Evening star., 1942-04-12

Only about $1,000 of the $96,93S
raised In the United Service Or
ganizations campaign here last year
and distributed to IA local agencies
has been expended to date IN pro-
yiding housing accommodations for
servicemen on leave, a check with
officials of the organization disclosed
yesterday.
In q survey conducted by The
Star, it was learned that two groups
had definitely earmarked sums for
such purpose-roughly 1.3 per cent
Of the total figure divided among
the agencies.
The two groups are the Metro
politan Area once of Civilian De-
fense, which operates Servicemen's
Club No at BOG IJinth street NV,
$3.50, and the Twelfth Street Y. M.
c. A., 1916 Twelfth street NV,
s5o1.20. The latter provides quar-
ters for colored servicemen.
Agencies Take Action.
At the time of the U. S. o. Budget
Committee hearing last year. a u.
s. o. official pointed out yesterday,
1t was the understanding of COM
mittee members that funds appor-
toned to the IA agencies would be
used so as to best carry on their
programs of recreation and welfare
services to servicemen and defense
workers here.
I@
following disclosure by The Star
that a growing housing shortage
for servicemen existed in the city.
welfare workers and number OF
agencies, including several OF those
benefitting from U. S. o. funds, have
taken steps to increase housing Ia
cilities for enlisted men.
The Service Mems Lodging Com
mittee. a civilian defense group
formed little more than week ago,
reported yesterday that approx
mately 995 beds were available this
week end for soldiers, sailors and
Marines on leave here.
Mrs. Raymond Fowler, director OF
the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines
Club which received 5000 from the
U. s. 0. chest, pointed out yester-
day that about $4,000 of this appro-
priation remained unspent, while
the $4,000 expended since last June
included a supervisory salary Of
$1,000 and the cost Of providing
orchestra music. food and refresh
mentS for weekly entertainment Of
servicemen.
Club Quarters Renovated.
This club spent its own $4,000
surplus last year to equip and reno
vate club quarters and to increase
the number of beds from 40 to $50.
the director reported.
The fourth agency now providing
overnight accommodations for men
and receiving a $4,000 grant from
U. S. o. is the G Street Y. M. c. A.
Samuel Kicker, dormitory secretary.
explained that the organizations
80 beds for servicemen are operated
by regular Y. M. c. A. funds and
not through the U. S. o. appropria-
ton.
Approximately 33 per cent, or
roughly $24,397, of U. S. o. funds
distributed to II of the agencies re-
porting in yesterdays survey is used
for salaries of full or part part
time U. S. o. directors, for secre-
taries and for custodians. Several
organizations pointed out that with
expanded programs resulting from
additional funds from U. S. o. it
had become necessary to increase
their stats.
This was particularly noted with
the K Street Y. w. c. A., which has
added a U. S. o. director, a recrea-
tional assistant and an assistant
room registry secretary, it was
learned.
"a Per Cent for Entertainment.
On the basis Of reports from the
II groups, the survey disclosed fur
ther that approximately 81 per cent
of U. S. o. money allotted had been
used thus far in providing enter
tainment for enlisted men. This
included refreshments, games and
dances. The estimate for enter
tainment was $22,l08.
Another large segment Of the
overall figure, the check showed, has
been employed in supplying equip
ment, including lounges, game
tables and Office supplies.
The largest single ALLEGATION for
entertainment was shown by the
recreation group OF Metropolitan
Civilian Defense. Hugo Wolter, di-
rector of Recreation Services, Inc,
reported that $14, ,401 had been spent
to date in providing entertainment
both here and at Fort Belvoir, Va.
This organization still had on hand
s14,853, Mr.. Wolter reported.
Several other agencies reported a
portion of their q. S. o. funds un-
spent. In this connection, it was
pointed out that the appropriations
were allotted through June of this
year.
More than 10000 Washington res
idents contributed to the campaign
which netted 1854, 1873 %, Sidney
Taliaferro, chairman of the U. s. o
Council, announced yesterday. Ma
tional headquarters Of U. S. o. re-
ceived $153,221.64, campaign ex-