Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-25
HOUSING BILL IS
PUzzL|NGS SENATORS
They Fear Occupied Dwellings
in D. C. May Be
Taken Over.
AMENDMENT IS URGED

With the city practically filled to ca
pacity, SO far as housing conditions are
concerned, and with some $4,000 new
government employees slated to come to
Washington before the end Of the year.
members of the Senate are wondering
: what will happen to residents OF the
!: District Of Columbia who are not en-
ployes of the government, il the pend
ing housing bill goes through without
specific amendment that no occupied
dwelling shall be taken by the govern
: ment to house it's employees here.
AS the bill passed the house. the Sec
rotary of Labor was authorized, for the
purpose of housing employees of the
government and industrial workers en-
! gagged upon work for the war needs OF
the government. to purchase, lease. red
!: uisition or acquire by condemnation or
otherwise. any houses. private dwell
Il WISE and all the furniture therein,
anywhere in the United States. specific
4 ally including houses for employees OF
the government in the District OF Co
lumbia.
On Taking Houses and Furniture.
I As amended by the Senate yesterday
afternoon, the bill contains the following
provision, dealing with this matter OF tax
ing occupied dwellings and furniture:
''That colleges, museums. libraries, state
or municipal buildings and the furnish
ings Of private dwellings shall not be
/! OCCURRED except by contract. nor@shaH any
Occupied dwelling be taken under the
powers of this act given except by con-
/ tract unless the necessity thereof shall be
determined by a judge OF the circuit or
district court of the United States exer-
cising jurisdiction in the locality. on pc
tition setting forth the reason and ne
| cessity for such taking. The hearing on
such petition shall be upon notice to the
owner and occupant Of such dwelling. ana
| the determination of such judge shall be-
flnal''
Senator Fall on Judges Hearing.
While this provides for hearing before
private occupied dwelling, it was pointed
out by Senator Fall of New Mexico that
this merely takes from the Secretary OF
Labor the right to say whether a mans
house shall be requisitioned for the gov
eminent and places it in the hands OF
federal judge.
| II would just as soon have the Secre-
tary of Labor pass upon the matter.
said Mr.. Fall. THE judge IS not calleo
upon to pass upon any point of law.
If he were, of course. I would prefer to
have him sit in judgment. But here he
lis merely called upon to pass upon
] question OIL HoCcSSlly, dIlcE thC SCSA g
tary of Labor, representing the govern
ment, has declared that such need
| exists"
Nothing Now to Prevent It.
The bill carries s10.ooo,o0o to be
used for housing purposes in the Dis
trict of Columbia. 1t has generally
been understood that this money is to
be used in erecting buildings in which
to house the clerks as they come here.
But there is nothing in the bill which
would prohibit the taking over of
dwellings now occupied by persons not
employed by the government. Senators
today pointed out that recently, under
la similar law enacted for the aid of
the shipping board 500 houses have
lbeen requisitioned by the government
in Philadelphia and the occupants told
to move out within few days. If 500
houses were requisitioned by the gov
eminent in Washington today and the
people told to move out. there would be
no place for them to go.
There is a provision in the bill that
"the powers herein authorized shall not
be exercised in the District of Columbia
except upon detailed estimates and ap-
preparations for such purpose" Some
of the senators gave it as their opinion
that this would act a. safeguard to
residents of the District, since Congress
| would have to pass upon estimates to
take their homes. If the Secretary of
Labor desired them to house govern
ment employees.
| But the representatives Of the depart
ment are very anxious to have this
provision taken out of the bill. They
give as their reason that If detailed
estimates must be submitted to Con-
gress before action can be taken in the
District Of Columbia considerable de-
lay will, result in providing housing
facilities.
| 1t has been said that Secretary Wilson
does not intend to take any occupied
dwellings for the government. If that
is the case, say some of the senator's.
why would there be any harm putting
a provision in the bill saying that no
occupied dwellings be taken?
| Consideration of the housing bill,
which was interrupted yesterday when
the 0verman bill came up as the unfin-
tished business. will be resumed as soon
as possible. Senator Swanson, chairman
of the public buildings and grounds
committee, said today.
| Amendments to Be Passed On.
| A large number of proposed amend
ments still remain to be passed upon.
| Just before the bill was laid aside yes
terday several were presented, includ-
Ing an amendment offered by Senator
Thomas of Colorado authorizing the ex-
penditure of not more than $4,000 to
convert the Maltby building into an
apartment house for the use of members
| of Congress.
Another amendment, offered by Sena-
! tor Townsend Of Michigan. authorizes the
expenditure of 100000 for the estab-
| lishment of a home for aged and inflrm
colored people and an industrial farm
| to aid the people who must be moved
from the alleys of the District after
July 1 next. in compliance with the alley
law.
The money proposed to be expended is
to be taken from the money due the es-
tales of deceased colored soldiers, sailors
and marines Of the civil war and which
was in the hands of the freedmen's bu-
reau and was repaid into the Treasury.
Substitute Is offered.
Senator F'relinghuysen Of New Jersey
has an amendment to substitute the Sec
rotary of War and the Secretary of the
Navy for the Secretary of Labor in the
handling Of the housing program under
| the bill.
An amendment offered by Senator New
| of Indiana would strike out section z
dealing with contracts and substitute the
| following:
THAT no cost-plus contract shall be
entered into unless it includes an upset
fee. Nor shall any contract be let until
at least three responsible competing con-