Evening star., 1932-04-20
HOME BETTERMENT
DRIVE is PLANNED
Washington Program to Stim-
uIate Business Sponsored
by u. S. Chamber.

Plans for mobilization of property
owners, business organizations and civic
interests in a united program for a
stimulation of business here, with the
benefit of the individual homeowner as
the primary objective, were being COM
pleted today under auspices of the civic
development department of the United
States Chamber of Commerce.
Special significance is being attached
to the program, to be placed il opera
ton shortly, since the campaign is to
be known as the Washington pro-
gram" and Is to be sponsored national
ly by the chamber.
The program calls for united efforts
not only by numerous local groups in
encouraging householders and others to
take advantage of current conditions
for their benefit, which will react to
the benefit of the community as
whole. but there is provision for the
advice and cooperation of agencies Of
the Federal Government.
Cooperation Pledged.
All the Washington newspapers al
ready have pledged their full co-opera-
ton in the program and contacts now
are being made with the important
business and civic organizations through
which various phases of the program
will operate.
The program specifically is designed
to promote on a wide scale all neces-
sary and economically desirable home
repairs. remodeling, additions, ground
Identification and general redecorating,
improvement and refurnishing OF
Washington properties.
1t is planned that the united pro-
gram will parallel end be carried On in
cooperation with the Civic Work Crea-
ton Committee, being conducted I'M
der auspices of group of civic leaders
headed by Col. E. Goring Bliss. Its
objective also is akin to that of the un-
employment relief programs.
Special attention is to be centered,
however. on the thought that due to
the remarkably low prices of building
materials and all commodities required
in home and other property improve
ments and cleanup work, and due to
the availability today of both skilled
and unskilled labor, the property owner
now has an unprecedented opportunity
to benefit himself.
Details Revealed Today.
At the same time, wide-scale public
adoption of the program would bring
additional relief to the unemployment
situation and serve to stimulate local
business.
Details of the program now being
formulated were revealed today by H
G. Outwater of the Civic Development
Department of the United States
Chamber of Commerce.
The program is to be placed in force
the first week in May and is to be
carried on for five weeks. The slogan
will be Each dollar invested in your
home now will save $40 later"
The Washington program is being
placed on a business basis, so far as
the appeal to the home owner is con-
cerned, the main purpose being to cal
to his attention the advantages within
his reach today. 1t is not, therefore, or
the basis of appealing to the property
owner for charity, it is explained, since
adoption by the individual home owner
of beneficial and wisely planned in
vestments in Improvements will have
automatically, a beneficial effect on To-
cal employment and business.
Advertising managers of local news
papers yesterday attended conference
on matters of publicizing the opportu-
| mites now available to the public. Those
attending included Ernest Johnson o.
| the Washington Post Trolland Cleart
of the Times, Col. Leroy Heron of The
Star. Charles Nicholson, the Daily News
and Norman Bull of the Washington
| Herald.
Organizations to Take Part.
Charles French. advertising manager
! Of the National Lumber Manufacturers
! Association, who also partiC ipated il
! the plans. will direct advertising ar
rangements, which will be on uniform
| basis.
The program calls for afiiliation il