Evening star., 1943-09-22
ServiceCenterI
Postwar \
Operation Herr
Committee Head
Reports Progress on
Hotel Renovation

NePOItS TTo9reSS on
Hotel Renovation #
The United Nations Service Cen.
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 sev-
eral years. after the war, according
to present plans.
This was disclosed yesterday iby
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, 8l9 Sixteenth street NV.
Now undergoing renovation, the
former hotel building probably will
be ready for its new occupants by
the latter part of October, Mr.. Akers
said. 1t will provide temporary
housing for serHcemen 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-let,
While the building will not be
operated as social center. facilities
will include a bar for officers and
canteen for both officers and en-
listed men. These concessions will
be sub-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
IAN 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. 4t
Call For Volunteers.
At the meeting also, Mrs. Harry
S. Bernton 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-
tionists and check room and snack
bar volunteers will be needed, Mrs.
Bernton said i
Persons willing to give one or
more periods of three hours a 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 USOAcenters will be
opened here in the near future,
it was reported, bringing to l6 the
number Of these centers in the
District and Suburban areas. One
will begin separation Saturday In
81 Bethesdavxajnd- another October
4 at 1911 H snset- NV NO opening
date hass been set for the third
wf1ieh-wfH be located at 2011
Georgia avenue NV, for colored
servicemen.
Donald Bautz, executive secretary
of the Defense Council of the
Washington Federation of Churches,
reported that Lutheran Church
groups are planning to install a
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 survey is now
being made of the activities the
various Government agencies have
organized for their employees. T.
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 Subcorn-
mittee of the War Hospitality Com
mittee.
Reporting that 2,340 beds are now
available for white servicemen and
406 for colored persons, Winfree
Johnson, chairman of the subcom-
mittee 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 30-nlile
radius of Washington have been
selected, and four hostels already
have been set up, Justin Cline,
executive secretary of the hostelers
| group, reported.