REPORT OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON. D. C. i JUNE 9, 1917, TO JUNE 30, 1919 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1919 / REPORT OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE (m7-/^i.^ WASHINGTON, D. C. $ JUNE 9, 1917, TO JUNE 30, 1919 CiO WASHINGION GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1919 31570 .8 n, »f B. uec 22 1919 DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 1415 Twenty-first Street NW., Washington, D. C. Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. Wm. B. King, Vice Chairman. John Poole, Treasurer. Edwin S. Hege, Secretary. CHAIBMEN OF COMMITTEES. Coordination of societies Wm. H. Baldwin. Finance John Poole. Food supply and conservation Wm. B. King. Housing Dr. George M. Kober. Labor , A.rthur E. Holder. Legal problems Joseph W. Cox. Publicity , Jeremiah A. O'Leary. Sanitation and medicine Dr. W. C. Woodward. Woman's committee Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. COMMITTEES. Coordination of societies: Mr. Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. Mr. John Joy Edson. Mr. Walter C. Clephane. Mr. George S. Wilson. Mr. Corcoran Thorn. Finance : Mr. John Poole, Chairman. (No members appointed.) Food supply and conservation : Mr. Wm. B. King, Chairman. Mrs. Whitman Cross. Mrs. Thomas W. Sidwell. Mr. John Brayshaw, jr. Mr. Charles I. Corby. Mr. John B. Earnshaw. Mr. Wm. G. Carter. Mr. J. A. Whitfield. Mr. H. C. Graham. Mr. E. J. Ayers. Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor. Mrs. F. L. Ransome. Mrs. Carl Vrooman. Mr. John B. Colpoys. Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore. Mr. Wm. H. Johnson. Housing : Dr. George M. Kober, Chairman. Mr. A. P. Clark. Mr. John Joy Edson. Mr. George E. Hamilton. Mr. Charles E. Hood. Mr. Wm. D. Hoover. Mr. Elliott Woods. Mr. George Truesdell. Mr. Richard B. Watrous. Housing — Continued. Mr. W. I. Swanton. Mr. H. M. McLarin. Mr. William Blackman. Labor : Mr. Arthur E. Holder, Chairman. Mr. A. H. Beres. Mr. J. A. Slyder. Mr. Edward Northnagel. Mr. Jackson H. Ralston. Mr. C. W. McCaffery. Mr. Fred Hewitt. Mr. George E. Hamilton. Mr. E. B. Byrne. Legal problems: Mr. Joseph W. Cox, Chairman. Mr. Justin Morrill Chamberlin. Mr. A. A. Hoehling, jr. Mr. Clarence R. Wilson. Mr. Ralph B. Fleharty. Publicity : Mr. J. A. O'Leary, Chairman. Mr. Y. E. Booker. Mr. John L. Martin. Mr. L. M. Bell. Mr. J. L. Yeagle. Sanitation and medicine: Dr. W. C. Woodward, Chairman. (No members appointed.) Woman's committee : Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, C/iairmcH. INIrs. James W. Wadsworth. Mrs. Augustus P. Gardner. Mrs. George Howard. Mrs. Louis Brownlow. Mrs. William Belden Noble. .3 n:,!-;a:iir^uoo;j> ,-.-!' July 1, 1919. To the Commissioners of the DistHct of Columbia: Gentlemen ; I have the honor to transmit herewith a report cov- ering the activities of the District Council. of Defense from its or- ganization on June 9, 1917, to June 30, 1919. Respectfully submitted. Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. 5 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. WASHINGTON. D. C. The Council of National Defense was established by the act of Congress of August 29, 1916, and consisted of the Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy. Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Com- merce, Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior. These officials were ex officio clothed with authority to do in their depart- ments the things necessary in preparation for war. The same act provided for an advisory commission for the Council of National Defense, to consist of seven men prominent in various lines of activity. To this representatives of the railroads, manufac- turing, education, labor, raw materials, supplies, and medicine were ■ appointed. The Council of National Defense, with the advisory commission, took the lead in preparing for war, and, with a large number of affiliated committees made up of the leading men of the Nation, Avere active in assembling the resources of the country at the time when war was declared. Following out this idea. Secretary Baker, chairman of the Council of National Defense, on April 9, 1917, sent a letter to the governor of each State, asking that similar bodies, wliich might be called State councils of defense, be formed in each State to cooperate with the Council of National Defense in enlisting the energies of all the people in the work undertaken. Perhaps because it is not, strictly speaking, a State, and perhaps because it is so closely connected with the Federal Government, no such letter was sent to the District of Cohnnbia, and it was not until Secretary Baker, as chairman of the Council of National Defense, on April 20. 1917, issued a call for a National Defense Conference, to be made up of the representatives of each State, or of each of the State councils of defense, that the Commissioners of the District of Colum- bia were made aware of the movement which Avas taking place and of the request to join in it. This National Defense Conference was summoned to meet in Washington on May 2 and 3. 1917, and the commissioners, finding that it was expected that the District of Columbia would participate in the conference, appointed Mr. Wil- liam H. Baldwin to represent the District in it. NATIONAL DEFENSE CONFERENCE. The National Defense Conference met on the morning of May 2. 1917, with representatives connected with State councils of defense or other war activities from all but three of the States, including the governors of nine of them, to the number of 46. Two days were spent in an earnest effort to find out how best to help the Federal Govern-, ment and how to act together most wisely to this end. 8 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. On the first day the conference listened to addresses by Secretary Baker, Secretary Daniels, Judge Advocate Gen. Crowder, Adj. Gen. McCain, Secretary Lane, Secretary Wilson, the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, and others. An informal dinner in the evening brought out some pointed and practical discussion of important phases of the situation. The next day the conference listened to addresses by Mr. Daniel Willard, Dr. Franklin Martin, Mr. Howard E. Coffin, and otliers connected Avith the advisory commission of the Council of National Defense, as well as to Mr. Wadsworth, of the Red Cross; and after a second plenary session in the office of the Secretary of War to receive his expressions of appreciation of the interest taken, the conference separated feeling that the time had been well spent. From what developed at the conference it was apparent that State councils of defense had already been formed in practically every State, that New York and Massachusetts each had been working on the problem for a j^ear, that each had spent considerable sums, and that other States were already well along in preparation for war. DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE FORMED. In reporting on the conference to the commissioners next day Mr. Baldwin stated these facts and recommended that a District Council of Defense be formed, but without all the committees in the standard organization suggested for State councils of defense because of the different conditions in the District. Feeling the need of such a body to assist them iii carrying the work Avhich was crowding upon them so heavily on account of the war, the commissioners established the District Council of Defense, to consist in part of eight of the com- mittees recommended by the Council of National Defense for the States, viz : Coordination of societies Food supply and conservation. Finance Legal problems. Labor Sanitation and medicine. Publicity Woman's committee. Because of the need of particular attention to the subject on account of the crowd of incoming Governmeot workers, there was added to these a committee on housing, making nine. It was understood that the District Council of Defense, with power of action, would consist of the chairmen of these committees, but that they would nominate to the commissioners other members of each committee, who would be appointed by the commissioners and who would act in an advisor}^ capacity. Of these committees seven were appointed at once, with the fol- lowing chairmen : Coordination of societies Mr. William H. Baldwin. Finance J Mr. John Poole. Food supply and conservation Mr. Charles F. Nesbit. Housing Dr. R. S. Woodward. Legal problems Mr. J. S. Easby-Smith. Publicity Mr. A. J. McKelway. Sanitation and medicine Dr. W. C. Woodward. The first meeting was held on June 9, 1917, at the call of Commis- sioner Brownlow, who explained to the council the purposes for REPORT Ol-^ DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 9 which it was established. He spoke particuhirly of the need of pro- vision for housing accommodations, and in the discussion Dr. R. S. Woodward brought out clearly tlie necessity of providing food as well as .shelter. It was understood that this phase of the problen\ would receive particular attention from the council as it developed. Within the next two Aveeks Mr. Arthur E. Plolder was appointed chairman of the committee on labor, and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, chairman of the woman's committee. Mr. William H. Baldwin, at the suggestion of Commissioner Brownlow, was elected chairman of the council at its first meeting, and at the second meeting, on June 21, Dr. R. S. Woodward was chosen vice chairman. The District Council of Defense took the situation as it found it. The first Liberty loan had already been carried through very suc- cessfully by a committee, of Vvhich Mr. Poole was chairman ; and, under the leadership of Mr. Henry B. F. Macfarland, with a com- plete organization, the first Red Cross campaign for money had been conducted, so no finance committee was ever appointed, nor was any committee on sanitation and medicine appointed, because the health department was quite able to support the chairman of that committee without any further organization. COMMITTEES APPOIKrED.- Owing to some delay in completing the list for members of the housing committee, in addition to those suggested by the chairman, appointments for this important committee were not made until November 19, but the committees as originally completed then stood as follow^s: Coordination of societies. — Mr. William H. Baldwin (cliaiimiiii), Mr. John Joy Edson, Mr. AValter C. Clepbiine, Mr. George S. Wilson, and Mr. Corcoran Thom. Finance. — Mr. .Tohii Poole (chairman). Food, supply and eonscrvation. — Mr. Charles F. Nesbit, chairman ; Mr. Wm. B. King. Mrs. Whitman Cross, Mrs. Thomas W. Sidwell, Mr. .lolm Brayshavv, jr., Mr. Charles I. Corby, Mr. .John B. Earnshaw, Mr. Wm. G. Carter, Mr. ,T. A. Whitfield, Mr. H. C. Graham, Mr. E. ,T. Ayers, IMrs. Gilbert Grosvenor. Mrs. F. L. Ransome, Mrs. Carl Vrooman, Mr. .Tohn B. Colpoys, ;Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore. and Mr. Wm. H. .Tohnson. Hoi/sinfj. — Dr. R. S. Woodward, cJiainnnn; Mr. A. P. Clark. Mr. .John .Toy Edson, Mr. (4eorge E. Hamilton, Mr. Charles E. Hood, Mr. William D. Hoover, Mr. Elliott AVoods, Mr. George Trnesdell, Mr. Richard B. Watrous, INIr. W. I. Swanton, ]\Ir. H. IM. McLarin, and Mr. William Blaekman. Labor. — ivir. Arthur E. Holder, cJiairman: Mv. A. H. Beres, Mr. ,T. A. Slyder, Mr. Edward Nothnagel. Mr. Jackson H. Ralston, Mr. C. W. McCaffery, Mr. Fred Hewitt, Mr. George E. Hamilton, and IMr. E. B. Byrne. Legal proidcvhs. — Mr. ,T. S. Easby-Smith, chairman; Mr. .Justin Morrill Chum- berlin, Mr. A. A. Hoehling, jr., Mr. Clarence R. Wilson, Mr. Ralph B. Fleharty, and Mr. Joseph W. Cox. PuhlieiUi. — Mr. A. J. McKelway, chairman; Mr. Y. E. Booker, IMr. John L. Martin, IMr. L. M. Bell, and Mr. J. L. Yeagle. Sandtation and medicine. — Dr. W. C. Woodward, chairman. Woman's committee. — Airs. Archibald Ho]ikins, chainnan; ]Mrs. Hai-riet Blaine Beale, Mrs. James W. Wadsworth, Mrs. Augustus P. Gardner, Mrs. George Howard, Mrs. Louis Brownlow, and Mrs. William Belden Noble. By reason of taking up important duties in the office of the Judge Advocate General, Mr. J. S. Easby-Smith gave notice of his resigna- tion from the coinicil on July 27, 1917. and Mr. Joseph W. Cox, Avho 145740—19 2 10 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. was appointed in his place, has been chairman of the committee on legal problems since that time. On November 2, 1917, it was stated that Mr. Charles F. Nesbit had been obliged to resign from the council because of his appointment as commissioner of military and naval insurance in the War Risk In- surance Bureau, and Mr. William B. King was, on November 27, 1917, appointed chairman of the committee on food supj)ly and con- servation in his place. After having done faithful work for many months as chairman of the housing committee and vice chairman of the council. Dr. R. S. Woodward Avithdrew from the council by resigning the chairmanship of the committee on December 26, 1917. The chairmanship was unfilled until January 29, 1918, when Mr. E. E. Clement was appointed to succeed Dr. Woodward. Because of absence from the citj', and consequent inability to give nuich time to the Avork, Mr. Clement's resignation was accepted on April 5, 1918, and the housing committee was again without a chairman until May 31, 1918, when Dr. George M. Kober, who has been chair- man since, was appointed. On January 31, 1918, Mr. William B. King was made vice chair- man of the council to succeed Dr. R. S. Woodward, and Mr. John Poole, who, as chairman of the finance committee, had attended to Ihe finances of the council, Avas appointed treasurer. The chairman of the i^ublicity committee, Mr. A. J. McKelway, who had taken a great interest not only in work pertaining to that committee but also in all the affairs of the council, passed away very unexpectedly on April 16, 1918, and JNIr. J. A. O'Leary, Avho is now chairman of the committee, Avas appointed to succeed him. At the meeting on April 25, 1918, on the recommendation of the chairman, the council elected Mr. EdAvin S. Hege, Avho had been manager of tlie room-registration office almost ever since its estab- lishment, secretary of the council in order that he might relieve the chairman of some of the Avork which had fallen upon him, especially m connection Avith the housing and rooming situation. COORDINATION OF SOCIETIES. The committee on coordination of societies assembled a list of or- ganizations and committees in all the different branchesi of Avork relating in any Avay to preparation for Avar, both official and unoffi- cial. It i^romptly held a meeting to go over the ground and advise the council as to the general policy to be pursued. The rest of the work Avas accomplished by personal consultation Avith other members of the committee and by the action of the council as a whole. It hel})ed to discourage unnecessary activities, particularly in the Avay of appeals, and of other organizations Avliich sought to take charge of different phases of the housing problem, and at the same time en- couraged other organizations in the necessary work which they were doing. FINANCE. The council had no appropriation for more than a year. The commissioners furnished it with a room and telephone service in the District Building, together with some office supplies. It was not REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 11 until early in August that the chairman of the finance committee attempted to raise $1,500, which was estimated to be the least amount on which the council could run for a year, by making per- sonal appeals to 300 men in the District for a contribution of $5 each — no more, no less. Because of the many absences at that time of the year this appeal brought in only $825. The first vice chair- man of the council later contributed $100, and the remainder of the expenses of clerk hire, stationery, postage, and supplies during that time were paid for by the chairman personally. The council might, perhaps, have accomplished more if it had had larger funds to employ more assistance and to do more printing, as was done by some of the State councils ; but the press and others were much interested, and the council accomplished all it could with the resources at its command. For the follovring year the commissioners asked for an appropri- ation for the council of $25,000, most of which was to be needed for the conduct of the room-registration office, and the office was run- ning so well that this item was readily passed by both of the com- mittees and by each House of Congress; but owing to differences over other items, the appropriation bill was not passed and ap- proved until August 31, 1918. On this account it became necessary to ask for a continuation until that time of the grant of $1,800 per month made by the President for the room-registration office, and the expenses of tlie council as such continued to be paid as before. From the beginning of September the expenses of the room-regis- tration office were paid from the District appropriation, but on September 16 it Avas taken over by the Housing Corporation of the Department of Labor, which paid all its expenses from that date. As the expenditures for the room-registration office were in reality under the direction of the District Council of Defense and for its work, though made through the Council of National Defense for the amounts received from the President's fund, ft seems proper to include them in the statement of receipts and expenditures of the council and its connections. Taking into a( count the services for which it paid in connection with the Federal Employment Serv- ice and the children's year work toward the close of the fiscal year 1919, the total amounts expended from Government funds by the council up to June 30, 1919, were as follows : President's fund through Council of National Defense. Fiscal year Fiscal year 1918. 1919. District ap- propriation, fiscal year 1919. Total. Salaries Furniture and equipment Rent Pninting, stationery, etc. . Miscellaneous expenses. . . Unexpended remainder . . , 650. 46 301.05 600. 00 362. 90 220. 63 3, 178. 47 ' '466.' 66' 20.14 10.74 9, 135. 04 1,664.96 3,609.35 19.35 $2, 872. 32 ""m.m 66.' 66' 3, 038. 98 21,961.02 $13,701.25 301.05 1,106.66 383. 04 291.37 15,783.37 23, 616. 63 Excess of expenditures. i2 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL. OF DEFENSE. This docs not include the amount of $925 collected from individuals nor that paid personally by the chairman, most of which went for clerical services, office supplies, and printing, bringing the total ex- penses of the council up to $17,108.37. FOOD SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION. The pressure for attention to the food sui)])ly in the District was apparent from the first, and JNIr. Nesljit's committee entered the field with earnestness and energ}'. The members of this committee rep- resented not only those interested in the food problem from the standpoint of the community but also others identified with the wholesale and retail distribution of supplies and produce. Made up in this way, the committee was able to give reliable information as to the various projects and to make sii^estions as to the way in Avhich supplies could best be secured, the difficulties in the way of getting them in satisfactory amount or at a moderate price, and the jjest methods of keeping prices from advancing. The District Council of Defense soon after its organization took up, through the food supply and conservation committee, with the aid to the woman's committee, the securing of pledges for compli- ance Avith food regulations from householders throughout the Dis- trict on cards supplied by the Federal Food Administration. The help of the police was invoked hy means of an arrangement through the commissioners, and they distributed to householders the 90,000 pledge cards which were printed by the council. It was not possible to oJbtain a franking privilege for these cards in order that they might be returned Avithout expense to the sender, as was afterwards done by the Food Administration, but a plan somewhat more elab- orate than any devised elsewhere was adopted in order to get back the cards and ftlso to give information in regard to what was desired in connection with them. This plan was to have the cards all taken up at designated school - houses in the District on July 10 and to have addresses by members of the Food Administration and others, so as to have the house- holders understand the reason for the pledge and to awaken a desire for complying with its requirements. There was an entire willingness on the part of teachers to cooperate in this work, and most of the meetings held as proposed had a good attendance, but the results were rather disappointing. The Food Administration was someAvhat dilatorj^ in reporting the exact result because of hindrances connected with the organization of its system and with the distribution of window cards ; but Avhile no definite fig- ures were secured from the Food Administration records, the council got the impression that not more than 10,000 pledges were obtained by all this effort. This may have been liecause the matter was not thoroughly understood by the housewives and also because the return of the cards was not made easier, as it afterwards was, by the use of the franking privilege. In the discussion of the supply and distribution of food attention was called to the great destruction caused by rats, which was some years since estimated by the Department of Agriculture in an investi- gation here to amount to $400,000 per annum in Washington. A sub- REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 13 committee was appointed to make a report on the present situation as to this and to make recommendations for remedying it. Several meetings were held, but because of changes in the situation as to the food supj)ly and conservation committee the report Avas never sub- mitted. The food suj)ply and conservation committee held regular meetings from June 19, when the question of saving by discontinuing the re- turn of unsold bread was discussed, up to October 23, and covered ex- tended discussions as to the questions of prices, deliveries, transporta- tion, and the supply of vegetables at Ioav prices for canning. After going over the situation carefully it issued, on August 8, 1917, an urgent appeal to the citizens of the District to take advantage of the dull season to fill their bins with coal for the coming winter. This good advice was followed by many, but the announcement made sev- eral days later that the Government was going to reduce the price of coal stopped the movement entirely and added to the severity of the situation when winter came. On October 23, 1917, Mr. Clarence R. Wilson was appointed food administrator for the District, and as such was clothed with the au- thority, and given the money for an organization, which the District Council of Defense lacked ; and as Mr. Nesbit was at about the same time obliged to relinquish the chairmanship of the committee because of his appointment as chief of the division of military and naval insurance in the War Risk Insurance Bureau, the meetings were discontinued. On taking the matter up with Food Administrator Wilson on No- vember 14. 1917. soon after he had organized his office, Mr. Wilson stated to the chairman of the council that he desired to take cliarge of practically all of the work the food supply and conservation com- mittee had been appointed to do, but that it might be well to let the committee stand under the new chairman, Mr. William B. King, who had been appointed to succeed Mr. Nesbit, so that there might be an organization if it was thought best to have the council attempt any- thing further in this line. It was also understood that the council would continue to work with the Department of Agriculture in supporting the efforts of its agents in the District for gardening and home economics. The matter was accordingly arranged in this way, and the food supply and conservation committee, as such, has held no further meetings. GARDEX COINIMITTEE. The Capital Garden Club early in 1917 raised nearly $1,200 for the purpose of developing home gardens throughout the city, but not being organized to do the work in connection therewith another or- ganization, known as the central gardens committee, made up of rep- resentative citizens of the District, undertook the task. An office VN'ith a paid secretary was obtained in the Star Building, many tracts of land secured, and under the guidance of Mr. H. M. Conolly, the expert of the Department of Agriculture, about 5,000 gardens were planted. The Boy Scouts had a prominent ])art in this in connection with land allotted to them in Potomac Park. Great interest in the general undertaking was aroused, and at the close of the season the value of the food produced was estimated to be $260,000. 14 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. About the 1st of July, 1017, and in connection with this, a can- ning enterprise was undertaken at the Thompson SchooL Many people brought in fruit and vegetables, and under .the leadership of Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore a Aery large number of jars were put up. It was thought that this plan might be extended to other places in the city under the supervision of Miss Mary W. Thurston, the expert of the Department of Agriculture; and as the central gardens com- mittee had exhausted its funds, and seemed to be unable to raise more^ the Department of Agriculture requested the District Council of Defense, as a semiofficial body, to appoint a committee which would aid its representatives in producing and preserving food in the Dis- trict. After going over the matter carefully with the department, the council appointed, on August 1, 1917, a gardening and canning com- mittee, with Mr. E. F. Colladay as chairman and Mrs. W. D. Bigelow as vice chairman, to look after this work. For reasons into which it is not necessary to go, and particularly because the season had clcsed, this committee found itself unable to carry on the work as proposed. It was accordingly dissolved, and two committees were appointed instead : A garden committee, with Mr. E. F. Colladay as chairman; Mr. A. J. Driscoll, Mr. J. A. Ber- berich, Mr. S. T. Cameron, and Mr. Charles F, Crane, representing various commercial bodies; and Hon. Albert Douglas and Mrs. F. H. Brooke, representing the Capital Gardens Club, was appointed to look after the gardening; and another committee of five women, with Mrs. W. D, Bigelow as chairman, to look after the home economics, including the preserving of food. Endeavoring to start its work, the home economics committee dis- covered that the field was already occupied by a committee of ladies connected with the Food Administration who were working in con- nection with the Department of Agriculture. As it seemed unde- sirable to have two committees doing the same thing it was suggested to the Food Administration that they merge ; but as this suggestion did not prove to be acceptable, and with the cordial consent of the Food Administration, the home economics committee of the District Council of Defense was dissolved, leaving the responsibility with the Food Administration and the Department of Agriculture. The garden committee, however, took up its work vigorously. An office in the Union Trust Building was secured, with a paid secre- tary and stenographer. During the winter garden clubs were organ- ized in various districts throughout the city and all available land was located. The Capital Gardens Club contributed $2,479.64, and from other sources $1,308.71 was received, making the total, which was all from private subscriptions, $3,788.35. The work was actively cai-ried on during the spring and summer, as shown by the following statistics : 85 meetings held, with an attendance of 4,799. 1,450 letters sent out. 4,105 circular letters received in the office. 2,020 telephone calls received asking for garden information. 1.394 visitors called at the office. 37,000 bulletins and circulars sent out. 1,936 garden visits made by the agricultural agent (1.315 to dliTerent gardens). 4,521 miles traveled (389 by street car, 3,954 by auto). REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 1 5 The result of the work was that there were phmted — Home gurdens 11, 000 School gardens IS. 200 Total 29. 200 This made the total acreage: Acres. Home gardeus 1, G70 School gardens 150 Private and public institution gardens 175 Total 1, 995 The hundreds of records collected in 1917 shoAved that an acre of home gardens produced vegetables valued at current prices at $474. In 1918, with theii- increased production in the gardens, due to better soil conditions, earlier planting, and more experience, and with the great increase in the market value of the product, the value of crops produced per acre was in the neighborhood of ^700. On the basis of 1,995 acres, at $700 per acre, the vegetables pro- duced in the home gardens of the District of Columbia in 1918 would have been wortli $1,89(),500, and may be safely figured at more than $1,000,000 and probably $1,250,000. ' As Mr. Colladay found it necessary to give up the chairmanship of the garden committee at the end of the season. Mr. Albert Douglas was appointed chairman of the committee, and the other members were continued to take up the Avork for the season 1918-19. It Avas expected that in vieAV of the importance of the Avork, and the splendid success of the year just closed. Congress Avould be quite Avill- ing to grant an apj)ro])riation to cover the needs of the committee, after the $700 remaining in the Treasury from the season just closed, and which it was hoped Avould be sufficient to carry on the Avork irnti! the necessary funds could thus be obtained from the (xovernment, • was exhausted, but the appropriation Avas not made. For Avant of this the committee has raised something more than $1,000 in addition to the amount left over from the season of 1918. It reports that because of its being so Avell organized, and because of the interest aroused by its Avork during the tA\ o previous years, more gardens haxe been planted in the season of 1919 than ever before Avith less effort by the garden committee. The Avar gardens in Potomac Park are especially noticeable for those Avho take drives there, for they shoAv a throng of interested Avorkers Avho are already getting good results in the way of vegetables this season. The committee thinks that with proper effort $2,500 or more might be obtained from the Smith-Lever fund Avith Avhich to carry on the AVork next year and thereafter ; and in any event arrangements should be made to carry on something Avhich is of such great advantage to the community in so many Avays. COMMITTEE ON LABOR. The committee on labor as such Avas not charged Avith any special responsibility in connection with the District Council of Defense because labor matters in the District Avere largely attended to by 16 KEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. agencies of the Department of Labor of the Federal Government, and wisely handled by the local trade-unions, so that no occasion arose for calling the labor committee of the council together for action; but Mr. Holder was very helpful in connection with the general work of the council. LEGAL PROBLEMS. There Avas not much demand for the services of the committee on legal problems as such until it Avas suggested at the meeting of the council on March 4, 1918, that a legal committee to advise drafted men as to their rights and to look after the interest of their families after they had entered the service Avas desirable. This matter w^as taken up by the committee on legal problems with the District Bar Association, and it Avas arranged that, instead of appointing a committee, all the members of the association would give advice Avithout charge for drafted men in such circumstances. It Avas also reported at the meeting of April 11, 1918, that the Bar Association Avas Avorking out a plan for giving similar assistance in the matter of claims under the Avar-risk insurance act or under the soldiers and sailors' civil-relief act ; but it Avas not thought necessary to prepare for the District such a legal handbook as had been issued by some of the State councils. Advice Avas also given to other citizens in cases Avhere eviction was attempted. SANITATION. AND MEDICINE. The work Avhich would have been performed by the committee on sanitation and medicine, of Avhich Dr. William C. WoodAvard Avas chairman, Avas carried forAvard in the regular Avay by the health de- partment ; but in the matter of the control of \'enereal diseases it made a special report, approving in principle of the bill Avhich had been indorsed by the Surgeon (leneral of the Army, the Surgeon General of the Navy, and the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, with certain modifications needed to make it applicable to the District. Based on this a bill Avas introduced in Congress to give the commis- sioners the power to make and enforce the necessary regulations. The council also obtained and issued to men about to enter the service a large number of pamphlets relating to these diseases. aa'OMan's committee. Most of the Avork of the Avoman's committee Avas done by the chair- man, Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, and in addition to her participation in the general work of the council. As a member of the council, Mrs. Hopkins Avas faithful in her attendance at its meetings, and because of her Avide knowledge of local conditions and her quick interest in all social proljlems Avas very helpful. It was her opinion that it would have b.een nmch better to have the Avomen share in the AA^ork of all committees, as she thus did. in the work of the council, and as Avas subsequently arranged for by the Council of National Defense about the time the armistice was signed, than to separate their work as the formation of the Avoman's diA'ision did. REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 17 Mrs. Hopkins Avas from the first particularly interested in the housing problem, but being also the representative of the woman's division of the Council of National Defense, chairman of the woman's welfare branch of the National Civic Federation, and also working in connection with the housing and health division of the War De- partment, she used in hei- eli'orts such means as were available from any of these sources, and thus w^orked to a certain extent independently of the District Council of Defense or the woman's committee as such. In everything which came up in this connection she displayed an un- wearying energy and a sympathetic interest which nuide itself felt in all phases of the work. Much interest was taken by Mrs. Hopkins and meuibers of the com- mittee in efforts to promote the construction of additional housing accommodations and in matters connected with the Children's Year and problems relating to child welfare generally. RETAIL, DELIVERIES. One of the first acts of the District Council of Defense in connec- tion with recommendations made by the commercial economy board of the Council of National Defense was to approve, at its meeting on June 21, 1917, the action taken by the bakers of the District in dis- continuing the privilege of returning unsold bread. This- was done to economize in the food supply, and was prom})tly followed by earnest consideration of the waste of man power and other energies, which was being caused by the complicated and needlessly frequent retail deliveries in the District. A special committee on retail deliveries, consisting of Mr. Easby- Smith and Mr. Nesbit, was appointed by the council at its meeting on July 19, 1917, to give particular attention to this question. On the resignation of Mr. Easby-Smith from the council a week later. Mr. Mclvelway was appointed to take his place on the committee, and Mr. Cox was later appointed in place of Mr. Nesbit when he retired from the council on November 2. It was found that the subject had already been taken up directly with the Retail Merchants' Association by the coniiuercial economy board, and tliat the woman's division was also at work on it through a committee of which Mrs. Newton D. Baker was at the head. A hearing was given by the committee to the retail merchants on July 30, at wdiich the subject was fully discussed, and it was suggested that if purchasers took packages home they ought to receive some concession in the price because of the saving thus affected for the merchants by their unusual efforts. This suggestion the merchants promised to consider but no arrangement was ever made in regard to it. At the meeting of the council on January 3, 1918, Mr. Cox, as chair- man of the committee on retail deliveries, reported that at a meet- ing of the Retail Merchants' Association, at which lie was })resent, it was proposed to limit the deliveries to one a day and to use the equip- ment thus freed in relieving the congested condition of inroiiiing freight in the railroad yards, wliich Avas then causing a great deal oi" 14.5740—19 3 18 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFEISTSE. delay and liardsliip. Tlio council approved this action and the fol- lowing letter was written in support of it: January, 5, 1918. To the retail iitvrchants of Wdskiiigton: The unusual freight congestion existing in Washington at the present time makes it necessai-y for us to earnestly re(]uest all merchants to make imme- diately the adjustments in their business that are recommended by the com- mercial economy board of the Council of National Defense. In the .spirit of these recommendations for a curtailment of retail services, at a me- ting held on January 4 at the office of the conuuercial economy btard, at which the chairman of the special committee of this council on retail de- liveries was present, a group of- the large department store merchants of Wash- ington decided on the adoi)ti()n of these war-time measures of one delivery a day over each route and the elimination of the unnecessary work connected, with return merchiindise, C. (J. D. sales, and special deliveries. These nierchnnts ;ire to be commended for promptly making these changes in their established business routine. By their action they are making an im- portant contribution to the immediate national and local needs. The equip- ment thus released from making unnecessary deliveries is expected to afford substantial relief to the existing inbound-freight congestion. The District ('(luncil of Defense believes that the public will readily accom- modate themselves to this restricted service as a means of individual coopera- tion with the merchants in meeting the present emergency, especially as the savings resulting from the adoption of these plans will be reflected in closer prices on merchandise. The IHstrict Council of Defense now calls upon all other retail merchants to make sinfiiar adjustments in their business, as all are expected to cooperate with these plans. District Council ov Defense. Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. This acti(jn liad an important effect in diminishing the useless labor of making deliveries which were not needed, and in saving gasoline, whicli was then becoming so scarce. It benefited the iner- <'hants by hel|)ing tliem to discontinue the practice of sending goods to homes in the hope of increasing sales, and perhaps helped the ])eople by removing the corresponding pressure to make purchases which were not really necessary. It does not appear that any special hardship has been occasioned by the change, nor does it appear that the customers liave received any benefit from the great saving which the merchants have undoubtedly made unless it be that prices have not been made as high as they otherwise Avould ha^'e been. At the meeting of the council on January 31, 1918, the i:)ower laundries presented a request for a letter about their deliveries similar to that sent to the retail merchants, and at its next meeting, on February 7, Mr. Cox, chairman of the special committee on retail deliveries, reported a recommendation that a letter urging the lau.n- dries to curtail their deliveries be written. This recommendation was adopted, but with the provision that a discount be allowed to customers who should bring in or take back their laundry packages. This provision was not acceptable to the laundries, and no use was ever made of the letter. At its meeting on February 21, 1918, on recommendation of the sf)ecial committee, the council also passed a motion urging the retail grocers and market men of the District to reduce their deliveries of food products to one delivery per day on each route, and to abolish the return privilege, but with the provision that the benefit of the savings thus effected be shared with the customer. REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 19 This was all in line with the effort then being made to economize, not only in materials but in men and energy, in the effort to Avin the war. HOUSING CONDITIONS. Not since the journeyings of St. Ursula with her 11,000 virgins to their martyrdom at Cologne, some 1.500 years ago, h.as there been cjuch a pilgrimage of young Avomen as that Avhich moved toward Washington after the beginning of the war in 1917. There was on the part of young women engaging in it a similar enthusiasm, a will- ingness to leave home and kindred, a passion for any kind of service. a disregard of danger, and an eagerness for seeing other i^arts of the world such as marked the young women who were led by the virgin saint. The prince was in evidence also, not alone but in large numbers, also devoted to the service of the country, and may lisive had something to do with the ]:)sychology of the move-nent. • But there were points of diiference which were as striking as tlie similarity in numbers and in other characteristics. The throng which folloAved St. Ursula was organized, and in her leadership she was as- sisted iiot only by her 10 associates, each of whom was in conunand of her particular thousand, but also by the good bishops who helped the inaidens manage the sails as they were driven in their ships along the northern coast of p]urope and in their voyage up the Ehine until they went on foot from Basle over the mountains to Rome. After that the ])ope himself su])ported her in her leadership on the return journey, and the prince also, who fell in the slaughter when all of the party were massacred at Cologne, where their bones still lie, by the Huns, the ancestors of the Germans, against whom the young women who thronged to Washington were helping their brothers and lovers to fight. Tlie saints seem also to have accepted conditions a.s they found them and to have made their way Avithout complaints. e\en of their blessed n.iartyrdom. The young women Avho gathered in Washington came from all parts of the country and were wholly unorganized. They, too, had visions, not entirely celestial, of what they expected to find in the life there: and tliey were, many of them, not at all inclined to accept, in a nuirtyr spirit, the lack of elegance Avhich GoA^ernment employees on relatiA^ely suiall salaries had long been accustomed to in tlie modest homes Avhich the newcomers were clieerfully invited to share. In the series of beautiful pictures by Carpaccio in the Accademia in Venice, Avhich shoAv so Avell the striking incidents of the pilgrim; age of St. Ursula, there is one which reveals the dainty lady asleep in her chamber with her little crown put at the foot of the bed, a tidy over her head, and her shoes carefully placed together at the side of the bed, as the angel who bears the palm branch, the symbol of martyrdom, appears to her in the vision Avhich the picture repre- sents. All is neat and orderly, but though the room is apparently oi^ fair size, the evident barrenness of its furnishings Avould haA^e caused it to be refused by many girls who were looking for accom- modations in Washington. Many of the young women who were attracted by the relatively large salaries offered had neA'^er been aAvay from home before, and 20 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. in the nostalgic reaction which generally aris&s after separation for the first time from one's family, everything different from what it was at home was apt to seem objectionable. It had not occurred to these pilgrims that the expenses must also be figured on a new basis, and that the advantages of life at home in a small place could not be expected in a crowded city. This also caused disappointment and led to a great many undeserved criticisms of Washington people who had never had outsiders in their homes before, but who were admitting them then from a patriotic desire to help share with them in this way the burden which the war imposed. There Avere some Washington people who were inclined to, and did, take advantage of the circumstances as they developed by charg- ing higher rates, both for rooms and for apartments and houses, but it may be said of them generally that they displayed an excellent spirit, and that the accommodations in which prices had not been raised, or in which the advance which came later was entirely within reason, constituted the great mass of such resources placed at the command of the Government by the people of Washington, and that the exceptions to this, of which a considerable proportion were on the part of people Avho were not actually Washingtonians, and which were so striking as to bring severe condemnation on the people of the city as a whole, were relatively few in number. It may be said generally also, that, as in other things, those who came to undertake Government work in Washington got from it what they brought to it. Those who appreciated the circumstances, who had had some experience, Avho were ready to put up with some necessary inconveniencas in finding a satisfactory place, and who ex- ] )ected people to be reasonable with them were for the most part able to settle themselves comfortably. Those who were not inclined to consider the circumstances, who judged everything by the home standard, and who were ready to criticize and condemn when prices or accommodations were not to their liking instead of quietly seeking others, were themselves uncomfortable and helped to makes others so. One instance may illustrate both sides of the problem. On the morning of April 8, 1918, a sweet-faced, refined-looking young girl, who had never before been away from her home in one of the suburbs of Boston, came into the office of the District Council of Defense in great trouble because her landlady was keeping her tnmk. It de- veloped that the girl toward the last of March had rented her room at $35 per month for room and board and on this arrangement had paid up to the end of March. The place was not unsatisfactory, but because the woman who kept it had expressed some pro-German sentiments two or three days previously the young lady had found another place and informed her landlady the day before that she would leave on that day. To this the landlady consented, but charged her transient rates for the seven days, amounting to $10. The girl had refused to pay more than the pro rata proportion of the monthly rate and her trunk was being held for the difference, amounting to about $3. When it was explained to her that her landlady was right, and had, indeed, been considerate, because she might have claimed the whole $35 for the month, and also, that if the woman had turned her out with as little notice as she herself was giving about leaving, REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 21 the District Council of Defense would have promptly taken her name off the list of possible places, she saw that she was Avrong and was quite willing to pay what was asked. When she next came to the notice of the chairman of the council, nearly a year later, she said that she had been very happy in her new place since. VAKIOUS HOUSING NEEDS. Not all those who came to help in the war work were young women. Occupying the highest rank in the incoming mass were the " dollar-a- year" men with their families. Many of these were men of large wealth who, without hesitation, rented, at prices which had been hitherto unknown, but which were voluntarily offered, some of the best residences in the city. No objection could be raised to their mak- ing themselves comfortable in this way during their temporary so- journ in the city, but what took place in this connection had a con- siderable influence in the suggestion of higher rents generally. There were men of more moderate means with their families who also found houses, for some time at least, without much difficulty; and there were young officers with their wives, and often with one or more children, whose means were limited and who wanted small apartments for light housekeeping. The supply of these was soon exhausted, and some of the greatest hardships experienced occurred in this connection. There were a great number of unmarried young men, many of them officers, who came to do war work here instead of in the field, and who required rooms. These took care of themselves more readily, not only because they were perhaps less critical than the feminine employees, but also because a large proportion of the people with rooms to rent preferred young men for the reason that they were less observant, more easily satisfied, and less likely to want special privileges in connection with the household arrangements. But the real problem consisted in finding rooms and board for the multitude of young women required as stenographers and typists in taking care of the necessary communications and office records con- nected with assembling the men and materials and doing the manu- facturing and directing connected with the war. RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. This subject was at no time neglected in any way by the District Council of Defense, but while it promptly saw and made recommen- dations for the measures needed to meet the situation, it was without the authority, and for a long time without any of the funds needed to carry them out. At its first meeting, on June 9, 1917, after Com- missioner Brownlow, who had appealed to the citizens for rooms in a meeting of ministers held four days before, had spoken of the need of accommodations for the expected increase of from 10,000 to 12,000 clerks likely to take place before the end of the year. Dr. R. S. Wood- ward, chairman of the housing committee, called attention to the need, not only of housing accommodations but also of supplying food for the additional people who were to come. At the next meeting, on June 21, Dr. Woodward made two definite recommendations with a tIbw to keeping prices for board and lodging within reasonable limits. 22 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. namely, the construction of a large Government eating house, pos- sibly under the direction of the War Department, and the erection of barracks to house some of the large number of civilian emploj' ees ex- pected. An enumeration of the vacant houses in the city by the police was also suggested. At the first meeting in July it -was reported that efforts Avere being made to provide for the registration of rooms and for complete in- formation as to the number of vacant houses, which a week later Avas reported by Dr. WoodAvard to have been ascertained to be still be- tween 4,500 and 5,000. Up to that time the Young Men's Christian Association, through a specially organized department, had been tak- ing good care of all young men Avho applied to it for rooms, and the Young Women's Christian Association Avas doing exceptionally good service to the Government in finding suitable rooms Avith board for the young Avomen, Avho were coming in increasing numbers. Dr. Woodward made a very favorable report as to the cafeteria con- nected with it, saying that from 600 to 800 people Avere being served there each day, and that he had been able to obtain in it more good food than a groAvn man ought to eat at one time for 30 cents. Ihese two agencies, animated by the earnest desire, characteristic of each, to take good care of the young people Avho came to them, continued to place them, and through their appeals to the people of the city to have ahvays a considerable number of good rooms available. The benefit Avhich the Government thus deriA'ed from these tAvo voluntary agencies in solving its problem of taking care of the incoming Avar workers has been A^ery great and shoidd never be forgotten; and it was not until the latter part of October that the pressure for accom- modations began to attract public attention. ADA'ANCE IN RENT AVATCHED. Because of intimations that advances in rent Avere beginning to be made, the council at its meeting on July 26, 1917, decided to ask through the neAvspapers that all persons Avho Avere called on to pay an increased rent should send in the particulars about it to the Dis- trict Council of Defense at its office in the District Building. The instances of such advances Avere at first rather infrequent, but be- came more numerous during September and early October. From a careful record Avhich Avas kept of all these instances, it appeared that there was a rather general advance of from $2 to $5 per month on apartments renting for from $25 to $75 per month, averaging about 10 per cent, but that for higher-priced apartments, and for houses, practically no advances Avere made up to that time. Thg council took the position that no advance on account of the cost of fuel Avas Avarranted mitil the price had been definitely fixed, but it felt that because of increased expenses some slight advance in the rent of such apartments could not be Avholly disapproved of. The impression that the housing or rooming situation Avas acute in the District Avas due in part to newspaper correspondents Avith some imagination, who sent out interesting stories to their papers about Avhat Avas taking place in Washington. EA^en so dignified and reliable a p.aper as the Boston Transcript published in the latter part of October a statement from its Washington correspondent that tents REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 23 ought to l)e set up on all the Government laAvns to accommodate the incoming workers, " for hundreds of clerks, men and women, knew not wliere to laj'- their heads from day to day," and " pleas for housing and board were so pathetic that almost every private family in town was then entertaining its ' paying guest.' " Even Avhen it Avas first declared, about that time, by the woman's division of the Council of National Defense, Avho were not informed as to the attention which the District Council of Defense was giving the situation, that rooms were difficult to obtain, there was a suffi- cient supply if only the applications for them had been made in the right way. About the, same time also, at the suggestion of one of the civil service commissioners, and with the concurrence of one of the District Commissioners who had been recently appointed and was ignorant of. or overlooked, the responsibilities committed by the commissioners to the District Council of Defense, a suggestion was made to the chamber of commerce that it undertake the listing and renting of rooms. With this suggestion the chamber gladly com- plied, and on October 29, 1917, it published a request for oifers of rooms through it in the work which it had undertaken. Because of this action by the chamber of connnerce, to Avhicli the responses were immediate and numerous, the District Council of Defense was for the time being barred from carrying out its plan of establisliing a central room registration office; but in order to prevent duplication and svstemati/e the work which was being done by the several agen- cies, it immediately called ia conference, to be held on November 7, of representatives of each, as well as of persons who had already been employed by several of the Government departments or bureaus to look after the welfare of women employees, and to aid in securing acconnnodations for newcomers. A meeting of the housing committee was also held on November 1, at which, after full discussion, it was requested — 1. That a census be taken by the police department, not only of vacant houses but of houses where rooms or board could be furnished. 2. That adequate restaurant facilities similar to those established on the Isthmus of Panama during the construction of the canal bo established by the Government in Washington. 3. That an appeal be made by the District Commissioners to resi- dents of the District to furnish rooms in their homes for incoming workers, especially for young women. Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, chairman of the woman's committee, spoke of the possibility of fitting up some of the large houses in the city then unoccupied, to be used by the young Avomen for rooms and meals, stating that she had already been promised a considerablo. snni of money for this purpose. CONT-'EREKCE OX ACCOMAIODATIONS. At the conference on November 7 in the office of the District Coun- cil of Defense it was found that together the Y. M. C. A., the Y. W. C. A., and the chamber of commerce had more than 1,100 available rooms listed, and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins stated that after looking up the question of fitting out one or more large houses as boarding places for young women it did not appear to her and 24 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. her associates that there \A"as sufficient need for them to warrant the expenditure of the money in that way at that time. It was, however, apparent that there was need of a central room- registration office to prevent confusion, and also that there should be a booth at the Union Station, with an attendant in charge at all hours, to look after incomino; Government employees. It was under- stood that both these matters would be looked after by the District Council of Defense. These two recommendations were immediately taken up, together with those made to the District commissioners at the meeting on November 2, but owing to absences on the part of the officials it was not possible to get them acted on until some days later, when, on November 23, Commissioner Brownlow, with the chairman, made a definite request of the director of the Council of National Defense for $10,000 with which to establish a room-registration office, urging at the same time that the council make provision for additional restaurant facilities and housing accommodations. These requests were confirmed by letters going into detail and stating the situation strongly. Meantime the police had completed the enumeration of rooms offered, which showed a total of 1,902 places, with 3,093 rooms, capable of accommodating 3,984 persons. Of these 2,832 were offered for men only, 559 for women, and 593 for either men or women. In 329 places meals Avere also offered, but were not furnished in 1,573 places, while 71 others offered to furnish meals but not rooms. A vigorous effort was immediately made to have these rooms in- spected, as it was not thought proper to send young women to any of them without being sure as to the character of the different places. The woman's connnittee was called on, and several members of it did some excellent work, but the task was so large and so difficult that they were unable to perform it promptly. Recourse was ac- cordingly had to the Young Men's Christian Association, but the results of their canvass were not important, partly because many of the rooms were not desirable, but chiefly because the urgent demand for rooms had caused many of them to be i-ented before the inspec- tion was made. At the meeting of the council on November 15, 1917, the chairman Avas directed to arrange for a conference with the Real Estate Brokers' Association in regard to the scarcity of apartments, and Avith the chairman of the housing committee also present. This conference was accordingly held in the office of the District Council of Defense on NoA^ember 27, 1917. Twelve of the leading real estate dealers in the city were present, and various recommendations grow- ing out of their interest and their experience Avere made, one of Avhich was that owners of houses should be urged to f)ut them into good repair and where possible to make arrangements by which the several floors could be used as apartments. The chairman made an effort to have the building regulations modified in regard to this, but Avas unsuccessful because the requirements were fixed by an act of Congress. As the council had no funds, the Real Estate Brokers' Association promised to establish a central office in which all apartments and houses in the hands of any member should be recorded, and such an REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 25 office Avas soon after established and maintained at 1410 New York Avenne, until it was later taken OA^er on March 13, 1918, by the rooni-re