Evening star., 1918-04-04
HOUSING BILL LACKS
FUND; TO AMEND IT
If Measure Passes Without an
Appropriation Efforts Will Be
Made to Provide Remedy.
DEBATING SITE QUESTIONS

appropriate" it,
ment of Labor would have to prepare
plans and specifications for presenta-
tion to Congress before the appropria-
tion would be made.
Favors Prompt Action.
An effort may be made to change
this feature of the measure while it is
before the Senate. An official of the
War Department interested in the
housing problem said today that should
1t pass the Senate In its present form
an effort will be made to have the
$4,000, 900 provided In the first appro-
priation bill which comes up.
In order that no time may be lost
when the bill passes the Senate, Otto
Eidlitz, director of housing for the De-
partment of Labor, already is working
on the plans-for carrying out the build
ing program. both here and throughout
the country.
Mr.. Eidlitz said the questions of loca-
tion and the types OF structures to be
built in Washington are still too tenta-
tive to be discussed.
William E. Shannon, a local real es-
tate man, who was appointrd to assist
Mr. Eidlitz in acquiring tho land neces-
sary to carry out the housing program
throughout the country. is giving val
ping out the plans for Washington be-
cause of his knowledge of real estate
values and conditions in the District.
Clerks Will Be Housed.
"Our plans are still too uncertain to
be discussed even tentatively" said Mr.
Shannon today. but can say that the
clerks will be housed, and with the
least possible delay"
A tentative plan outlined by Maj. z.
L. Potter, head Of the housing and well
fare division of the War Department,
calls for the use of 100000 Of the
ton of dormitories or temporary hotels
to accommodate $500 clerks. These
temporary buildings would. according
to the tentative plan, be laid of in
single and double rooms and would be
for the army Of young women who
ernment 10 bringing here. Il
Potomac Park and the Union station
plaza were mentioned by the housing
and health division Of the War Depart
IH0ul AS The IHOSt lOBtCAl 9lI9S LOT IueSe
dormitories because Of their proximity
to the executive departments.
Whether Mr.. Eidlitz and his assist
ants, who are given control of the
housing matter. will concur in these
tentative proposals is not yet known
The plan worked out by the housing
and health division of the War Depart
rment also called for the expenditure of
81, ,008. 900 out of the. Districts allotment
for the erection Of permanent homes to
l-A
the government with families. who
could not be provided for In temporary
hotels
For Central Heating Plant.
Although the War Department sug-
gested no sites for these houses, 1t is
understood they favored the northwest
section and recommended that the
houses be grouped with a central heat
ing plant. 1t was pointed out that they
could be laid off into up and down
stairs apartments.
Carrying out of this phase of the
housing project also rests under the
housing bill as passed by the House
with Mr.. Eidlitz and his assistants.
1t Is understood, that options on a
west have been offered the government.
including one large tract in 10th street
extended and bordering on Rock Creek
Park.
Some opposition has arisen to placing
the temporary structures in Potomac
Park or on the mall on the ground that
these sites would cause the occupants
to suffer greatly from heat during the
summer. Others. on the other hand,
point out that to place them far out in
the northwest section would only add
to the burden the street cars are now
carrying.
All of these phases of the question, il
is understood. will be given careful
consideration by Mr.. Eidlitz and Mr.
Shannon before deciding on the sites
for both the temporary and permanent
,, buildings.
Dill R6o ohac Cono%o