The Washington times., 1921-01-27
HOME DEARTH
SEENASP PERIL
American Democracy Is Threat
ened Due to House Shortage,
Conference Is Told.

lead to "paternalistic subsidy Leg
islation" unless immediate steps are
taken to bring about the resumption
of construction work, Senator Calder
Of New York, chairman Of the Sen
ate Reconstruction Committee, de-
clared today before the national
housing conference of the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States.
GRAVE PERILs SEEN.
I'VE may be approaching condi-
tion of affairs such as exists In many
European countries today" Senator
Calder declared. This Will mean the
adoption OF European precedents born
OF the paternalism OF monarchies.
rather than continuation OF the
American precedents which have
made II possible for each man through
exceptional thrift and industry TO be-
come property owner
Senator Calder urged that the
Chamber OF Commerce give Its sup
port to the program recommended to
the Senate to reduce construction
costs and encourage the building OF
houses.
Discussing general business con-
dItions, Senator Calder declared that
the entire business of the country
today is unnecessarily tied up by
the centralized system OF Federal
tax administration" He announced
that he will propose to Congress
''the decentralization Of our Federal
taxation system, SO that citizen
may go to the authorities In his
cwn locality and settle his tax mat
ters finally and promptly each year"
LAWS ARE INADEoUATE.
Combinations in the building in
dustry which have exploited the
public are liable to punishment un-
der the Sherman antitrust law and
the Clayton act Senator Calder said.
but these laws do not cover COM
binations between employer and en-
ployes nor do they adequately su-
pervise MANY trade associations.
II have given much thought to
an act permitting. but not requiring,
Federal incorporation to cover these
associations and labor unions, so
that the aristocracy. at least, among
trade Violations and labor unions
might voluntarily incorporate them
selves unuder the Federal law and
come under Federal regulations"
Senator Calder said.
TRADE GREED BLAMED.
Too much Of the Industrial strength
of the United States has been ex-
pended in seeking foreign trade, Sen
ator Calder declared. "After the
Armistice was signed, this country
had visions of a vast foreign trade
and commodities were produced and
boarded, with resulting increase In
prices until June OF last year. when 1t
became apparent that these foreign
markets would not materialize. and
then prices fell rapidly"
Surplus labor and materials should
be used "for the upbuilding Of our
own" national plant and the building
Of more homes, so that rents may be
lowered" Senator Calder declared.
Government subsidy to meet the
housing shortage Is unwise, the Sen
ator said in conclusion. "It is to be
hoped that our reconstruction pro-
gram will proceed through private
initiative and enterprise. with recogni-
ton that it is the duty of the Federal
Government to remove the impedi-
ment snd devise away rather than to
attempt to absorb extra costs through
direct Government contribution"
DEMOCRACY AT STAKE.
The future of American democracy
depends in a very large measure upon
the kind OF housing program the
United States adopts at this time to
relieve the present shortage, accord
ing to r. GOODWIN Rhett, Of Charles
ton. S. c.
I'm taking I'D the various phases
OF the problem of making up the
shortage of houses" said Mr.. Rhett
I'VE cannot afford to overlook or dis
regard the bearing which such con-
struction will necessarily have upon
the permanent welfare of this coun-
try. We cannot afford to countenance
or permit any backward step in the
standards Of living which have been
established either by law or by pub
lie opinion; for the standard of living
of the great mass of the people is
the surest index Of progress in the
march of civilization"
~wOMEN ENTITLED TO sAY.-
Mr.. Rhett declared that women
should have say in the type of
houses to be constructed. "A house
Is woman's workshop" he said,
''and she must have the means in its
place of construction of supplying
comfort to its inmates. She must be
able to do this without imparing her
strength. her health or her personal
appearance for the still further ia k
Of contributing to the pleasure Of the
family association.
Labor saving devices and machin-
cry are just as essential in the home
as in the workshop; indeed they are
really more so, but the same thought
unfortunately has not been given to
the problem. The advice and guild
ance of women in the construction OF
The Eouse, it's arrangement and the
devices IL shall contain is Of the ut
most Importance, but II does not
seem to have been generally real
ized."
I.7so.ooo HOUSES SHORT.
There Is shortage OF houses in
America reaching the enormous total
Of $50. 900, according to figures sub
mitted.
The housing shortage, according to
| Tohn Ihlder, manager of the National
Chambers civic development depart.
ment, has reached point where
| 100000 persons are inadequately
| housed. Ihlder has made a close
| study OF the housing problem.
"For a number Of years prior to the