Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Wilson Urges
Probe Of Influx
Of War Workers
Efficiency, Crowding
Are Chief Phases
OF Inquiry Proposal
picture on Page A-5.)


lican, of Indiana, today.
MIR. Wilson said he was drafting a
resolution authorizing the inquiry
and would discuss it with the Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds Commit
tee, of which he is member. The
committee met during the morning
in. closed session, and 1t was re-
ported afterward that he sought ap-
prevail of his resolution, but that
the committee took no action.
The Indiana member, who at
tracted wide attention last week by
suggesting 10 pm. curfew for Gov
eminent girls in the interest of office
efficiency, said he wanted a select
committee to go into the en-
tire problem of Government work.
ers, inquiring particularly into
whether new employees are being
rushed into Washington without
definite jobs and forced to wait
around days and sometimes weeks
before they can 60 to work.
Civil Service Investigation.
The efficiency of Government
workers and their housing situation
here will be other phases Of Mr..
Wilson's proposed investigation.
The administration of the civil Serv-
ice also would be Investigated, Mr..
Wilson said.
Such an inquiry into the problems
Of migratory workers, with a view
of finding out whether the Govern
ment is bringing in more war work
ers than it needs, was suggested also
by Representative Stefan, Repub-
ican, of Nebraska.
Mr.. Stefan made the suggestion
following a brief speech on the House
floor late yesterday in which he
pointed out that some of the city's
overcrowding might be due to an
influx of Government employees who
are not needed at this time, but are
being held in reserve" for future
developments.
Would Find Reason.
THE Government apparently is
bringing a lot of people to Wash
ington with no work for them to
do" declared Mr.. Stefan, member
of the House Appropriations Com
mittee. with housing conditions
so acute, that creates bottleneck.
Maybe the personnel officers in the
Government departments are to
blame I think Congress should
find out"
Mr.. Stefan. said he believed the
special committee investigating the
problems of migratory workers is the
proper group to conduct the in
quiry. Representative Tolan, Demo-
crat, of California is head Of the
committee.
This committee already is con-
stituted and has the money to con-
duct such an investigation" Mr..
Stefan declared. Moreover, it
would be impartial
Point to Star Picture.
1T seems to me to be sort OF
foolish for the Government to
bring people here from all parts
Of the country and when they get
here there is no work for them to
do"
Mr.. Stefan said he had been
impressed with conditions in the
District as a result of a picture
in The Star yesterday showing
congestion of employed war work
ers in a temporary Government
building awaiting assignments to
duty. A story accompanying the
picture quoted a girl who came
here January % for a job in the
War Department as saying she had
not been near typewriter or even
had a pencil in her hand.
Representative Wilson called at
tention to the picture by waving 1t
or the floor of the House and saying
1t was "a deplorable scene" He said
he wished every one here would
read" the story that went with the
picture
"Verse Feud" Continued.
Mr.. Wilson spoke over Station
WJSV last night, sharing the air
with Miss Eileen Mcbride, a Gov
eminent worker, with whom he pre-
viously had debated in verse his
suggestion that Government girls be
placed under a 10 pm. curfew to
assure efficient work.
Miss Mcbride repeated over the
radio the lode to Mr.. Wilson" which
was published in The Sunday Star.
Representative Wilson read his
rhymed reply, which was printed In
The Star Monday.
To these were added, by way Of
postscript, two lyrical kilograms.
One from Miss Mcbride said:
Despite our disagreement
On the curfew situation,
Your poetry 1 view
With deepest admiration.
And the answer from Mr.. Wilson
said:
I would not tell you what to do,
But since our boys must fight,
Young girls like you to do your
work
Must 20 to bed at night.
In his speech, Mr.. Wilson said he
had been grossly maligned and
highly praised, too" for the curfew
suggestion.
"Of course, as always, the whole
truth would be tiresome and
mundane, said the former Hoosier
school teacher, "but that 10 o'clock
curfew statement got attention, and
I am perfectly willing that we all
have a lot of laughs and that I be
called everything from grandpa
to a hick. Any one can go even
farther than these if he, or in most
cases she, chooses; if it will wake
up only so per cent of the army of
workers now in Washington to the
fact that some people are dragging
their feet in our parade toward
victory" .....
Mr.. Wilson said few persons had
inferred he was attacking the moral
character of Government girls, and
added:
Nothing could be farther from
the truth. have never thought of
such a thing. I have never made
such a statement or insinuation,
and, furthermore, am certain that
the truth is quite the opposite.
Those men and women who work
foF Uncle Sam are, in my opinion,
q yvaopO fhe cream 0f the Natinn's