt to look for employment in
some other city which will give his
children a chance to earn a livelihood
without leaving the family hearth
stone Lower grade positions in the
Government service Offering Oppor
tunities TO young people Just out of
school to enter and work up are
limited. and the civil service rules for
bid the appointment in the classified
service of more than two members
OF family"
From 1924 to 1926 there was a de-
crease of over 5000 in the number of
persons employed in the Government
service In Washington. This decrease
represents a salary loss of approx
mately 100000. Despite this reduc-
ton. however. Washington business
has been able to absorb the surplus of
employees, so that there has been COM
paratively little serious unemployment
in the District.
Washington phenomenal building
activities during recent years is based
upon a solid foundation of real demand
for more housing facilities. Almost
overnight we have seen the character
of whole sections of the city changed
by the erection of fireproof structures
with ali modern convenienCeS and of
architectural attractiveness far sur
Id
of the latter nineteenth century. The
new era is particularly noticeable in
recent office buildings. hotels and
apartment houses, which have set Il
high standard of building achievement
as compared with similar undertake
ingS in other cities.
Real Civic Spirit.
The Importance of this service is
further illustrated by the spirit of
civic responsibility evidenced by local
real estate interests. Robert JemiSon
has pointed out that the organized
real estate vocation is active in de-
veloping a realization of the need for
city planning and in producing feast
BILE city plans adapted to the peculiar
needs of the American city. This is
particularly true of Washington. where
itated to hold back otherwise profit
able undertakings which might inter
fere with official plans for the physi-
cal development of the city.
similar spirit also has pervaded
the owners. and operators of Washing
tons various public utilities.
We should not forget that great
business services were made possible
largely by the foresight of local finan-
cial institutions which had faith in the
future of the city, and We're ready to
aid in meeting the financial demands
of these large scale undertakings. In
1916 the Columbia and Metropolis
Banks Of Washington and the Union
Banks of Alexandria and Georgetown
loaned 100000 for the rebuilding of
the Capitol. Washington banks. in
later times, were equally ready to
lend their credit and their funds to
make possible the many public and
semi-public undertakings required by
the rapidly growing city. despite the
fact that governmental regulation of
these institutions was not always fair
Today it is stated that Washington
banks use practically all their avail
able funds for the promotion of legit-
innate local business undertakings
Washington has passed through
its wholesale and retail trade. The city
is more fully equipped with public
markets than many other cities of
metropolitan size. There have been
important changes in the number and
quality of buildings devoted TO retail
trade, in the location OF such buildings
and in the scope and character of the
services offered to the Washington
buying public.
Washington's business has been q
powerful factor in enabling the resi-
dents of. the District to be successful
in what Jefferson called THE pursuit
of happiness" Continued prosperity
in the future will depend upon proper
and legitimate business expansion,
with free lay of individual initiative
unhampered by Government regula-
ton of an ill-advised character.