Evening star., 1934-06-19
HOPKINS TO HEAD
HOUSING PROJECT
Is Regarded as Certain to
Be Chosen for Fourth
U. S. Post.

Harry L. Hopkins, who has become
known as a "Jack-of- l-trades" in
the Roosevelt administration, is said
to be the almost certain choice to d.
rect the new Federal housing program
designed as a short cut to recovery by
loosening billions of dollars to revive
construction and the heavy goods in
dustrieS.
Taking on these new duties would
be just another task for Hopkins, who
has been three-portfolio man during
the past year in directing the Federal
Emergency Relief Civil Works and
the activities of the Federal Surplus
Relief Corporation.
President Roosevelt informed Con-
greSs some time ago that he intended
to select Hopkins to direct the great
housing program and now that Con-
greSs has enacted the necessary legis-
lation, it was expected the President
would make the appointment in a few
days.
Will Keep Other Jobs.
Should Hopkins take over these new
duties, however, he has no intention
OF shelving any of his relief Jobs,
the most important of which is that
OF continuing to provide for some
100000 unemployed families. In
stead, his relief duties are now bur-
dened with the emergency task of
directing the expenditure of S252,-
100000 in stricken agricultural dis
tricts. especially in the drought area,
where there exists the possibility of
100000 families being on the relief
rolls in 1885.
The new housing program is des-
tined to make the N. r. A. and Pub
lie Works take a back seat in the
drive to find a short cut out of
the depression, officials say, and by
his direct methods of administration,
his familiarity with the needs of
the unemployed, Hopkins has all along
been regarded as the logical man to
direct these far-hung activities. He
took an important part in all the con-
ferenceS that led to the framing of
the legislation and is thoroughly ia
miliar with its intricate and far
reaching provisions of financing. So
long as Congress saw At to have
the housing program directed by a
single administrator instead of COM
mission. it is assured Hopkins will be
the man to fill the post.
Trade Is Hardest Hit.
The building trades in America,
Hopkins told the House Banking and
Currency Committee at recent hear
ings on the Fletcher housing bill,
represents the largest single unit
of the unemployed. Probably more
than one-fourth of all the unem-
ployed, he said, are identified di-
rectly and indirectly with these trades.
Furthermore, he stressed that more
than one-fourth of all the 100000
families on relief rolls are identified
with the building trades.
In other words, 1,000,000 families,
representing more than 100000, are
receiving relief who are identified
directly and indirectly with the build
ing trades of America" he said.
These constitute a group of people
in every city in America, skilled men,
the finest workers in America-on
relief rolls in larger numbers and
percentages than are represented in
any other single group in America.
Workers on Relief Rolls.
at know of no city in the United
States" he said, where at least one-
third of the building trades workers
are not now on relief rolls, and
far larger number are still unem-
ployed."
The revised housing bill, the last
NJ onfnd nv Com
gress last night, closely followed the
lines of the plan sent to Congress by
administration experts.
The conferees eliminated a House
proposal which would have provided
a $500, 900 900 fund for loans to build
ing and loan and similar institutions.
The Senate and House, however,
added s1,000,00O00 to enable the
Home Owners Loan Corporation to
continue its present work of reflnanc-
ing existing Indebtedness and this
was retained.
The conferees agreed the program
contemplated should be directed by
single administrator, instead of the
commission proposed in the House
bill
The immediate result of the bill is
expected to be squirt of activity in
home repair and remodernization
through a section of the bill which
guarantees 20 per cent of loans for
that purpose.
In other words, should a building
and loan or other institution lend
100000 for reconditioning purposes,
the Government will assure that there
will be no loss on $4,000 Of that
amount. The limit of such guarantees
is $500 100000
The bill also sets up corporation
to insure long term amortized mort
cages.