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Show - CAPITAL GLEANINGS by -Henry Dworshakts YOUR CONGRESSAAAM M j ;( Tilt vtA During the month's recess of the House, I was able to spmd . 'u ,ut three weeks in southern I '..ho. contacting many of my "const tu ents and securing an espres: ion 'of .heir views. It was reus tiring to observe .hat, whle Here was sune eviuouce of war-time hys leria in the Gem State, a prepon-derance prepon-derance of citizens indicated Unit they are thinking clearly and are not being unduiy influenced by propaganda emanating from the East. I was impressed by the sen timent to give reasonable aid to Britain, but likewise there was a pronounced determination on the part of most people to prevent actual ac-tual involvement .of the United States in a shooting war. There was also apparent vigorous opposition oppo-sition to the sending of our young men to fight on foreign soil, un-less un-less this country is attacked or is the victim of aggression. After enjoying the calm environment environ-ment of Idaho, it is somewhat disconcerting dis-concerting to return to the national nation-al capital and resume living in an atmosphere of doubt, uncertainty, and speculation. The once placid! southern-tempered city of Washington Wash-ington has changed into a ver't-able ver't-able bedlam, and this city of charm on the Potomac has become the Mecca of those seeking defense contracts and political favors. Out of Washington, is pouring a con stant stream of money at the rate of $100,000,000 daily, not only foi mere routine costs of government, not only for loans to Britain ana other nations, but all in the name of "defense." Into the city ti-direct, ti-direct, to fight for or carry awaj a part of this treasure, now hasten thousands of people daily by train and airplane. An almost equai number depart daily; many with brief cases full of contracts, many with broken hopes and shattered illusions. In this capital city, a political bureaucracy, the size and power of which has never been witnessed anywhere in the world, holds fortn over a conglomerate army of government gov-ernment workers. As the preparedness pre-paredness activity grows into an ever-increasing octopus, this multitude multi-tude of workers swells. "Defense -voi-kers" are arriving in Washing, ton at the rate of more than 2,000 iveekly, accentuating an alreadj difficult housing problem. Tho government is taking over new ipartment buildings and leasing tdditional quarters for new bureaus. bu-reaus. Rents have sky-rocketed and the cost of living has increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. Traffic is perilous, crime is rampant, ram-pant, and war-time fever is -preva 'ent. f w The report of the United States Civil Service commission, issued on June 20, 1941, shows that there are 1S4.23G civil employes in the executive branches of the federal government in the District of Co umbia, with the June pay-roll routing to $30,601,000 in this iity. This is an increase of 50,380 mployes in Washington in the ear preceding June 30, 1941, hieh gaves some idea of the tre-.lendous tre-.lendous housing problem facing his city. In addition, there are aomands of men from the armed ei-vices who spend week-ends and 'lake occasional visits to the capl-al, capl-al, adding to the over-crowded onditions. |