Evening star., 1945-08-13
Thousands Wait
For Releases
from j. ). Jobs
End of War Will Give
Mony Relief From
Crowded District

Thousands of Government war
time employees were looking forward
eagerly today to a return to their
homes-scattered from Maine to
California-when the japanese sur
render
To them the end of the war will
mean release from crowded board
ing houses, jammed streetcars and
buses, long waiting lines before res
taurants and the other inconven-
fences of living in an overpopu-
lated city.
Few dismissals among wartime
employees are expected at once in
the War and Navy Departments,
major hiring agencies for emer-
gency personnel. Most of the other
war agencies expect to begin grad
ual reductions of forces almost i'm
mediately after VI day, however.
Population Increases.
Since 1910, when the Nation first
began large-scale preparations for
a world war, the population Of
Washington has increased from
663, 900 to approximately 1000, 900,
while thousands of others commute
to Government offices from nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
Some of the war workers look for
ward eagerly to leaving the chaos
of downtown Washington and un-
satisfactory living conditions for the
more peaceful atmosphere of their
home towns. A Senator's secretary,
employed only for "the duration"
had this to say:
"Washington's a funny town.
It's a place where a person has to
ask taxi driver where he is going
instead of telling him where you
want him to take you. It's place
where, if you ride on the streetcar,
you can't fall down because the
crowd holds you up. It's a place
where, when you open the door Of
a restaurant, six persons fall out"
Others Like Bustle.
Other workers, however, have
come to like the hurry and hustle.
the excitement and exhilaration Of
the wartime Capital, and will leave
with regret.
Among the first to leave Wash
ington, it is expected, will be thou
sands Of wives and children who
have located here in order to be
near husbands and fathers stationed
at nearby Army camps or in service
installations here.
The postwar exodus is expected
by District officials to relieve the
housing, restaurant and transporta- =
ton situations here somewhat, al
though it may be several months
before there is any noticeable
change.
/ No Prospect of Shrinkage.
| Nor is there any prospect that
the Capital will shrink to its pre-
war population or anywhere near it.
Many permanent Government bu-
reaus which were moved to other
| cities in order to make room fol-
war agencies will return, bringing
thousands OF employees with them.
Also Government agencies han
ding postwar problems will expand
4 Probably the biggest postwar expan-
sion will occur in the Veterans Ad-
mlnistration, while the Commerce
Department and Reconstruction
Finance Corp. expect to use tre-
mendous STATS in working out the
reconversion of industry and the
sale of surplus war property.
Among the agencies likely to de.
crease their personnel rapidly are
the Office of War Information, the
War Shipping Administration, the
War Production Board and the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing.
Meanwhile, Congress is consider
ing legislation to give Federal em-
pioyes severance pay which would
pay their rail fares home and tide
them over for a month or so until
they can arrange peacetime employ
ment. No action, however, has been
/ taken on this &c vet