Evening star., 1922-04-16
BUILDING Of HOMES
PUSHED TO LIMIT
Housing Committee Finds No
Relief for Renters, How
ever, in Construction.

That there are many houses being
built In Washington, but none for rental
purposes. was the outstanding fact de-
veloped at the public hearing on housing
In the boardroom Of the District build
ing yesterday afternoon.
Reports sumitted by Thomas Bones
OF the subcommittee on finance, and
Charles A. Baker Of the subcommittee
on labor. both emphasized the fact that
all mechanics are at work and every
available bit Of material Is being used
for construction purposes.
Julius /. Peyser, chairman of the
steering committee, declared that houses
are not being built for rental
purposes. He told the Commissioners
housing committee that he has reliable
information from the leading contractors
rent legislation is continued or not,
homes will not be built to rent at the
present time.
Mr.. Peyser voiced the belief that
new houses will only be put on the
market for. rent II the city becomes
come necessary.
Discuss Alley Dwellings,.
A large part of the four-hour after
discussion Of the problem of housing
the alley dwellers Of the city, who Will
be dispossessed by act Of Congress on
November II Of this year unless the
closing law again is extended.
cIared that II no way can be found
to ind capital in Washington with
which to build homes for the inhabt-
tants of the alleys Henry Ford may
! be appealed to to carry on such a
project.
housing agreed yesterday to consider
at its meeting next Friday afternoon
the bill which has passed the Senate.
giving the Commissioners authority to
permit extension of railroad sidings
into any square in, the city. which has
been designated as Industrial terri
tory by the zoning commission.
The committee decided to inquire
into .the advisabAity of the proposed
legislation after Thomas ]. Donovan,
president Of the Central Citizens AS
sociation, had called attention that II
it becomes q law. the Commissioners
would have the right to destroy q
large residential neighborhood paral-
lei to the. Washington Terminal
yards and lying between North Cap
itol and 1st streets. ] street and New
York avenue, by declaring it indus
trial and allowing railroad sidings.
Would Oppose Bill. %
Charles A. Baker concurred in all
that Mr.. Donovan said and urged the
Commissioners housing committee to
go on record at its next meeting in
Opposition to the bill.
f, Mr.. Bones, In reporting for the
finance committee, pointed out that there
are twenty apartment houses going
up in Washington now and when they
lare completed they will open UP. a
large number Of cheaper accommoda-
tions in other parts Of the city.
Money" he said. 'is q national
commodity and goes where the mar
ket exists. But the District compares
favorably with the rest Of the coun-
try in the cost Of real estate loans"
Ell Helmick. chairman of the Com
i,missioners' committee, MT. Bones
stated there IL plenty Of money avail
able in the banks and trust COM
psnies for building loans up to so
per cent of the value of the project
ct and per cent interest, and a
I3 per cent commission.
/, He said there Is a demand for
second mortgage paper on 4 monthly
payment basis at per cent.
Rev. Dr.. Waldron at this point laid
before the committee. for considera-
tion. the. proposed bill to authorize
Of bonds for twenty-year period
with which to finance the building OF
ANAL, cheap homes for the alley
dwe1lers.
william Nick. Clayton questioned
the advissbility Of closing the alley
dwellings at this time, merely on the
ground that congested conditions pre-.
vail In the alleys.
Mr.. Clayton said there are many
houses on front streets Is overcrowd-
ed AZ the alley dwellings, He also
urged the committee to consider care
fully the added expense that would
! be placed on tho alley inhAbitants II
!. they had to move from the alleys n
the center Of the city 70 new housed