Evening star., 1943-09-22
ServiceCenter
PI Idns Postwar
Operation Here
Committee Head
Reports Progress on
Hotel Renovation

ter, the housing center for transient
servicemen that is scheduled to open
next month in the quarters formerly
occupied by the Capitol Park Hotel,
will continue in operation for sew
era1 years after the war, according
to present plans.
This was disclosed Yesterday bv
Floyd Akers, chairman of the War
Hospitality Committee, who out
lined plans for the center at the
committees first meeting of the
fall, held in the st. Johns Parish
Hall, 81s Sixteenth street NV.
Now undergoing renovation. the
former hotel building probably will
be ready for its new occupants BY
the latter part of October, MIR. Akers
said. 1t will provide temporary
housing for servicemen visiting or
transferred here. Quarters also will
be set aside for short-term occu-
pancy by women of the services and
by wives and children of men in
the armed forces.
Concessions to Be Sub-Iet.
While the building will not be
operated as social center, facilities
Will include bar for officers and
canteen for both officers and en-
listed men. These concessions will
be sun-let to some agency. probably
the District Welfare and Recreation
Association, Mr.. Akers said.
Mr.. Akers explained that the cen-
ter is expected to be self sustaining.
The center will be kept open for
AN indefinite time" after the war
probably throughout the "rehabili-
tation period" since servicemen are
expected to be passing through
Washington then in large numbers.
he said.
Call For Volunteers,
AT the meeting also. Mrs. Harry
S. Benton of the Civilian Defense
volunteer Office, renewed previous
appeal for 1000 volunteer workers
to serve the members Of the armed
forces using the center. Recep-
tionlSts and check room and snack
bar volunteers will be needed, Mrs.
Bernton said
Persons willing to give one or
more periods of three hours week
may register with the CDVO head
quarters, 1924 F street NV, or at
the CDVO booth, at 1921 Pennsyl.
vania avenue NV.
Other business of the meeting in
cluded reports on programs already
being conducted here for service
personnel and plans for future
activities.
Three New USO Centers.
Three new USO centers will be
opened here in the near future.
1t was reported, bringing to Is the
number of these centers in the
| District and suburban areas. One
| will begin operation Saturday in
Bethesda, and another October 2
at 1911 H street NV. No opening
date has been set for the third,
which will be located at POLL
Georgia avenue NV, for colored
Servlcemen.
Donald Bautz, executive secretary
of the Defense Council of the
Washington Federation of Churches,
reported that Lutheran Church
groups are planning to install
service center here.
DR.. Henry Hubbard, secretary to
the Governments Council of Per-
sonnel Administration, stressed the
need for continued hospitality" to
Government war workers, reporting
that since the surrender of Italy,
Government agencies have had in
creasing difficulty holding their en-
ployes or obtaining new ones. An
increasing feeling of compla-
cency" has been noticeable among
Federal workers here, he said.
To Reopen Canteen.
DR.. Hubbard reported that the
canteen operated here last year for
war workers will be opened again
at an early date" Marshall Stalley,
chairman of the Federal Recreation
Committee, said a survey is now
being made of the activities the
various Government agencies have
organized for their employees
Failure of efforts to have the
Government provide money for a
club for officers here was deplored
by Mrs. Robert Low Bacon, chair
man of the Officers Club Subcom-
mittee of the War Hospitality Com
mlttee.
Reporting that 2,340 beds are now
available for white servicemen and
400 for colored persons, Winfree
Johnson, chairman of the Subcom-
mlttee on lodging, said these facili-
ties are crowded to near-capacity
on every week end. Mr.. johnson
made an appeal for additional
blankets.
Training Glasses.
Opening of two training classes
for volunteer workers who will man
information booths in service CEN
ters was announced by Mrs. Jean
jackson. Four new booths are being
installed, she said
Norman Lytell, Potomac area
chairman of the American Youth
HoStelerS, was named to membership
on the War Hospitality Committee
and elected a member of the board
of Recreation Services. Inc, which
will operate the new United Nations
Center.
Locations for about is prospec-
tive youth hostels within a 30-mile
radius of Washington have been
selected, and four hoStels already
have been set up. Justin Cline,
executive secretary of the hoStelers
group, reported.