Evening star., 1922-02-15
HOUSING SITUATION
MEETING OPPOSED
BY THE PRESIDENT
Considers 1t InadvisabIe to
Call Conference, He Writes
Senator King.

SSliokVI Niu9s
President Harding in a letter to
Senator King. democrat. Utah. made
public today by the latter, declared
he considered it inadvisable at this
time to call a national housing con-
ference. The executive also asserted
that he did not know "of legislative
palliative" to relieve home shortages
and added that he very much doubted
IF We ought to try to create one"
The letter of the President was
written in reply to one from the Utah
senator suggesting that a national
conference to consider means Of in
creasing housing facilities be called
by the Department of CommeytG.
Peculiar to Comm1Aities.
Building conditions are peculiar to
individual communities" the Presi-
dent said I'm such communities
where there is developed a manifest
shortage of housing. there have been
local conferences held usually under
the auspices of boards of trade or
chambers of commerce. into which
conferences have been invited repre-
sentatives of the material men, con-
tractors. spokesmen for labor and for
banking. and building and loan asso-
Citations. Whether this is not the
most practical plan it yet is to be
determined. 1 cannot think of any
way in which the federal government
can help the situation other than by
some such means.
u do. not know Of q legislative
palliative. ! very much doubt II we
ought to try to create one. Housing
To such = fundamental need that there
is seldom lack of it under normal
conditions, when building, enterprises
may be safely pursued"
Wants to Await Results.
While some good came from the
conference on unemployment" the
President stated. and while he hopes
good results will follow the agricul-
tural conference" he considered it ad-
visable to await substantial evil
dences of accomplishment" of the
conferences already held, before call
ing any more.
The President declares the Depart
ment of Commerce has been inspir-
ing community conferences in many
OF the larger cities, and for the in
formation OF Senator King trans
mitted copy of a letter from Secre-
tary Hoover.
The blockade" in building was
attributed by Secretary Hoover in
his letter ito the high level of ma
terials, wages. railway rates, and
shortage of home-building capital.
Prices Slowly Receding.
Prices and wages are now slowly
receding." he added. efficiency of
labor is increasing and the volume of
building is gaining.
The country badly needs a mobili-
cation of home-building capital, based
upon our building and loan associa-
tions. insurance companies and savings
banks" the secretary declar ed. 1--WE
have a sound foundation upon which
to build some sort of structure that
would cheaper home-building capi.
tai, give 1t more mobility to all re-
giops and afford greater security. A
conference to consider this problem
would be of great value"
May Split ON Prices.
Regarding a national housing con.
ference. the Secretary expressed fear
such conference would be likely to
split upon price of materials and
wages, and, in any event, have no
power to affect either one"
Senator King said he had received
a large number of letters from vari-
Gus parts of the country urging some
movement which would bring together
the builders. capitalists and philan-
thropists to devise ways and means
for improving the housing situation,
and that he had arranged for a con-
ference with Secretary Hoover to see
If some such a meeting could not be
considered,