12 Feb 1943
John Griffin to Parents / Washington D.C.
Dear Mother and Dad
Excuse the stationery but it is all I have for the moment and the letter is quite overdue. Since writing you last I have changed jobs. I am now an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor, Department of Agriculture. I made the change Monday and only after long weeks of deliberations and thought.
I am working along with a fellow I've known ever since I came to Washington. You probably have heard me refer to him. His name is James K. Knudson, and we all call him Jay. He is from Brigham City and now doubt Dad knows his folks. He seemed to know of Dad, and then too, you have no doubt heard us refer to them as they have been good friends for some time.
The job pays the same as I was making in the Office of Defense Transportation. I think that the prospect for advancement is about the same, the difference being that over here whatever advancement I receive is permanent and not simply for the duration. Then the most important thing of all is that I will get some very valuable experience.
The work consists of going before the Interstate Commerce Commission and opposing rate increases involving farm products. If the Commission then grants the rates we take the case into the courts. It will mean actual trial work with a chance to present and argue cases before the Commission and the courts. I will do some traveling and if I'm lucky I may get out west sometime.
In case you send anyone to look me up like you did Bishop Evans, my address is Office of the Solicitor, Department of Agriculture, Room 1314 South Building, and my phone is Republic 4142 extension 4886.
Since coming over here I've been sitting in a big case before the commission involving a general reduction in rates. If we win Dad's rates on wallpaper from Denver will be reduced 6% along with all the others.
I don't know whether I told you that we bought a washer out in Sterling Colo. Jay was out there on a case and found a Maytag that was reconditioned and about 4 years old. He wired me and so I sent him the money to get it. It cost us $85 plus freight and packing charge which will put it over $100. It is due to arrive today and will be a big help as laundry service is really terrible back here.
We also got us a couple of roomers this week. They are country girls right out of the sticks but seem to be real nice. That will help cut down our rent bill which is quite high. It is never very nice to have other people living with you but I guess we can put up with it now until the war is over and we can build our own home, so that our housing expense will not be so high.
Yes I remembered that it was Ruth's birthday on February 2. It is Dot's sister Margies too. The last of the snow from our bad storm is melting away with the exception of a little rain, snow and then the weather is not bad. It feels like spring was on its way, and spring is really beautiful in Washington.
Dot and Paul have had a little cold lately; more of a cough than a cold. Generally though we are all well. I heard from Ben the other day and he claims that he is completely well and I hope that is so. I also heard from Don and Elsie so you see I have a lot of correspondence to take care of.
John.
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