Evening star., 1933-05-18
Committee to Discuss Bill
Early Next Week to Fa-.
ciIitate Program.
AUTHORIZING OF LIMITED
AMOUNT PRESENT PLAN
First $500, 900 to Come From U. S.
Housing Corporations Un-
expended Funds.

The Senate District Committee will
be called to meet early next week to
take action on modified alley elimi-
nation bill that would make possible
start on the program of improving
the alley areas either by rebuilding
them through self-liquidating projects
or opening them up as minor streets
The committee held another hear
ing on the subject yesterday afternoon,
at which number of amendments
were proposed, but there was not time
to act on the measure. Senator King
OF Utah, committee chairman, voiced
hope of reporting out a bill at this
session, but he will urge the commit
tee to limit the amount to be author
lied at this time instead of authoriz-
ing the entire 10-year improvement pro-
gram in the original bill.
Source of First Funds.
The first S5OO,000 to be used in re-
habilitating the alley areas would come
from an unexpended balance of the
funds of the United States Housing
Corporation. While he has not def
nitely made up his mind as to the
amount, Senator King said he probably
would favor limit of sl,000,0G0 or
$1,500000 on the total authorization,
including the uneXpended balance
Federal funds would be used for the
self-liquidating rebuilding projects.
Chairman King announced at the
close of yesterdays meeting that he will
request the District assessor to submit
list of the owners of alley dwellings
sgd the assessed values of the proper
ties.
The Utah Senator also announced
that he had laid before Senator
Thomas Democrat. of Oklahoma. who
has charge of the District appropriation
bill. suggestion that a provision be
written into that bill to prohibit use
of the Districts emergency relief fund
for payment of rent to landlords of al
ley property.
John Ihlder, housing consultant Of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, in explaining why
the Federal Government should take
the initiative in eliminating undesir-
able alley areas here, pointed out this
city was established primarily as the
seat of Government, that the Federal
Government exercises control, and with
the control goes responsibility. He also
pointed sout that District taxpayers. by
paying a considerable total in Federal
income taxes, would share in the Fed
eral expenditure for this purpose.
Ihlder Favors Changes.
Mr.. Ihlder suggested if the au-
thorization is to be limited, that the
bill be amended to allow whatever
agency is selected to carry out the alley
program to borrow from the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation or from
any other Federal agency authorized to
advance funds for this purpose. In this
connection, Lieut. Col U. S. Grant, Sd,
of the Park Commission, pointed out
that one part of the administration
new public works bill contempates prof.
ects to eliminate slum housing areas.
Among others who took part in yes
terday's hearing were Corporation Coun-
sci Bride for the District government,
William " Mahoney of the Federation
of Social Service Societies, who has
been working on the alley problem for
many years; Clayton E. Emig, Du Pont
Circle Citizens Association; Mrs Will
liam Archer Roberts of the Council of
Social Agencies; Walter S. Ufford Of
the Associated Charities, Leifur Mag
nusson, Monday Evening Club and
James c. Wilkes. Operative Builders
Association. Waddy B. Wood, local ar
chitect, also spoke.