Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-02
HOME OWNERSHIP
FARLEY TO Open
Hundreds of Delegates Arrive
to Hear President Dis
CuSS Plans.

Registration of the greatest force of
experts ever modified in this country
for the specific purpose of benefiting
the individual home owner was in
progress today at the new Department
OF Commerce Building
Hundreds OF delegates frl all Sec
lions of the Nation, meeting here at
the call Of President Hoover, were being
registered for the Presidents confer
ence on home building and home own
ership, with the prospect that total
enrolment would run beyond 5000
delegates
The conference will be set in mo-
tion tonight with en- address by Pres
tdent Hoover before the first general
session in Constitution Hall Tomor-
row the delegates will split into many
sectional conferences to hear formal
findings OF specialized groups, which
have been at work during the past year
All Phases Touched Upon.
Practically every economic and social
phase Of American life has been
touched upon by more than 500 tech
nical and professional experts in their
detailed analyses during the past year
OF the home owners problems.
Their recommendations for ways of
improving and making more desirable
and economical the ownership of the
American home will be laid before the
delegates which will digest the volum-
inouS factual findings and seek to give
them practical force
Since the value OF the research studies
would be lost to the millions Of in
dividual home owners and prospective
home builders Of the country unless the
findings of the conference are trans
lated into popular practices, the ground
work has been laid for creation Of
permanent organization for promulga-
tlon OF results of the conference.
Ofhcials Of the conference reported
this morning that 5000 acceptances had
been received from leaders throughout
the country who are interested in one
way or another in the welfare of the
home owner.
Marine Band to Play.
The United States Marine Band, I'M
der direction Of Capt. Taylor Branson,
will open the first general session this
evening with concert. Rev. Joseph R.
SiZoo, pastor OF the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, will say an invo-
cation.
Commerce Secretary Lamont, CO.
chs irman Of the Presidents conference
with Interior Secretary Wilbur, viii
welcome the assembled delegates.
President Hoover, in his address
formally setting the conference in mo-
ton, is expected to touch upon his plan
for establishing system of home loan
discount banks, which he recently pro-
posed as a means Of loosening credits
for the benefit Of the home owner by
means of expanding possible activities
Of home finance agencies Of the country.
This proposal calls for creation Of
banking institution for the rediscount
Of home mortgages in each of the IL
Federal Reserve districts of the country.
A tremendous amount of data re-
garding the current problems Of the
home owner and builder has been COL
lected by 81 large committees Of spe-
cialists in various lines of activity dur
ing the year. Appended to the reports
are recommendations for new methods
and new combinations of forces by
which 1t is hoped conditions can be
bettered,
These committees have delved into
problems ranging from elimination Of
slums to encouragement of mass pro-
duction of housing. There will be re-
ports on design, equipment, taxation,
financing, construction and community
planning. Improved Negro housing and
modernization of both farm and city
dwellings also are the subjects of rec
concentrations.
President Sounds Keynote.
In calling the conference to consider
the findings Of the 500 or more special
lists. President Hoover issued this key
note thought:
Adequate housing goes to the very
roots OF weH-being OF the family and
the family is the social unit Of the Ma
ton. The question involves important
aspects of health, morals, education
and efficiency. Nothing contributes
more to social stability and the happi-
ness of our people than the surround
ings of their homes.
Although we have larger proper
ton of adequate housing than any
other country, we have not yet reached
our ideal of homes for all our people.
1T should be possible in our country
for any person of sound character and
industrious habits to provide himself
with adequate and suitable housing and
preferably to own his own home"
The work of the groups of experts
has been carried out under the direc-
ton Of a planning committee of rep
resentatives OF 81 national organiza-
lions having 10 DO with nome prob
lens. John NJ. Cries Of the Depart
ment Of Commerce is secretary of this
planning body.
A prosperous era tuSt ahead for
the building industry was predicted
by Myers Y. Cooper former Governor
of Ohio, upon his arrival to attend the
conference.
He said the real estate organization
he heads in Cincinnati, confident that
next Spring would see renewed interest
In buying homes, had determined TO
build is houses in the near .uture,
with the prospect the number would
be increased
Home building has Jagged because of
money market stringency. he said,
but there are evidences Of an upturn
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