The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-25
BUILD HOUSE,
BRING DOWN
RENTS, PLEA
Government Strives To Stimu-
late Construction of Homes
Shortage Still Is Acute
Is Serious Problem.
TARIFF ACTION URGED
PALLADIUM NEWS BUREAU

NEWS
WASHINGTON. April 25. Food
prices have been reduced, when are
rents coming down." is a question be-
ing generally asked
Government experts answer this
query with the statement that at the
close of last year that national dwell
ing house shortage was placed at the
appalling figure of 1,250,O00.
They add that the figures showing
the amount of new residential con-
struction in the United States for the
first quarter of this year does not indi-
cate that building activities for 1921
will greatly exceed last years figures,
which were considerably below normal
The period of high rents will con-
tinue throughout the country, govern
ment authorities anticipate, SO long as
the housing problem remains in its
present acute stage.
In normal times between $500 and
400.000 dwellings are built in the
United States each year.
In 1919 only $1,000 family residences
were erected in this country and in
1920 but $1,000 were reported.
One-Fcurth Renters.
Onefourth OF the population Of the
United States are either living in rent
WI dooA ICAo vi owh AoPCiNy "hiSii ID
below the standard of satisfactory
housing. Today the country is con-
fronted with the most acute dwelling
shortage in it's history.
The government realizes that home
less people are not potentially the
best American citizens. and it is
striving in every possible way to stim-
ulate home building on the theory that
every additional home owner makes
an additional credit possibility to the
nations wealth, and an additional urge
for all other forms Of permanent con-
struction.
The state department has an
nounced that application for passports
for Eli Hirschfield. a native-born
American citizen, and his family has
been received and that the American
commissioner in Berlin has been di-
rected to permit Hirschfield and
members of his family to return to
the United States. Hirschfield is q
brother Of Charles Hirschfield, OF
Richmond, Ind, and he probably will
go to that city on his arrival in this
country. He has resided in Germany
over a score of years. He was pris-
oner Of war on parole during the per
iod the United States was at war with
Germany and was required to report
daily to the police authorities at
Bremen.
Republican senators from western
states are impatient over the pros
| pect of delay in considering the
| emergency tariff bill in the upper
| house, and they have Joined In a de-
mand upon the senate finance COM
| mittee for prompt action on the
! measure.
Asking that this measure be given
precedence over all other legislation
! in the senate this week, the western
! senators call attention to the fact that
! President Harding in his address to
congress asked for the immediate en-
actment of the bill.
However. the prospects are that
| there will be further hearings on the
| emergency tariff by the finance com
mittee throughout the week. making it
doubtful that the bill will be reported
to the senate next week.
Expedite Action.
The western senators have been
assured by members OF the finance
committee that everything possible is
being done to expedite action on the
bill, but that the disputed equalization
! Of exchange and anti-dumping provi-
sions Of the measure present difficul
ties which must first be Strengthened
| out.
Hearings on these contested provi.
sions have already occupied several
/ days and experts are engaged in re-
drafting them in an effort to meet the
objections raised. Even though the
bill is passed promptly by the senate
/ following the prospective delay in the
reporting of 1t the measure is likely
! to be delayed in conference between
the two houses owing to the changes
the senate is certain to make in It,