Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-22
HOUSING

Those who can get roofs Tor their heads are paying dear
ly for the privilege, and are due to pay more.
The American Institute of Architects in a letter to the
Presidents Industrial Commission thus summarizes the acute
housing situation in the United States. 1t has sent a copy
of its letter to all congressman and other public bodies and
philosophical citizens.
When the people of the United States were confronted
with this acute problem during the war, and it seemed GER
tain that unless some remedy was devised, munitions
wouldn't get manufactured, ships wouldn't get built, and
consequently the war might be lost, something WAS done
about housing. 1t was done quickly, efficiently and without
hesitation.
Uncle SAM, faced with the fact that private Initiative
couldnt or wouldn't meet the situation, met it himself. The
U. S. Housing Corporation was Formed, and it built houses. 1t
built them extensively p~erhaps-maybe wastefully, but it put
roofs over the heads of workers at moderate rentals and so it
helped win the war. The workers at Bridgeport, New London,
Norfolk, Philadelphia-and dozens of other munitions and
shipbuilding centers, now living in the comfortable, beautt
full, modern dwellings that Uncle Sam put up, can testify that
the government DID build houses.
The armistice came. The government was ~demobilized.
So was the housing corporation. Under pressure, it abandoned
its work. Sold material, half finished houses, equipment and
supplies IS dLhdLl NdHhA0dj WIN ~
And now we are more than ever in need Of houses; pri-
vate initiative can't or won't supply the defniency; rents are
rising, industrial unrest increases. The American Institute
says the situation is getting worse, and will be much worse.
That this situation is fully realized in Perth Amboy is
shown by the movement now on foot to organize a housing
corporation through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce.
Prominent business men are interested and it is possible that
before very long some definite steps will be taken.
There is no doubt that the problem of putting roofs over
the heads of the people is one of the greatest now confronting
the country and it looks as if each community would have to
solve the matter for itself. The city that can solve it is the
city that will get the industries and the increased population
and prosperity that goes with it.
Under a new ruling, those who have liquor must consume
it in their homes. But they may go abroad to do the things
liquor usually prompts men to do.
Public opinion ended the coal strike, and the wonder
is that the public was able to make its voice heard above the
shouts of the politicians.
Hoover says we can build up security for our loans by
feeding Europe. Cast your bread upon the water, and get
your money back. ...
Glass say the Hays charge was an entirely reprehenSible
species of defamation" And that's fully as clear as the
shorter and ugier. =.
Reed says the big fellows are coming to his point Of view.
It's a great comfort to have at least one senator who knows it
all.
- - -v-f
That strange malady reported in the west can't be much
more disastrous than the epidemic o. grabitis that aflicts the
t~~l~~A~a~~ --l = -L-1t-t~Ls
We can't understand why Dempsey is willing to fight a
Frenchman. He avoided France when there was fighting
!-y~aA~~
If Newberry comes clear, why not stop the expense Of cleo
tons and auction scholarships to the highest bidders here
"@'0 t.t-r14s.ss4A
- a \
Those who envy Japans hold on Siberia probably haven't
been keeping up with the eastern march Of the BoshevikL