Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-01
HOUSING B|LLNEAR
VOTE IN SENATE
Final Action Expected Today
on $50, 000y 900 Measure
for Federal Homes. -.
WILL SELL AFTER WAR

WILL SELL AFTER WAR
The sixty-million-dollar housing BILL
with its 100000 for the District Of
Columbia. was taken up by the Senate
for further consideration today. It
probably will pass before adjournment
An amendment offered by Senator
Brandegee Of Connecticut was agreed
to providing that property acquired I'M
der tho act shall be sold ~ soon after
the war ~ it can be advantsg eously
disposed Of
An amendment was offered by Sen
ator Gallinger providing that no con.
sSs .ns TT
A = substitute for the entire section
senator New pr9poeed that no work
and unless the work shall be submit-
tee to three responsible competitive
Emphasizes Time Required.
Senator New said that for . building
project costing 100000 or moro It
would take from three to nine months
merely to prepare the plans.
Unless this bill is to be merely a
geological phantasy," said Senator
New, 1t must be amended to enable the
c work to DO done before the war Il
i said the solution 10 the adoption Of
the cost plus plan with limitations Of
an upset fee, running from per cent
on on smaller Jobs to small percentages on
! me larger ones. He said that Il the
lowest bidder there will be an army Of
irresponsible Contractors who are will.
sne 70 take q gamble on the undsrtak.
INF, ana that responsible contractors
Will not get the work.
The Senate adopted the Jones' amend
ment to care for alley dwsllers after
the war, and also an amendment by
senator Kirby providing that houses
eenau oe provided under the bill only
Tor such employees here az cannot be
government service in other cities.
Senator Jones Offers Amendment,
Senator Jones Of Warrington offered
an amendment providing the "expendi-
ture in the District Of Columbia shall
be made with a view to caring for the
the war is over. so far a. it 10 practi-
cable to do so consistent with specific
war housing purposes"
An amendment offered by Senator
Thomas Of Colorado would authorize
and grounds to purchase, lease, requisi-
ton or acquire by condemnation houses,
apartments. structures. hotels or dwell
ings as may be necessary for occupancy
BY and for the use Of senators, repre-
sentatives. members Of the cabinet and
their assistants. and for commissioners
ana heads OF bureaus, ana to alter, rent
and lease them to these oficials upon
The sum Of $500. 900 Is to be taken from
the 100000 to be expended in the
District for this purpose.
Reverses Original Policy.
Senator New said his plan 10 exactly
the opposite Of the policy adopted 1t
the outset of the war; the less the cost
Of the work the greater would be- the
percentage Of the fee Of the contractor.
He said his form Of contract had been
prepared by q committee Of the heads
Of many Of the industries and arts en-
gagged IN building. and suggested it as
element OF haste necessary in war work
protecting the rights Of the government
as well as being equitable to the con-
tractor.
He warned the Senate that II these
sum plan. the work would be danger
ously delayed.
Senator King Of Utah interJected that
the cost plus plan was responsible for
many abuses. and he was disposed to
let the small contractor get in on the
work.
Senator New said that while undoubt-
eddy there had been grave abuses Of
the cost plus system, It Is now proposed
to prevent recurrence by limiting the
Senator Salisbury Of Delaware approx
ed the amendment offered by Senator
New as being conducive to good re-
suits.
House Provision Adopted.
The Senate finally adopted the House
provision relating to contracts. with
smoot, providing that all contracts
shall be awarded to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. tho government re-
serving the right to reject any and
An amendment offered by Senator
Townsend authorizing the use Of
100000 of the so-called freedmen
fund for the establishment Of a home
ed. with the understanding that 1t
would be considered in conference be-
tween the two houses.
Adopts Senator jones' Amendment.
The Senate yesterday afternoon
adopted an amendment offered by Sem
ator Jones Of Washington. which would
prevent the taking Of occupied dwell
inGs under the proposed law except by
contract, unless the government de.
sired to tear down these dwellings and
erect new structures to house the EN-.
ployes. Even then tho owners and
occupants Of the dwellings 30 taken
would have the right Of appeal to q
federal Judge. who would pass upon
the case.
Senator Swanson, in charge Of tho
bill. said he had no objection to this
amendment and 1t was voted into the bill.
Secretary Wilson Of the Department of
Labor, appearing before the committee.
had said he did not intend to move one
family out of dwelling to put another
In, and others had testified that onlv
In the event Of its being necessary to
obtain an occupied dwelling on a large
tract of land on which the government
desired to erect new structures did they
desire the power to requisition oc-
it was believed there could be no on.
position to the amendment.
Transfers Authority to President,
The Senate. on motion Of Senator Fan
OF New Mexico. struck from the bin ali
mention OF the Secretary Of Labor and put
authority rests entirely with the latter
1t 10 believed, however, that the Presi-