The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-04-18
WNU Service, 13i3 ii Street N. w.
Washington. ID. &.


WASHINGTON Millions for de-
Tense but not enough sense to con-
tribute sufficient funds To the Dis
trict of Columbia budget. That is
the Washington city governments
present charge against congress.
The other day | sat in the office
Of one of the district commissioners
and an army officer who had been
drafted to help work out the city's
housing problems, and they seemed
pretty helpless.
I'VE haven't got the money to
meet the emergency situation that
is growing in the district as re-
suit of the defense program" was
the burden of their song.
Washington is run by commits
sion-threc mcn-our three may
ors," if you will, appointed by the
President. Our board of aldermen
are the district committees of the
house of representatives and the SEN
ate. The federal government bears
share of the expense of running
the city-but not enough, say the citi-
Zens of the district. All they can
w ~ 2dJ, III lIlty nave ilO NOlt
either locally or nationally.
The emergency is bringing thou
sands of new workers here. From
June, 1890, TO January of this year
nearly $4,000 new government en-
ployees moved in. The figures for
February, due to be released in n
few days, are expected to show a
big increase.
The Washington Board of Trade
estimates that $4,000 new residents
have moved into the District of Co.
lumbia in the last year.
Question of Schools.
In addition to these extra beds
and baths that must be provided,
there is the question of schools. The
commissioner with whom / was dis
cussing the situation, cited one ex-
ample.
Down there between Boiling field
which will soon be the center of
American aviation and the naval re-
search laboratory" he said, 1.-THE
federal government has built 600
family units. 1t will probably be
increased TO 1000 These are Just
for the navy yard workers. Right
there will probably be enough chill
drcn to fill one schoolhousc alone"
a million and quarter dollars,
it is estimated, should be spent on
schools alone in Washington as a
result of the influx of residents. This
is to say nothing of the next most
pressing nccd-facilitics to increase
the water supply. The Canal Zone
is not much hotter than Washing
ton in the summer. People take
lot Of showers. We have a Potomac
full of water but we need more pipes
and pumps.
The greatest portion OF the city's
expense, however, goes to taking
care of the homes and the Offices
and people which make up the fed
eral government.
Anyone who thinks the life OF
government worker is all roses,
frankincense and myrrh in these
days needs only to listen TO the local
director of the Housing association
who says:
Doubling Up Complaints.
Frequent complaints OF doubling
up in apartments and rooming
houses come TO us. One bath for
Is to 20 persons is a common
grievance. Three TO six unrelated
roomers in the parlor of a once fine
private residence is not uncom-
mon"
Very bad, say the health authori-
ties, for sanitation Very bad for
morale, too.
And then Washington has on its
periphery a number of army camps,
environments and forts BY July the
boys on leave will be nocking in
from an army of nearly hundred
thousand men. Their welfare and
amusement have to be taken care
of, too
The district government, there
fore, is struggling with the congress
sional committees. attempting to
convince them of Washington's
needs. A bill is now being consid-
cred which would increase the pro-
portion which the federal govern
ment contributes to the federal city,
but the officials cannot bank on the
money until it is in hand.