Evening star., 1942-01-20
Model in Morale
Pictured as Role Of
Wartime Capital
Representative Sporkmon
Speoks at Meeting
Of Chevy Chase Forum

Representative Sparkman, Demo-
crat. Of Alabama. member OF the
House committee investigating CIV
ilian defense needs, last night re-
viewed committee hearings for the
Chevy Chase Community Forum and
declared that Washington would be
"a model and pattern for the Ma
ton" in its morale. He said civilian
morale should be built up to the
highest point possible for the war
effort.
Speaking in place Of Charles P.
Taft. assistant director of defense,
health and welfare services of the |
Federal Security Agency. who is i'll.
tragically lacking in housing, trans
portation and sanitation" facilities to
care for the great influx Of war
workers.
Discussing how the District can
meet wartime needs Mrs Harold
Stone of the District Voteless League
of Women Voters, declared the city
must establish form of city man
agership for efficiency in the emer-
gency. She pointed out there are
157 agencies. boards, commissions
and bureaus running the city and |
added that under these circum-
stances it naturally would be diff
cult to find a solution to District |
problems unless way is found for |
centralization Of authority.
Hankin Sees Delay in Subway.
Gregory Hankin. chairman of the |
Public Utilities Commission, said in |
reply to query that construction of
q subway here could not be conSid- |
cred during the war but that 1t we'll |
could be considered as a work project |
later to take no the inevitable slack |
In employment. However, he added, |
he would want thorough enqineer-
ing study made before making fur
ther comment.
Lawson Cantrell. assistant super
intendent of schools. declared some
District schools have from 60 to 70
per cent Of their enrolment COM
posed of new students unfamiliar
with District teaching methods. In
addition. he pointed out that prior
tiles are creating serious difficulty |
In getting new buildings and sup
plies for the manual training |
courses This. he declared, would |
handicap the present school genera
ton if not remedied.
DR.. George c. Rutland. District |
health officer, as another of the |
panel group said the city will need |
from 500 to 1000 additional hos
pital beds to meet adequately the |
rising population. He also suggested |
that the District could we'll benefit |
from the Red Cross and civilian |
defense home training courses in |
first aid and home treatment. He
suggested a broad training. if pos
sible, for all city residents In hy-
eiene as health safety measure not |
only for the war duration, but for |
the future.
Relief Load Cited.
Conrad Van Hyning, director of |
the District Board of Public We'll
fare, noted there were $4,000 on |
relief here and another 5000 under
care in public institutions If the
family well-being is allowed to fall.
he said, the morale of the men in
the armed forces also will depreci-
ate as a reflection Of reports they
receive of home life.
Mr.. Cantrell added the city is
faced with serious problem Of edu-
cation of children of defense work
ers in that the family units may
be classified as migrant The group
was told Washington probably has
the greatest MIGRANT problem Of
any city in the Nation because Of
the huge influx of war workers
This will be considerabl AUGMENTED
If the expected 250oo0 additional
workers are brought here during
the year.
Mr.. Hankin said the city needs
"a transportation system"-by which
he explained he meant working
plan to handle the rush-hour jams. |
He declared the Capital TranSit |
Co. had sufficient equipment to
handle the loads and was expecting |
delivery of more rolling stock later. |
Mrs. James v. Bennett was chair
man and Robert Bondv. American
Red Cross, acted as moderator. The |
meeting was held in the Woman's !
Club of Chevy Chase.