Evening star., 1941-12-21
A multitude of domestic problems

A multitude of domestic problems
is being created by President Roose-
velt's order sending 10000 employees
out of Washington. In some in
stances. those affected must give
up homes or jobs-and the choice
is not easy. Many will seek trans
fers. Others are taking the shift in
stride-as witness employees of the
Securities Exchange Commission
who refused to let the transfer
dampen the spirit Of their annual
Christmas party yesterday.
At the Employment Compensa-
ton Commission, where women
comprise approximately half of the
staff of $50 persons, an unofi1cial
survey showed that the majority
would seek other employment here.
The same holds true Of married
men.
Men generally took the move in
good nature, but few Of the women
were almost fearful.
my husband works here and I
can't break up my home" was the
typical comment of Mrs. Ray Bas-
ser Of the Ontario Apartments. An
employe OF the commission for 25
years, Mrs. Bassler would have to
work only five more years to be
eligible for retirement annuity un-
der provisions of the proposed
Ramspeck-Mead Act. If she trans
fers to another department she
would take heavy pay cut She
wasn't sure what she would do.
Sisters Face Separation.
Mrs. John Francis OConnor was
one OF few planning to resign from
the commission. Her husband 4nas
been ordered to New York with the
Patent Once. Two sisters who live
together learned that their depart
ments had been transferred. one
to Philadelphia and the other to
Chicago. Mrs. Sidney Stiles will
60 to Philadelphia with the Bureau
OF Old Age and Survivors Insur-
ance Of the Social Security Board,
and Mrs. Ida Stockley to Chicago
with the commission.
Mrs. Idris Morris, with husband
working in private business and a
13-year-old child about to enter
high school, faces a reduction in
salary unless she wants to break up
her home by moving to Chicago.
The problem of getting a home and
domestic help in Chicago she feels
would be serious one.
The situation in many homes is
complicated by the draft. Mrs.
Betty Ellis has been buying house
here. Her husband expects to be
called into service. This would
leave her with an apartment in
Chicago and house in Washington
in which no member Of the family
could live. Miss Beatrice Milwit
lives with four brothers and her
mother at 1855 Ingraham street
NV. All Of the boys are eligible
for induction. When she goes to
Chicago her mother may be entirely
alone after few months
Arthur G. Davis faces the prob
lem of transferring his rose garden
to Chicago. A longtime employe
of the commission, he has won
many awards in flower shows here,
including the recent exhibit of the
American Rose Society at the Ma
tional Museum.
Excuse for Proposals.
Three young men confided that
they hope to use the transfer to
get their girls to marry them.
Maybe If she knows I'm going she'll
say yes said one lad A young
woman to the contrary, felt that
the transfer was booming an i'm
pending proposal.
John Detmer of 29O9 Porter street
NV. expects to ask for transfer to
another department because break
ing OF his affairs here would be too
complicated. He and his wife, who
also works, are living with their
4-months-old baby in an apart
ment while they sue to eject the
present tenant Of the house they
bought recently.
A. w. Holtsberg only recently sold
his house in Chicago and planned
to live permanently here in the
house he bought at 5371 Twenty
eighth street NV. He will probably
resell his house here unless his two
daughters plan to remain.
NH.ny employees indicated that
tEci- onlr hope of going to Chi
caeo would be the Governments
promsie to help them dispose of
homes here and to find new ones
in Chicago. William Dixon. of 722
South Twenty-first street, Arhng-
ton, Va, said he would take his
wife and 2-year-old child to Chi
cago il the Government would help
him dispose OF the house he is buy
ing
Miss Helen Beard and Miss
Marion Caswell face loss of two and