Evening star., 1934-05-23
HARTMAN LAUDS
HOME PROGRAMS
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
Head Visions Big Social
Improvement.
BY VINCENT TUTCHING.

| Of the United States Chamber of
Commerce, told 800 delegates to the
annual convention of the American
Association Of Advertising Agencies in
the Mayf1ower Hotel last night.
THE renovizing Of old homes and
the construction of new homes" he
said, will not only give employment,
but will tend to create better social
conditions Slums, whether in the city
or the country, breed crime and dis
ease. and add greatly to the expense
| Of Government"
| Mr.. Harriman's expressions of opin-
ion on the idea of home improvement
and modernization are in direct ac-
cord with the objectiveS of The Stars
81 900 Better Homes Contest, now in
full swing throughout the metropoli-
tan area.
Would Revive Employment.
This contest is motivated by a de-
sire to stimulate activity in the tagging
building trades, and at the same time
| inaugurate a movement which would
| have the effect of further beautifying
the Capital City and its suburban
communities, and making for better
home environments.
The United States Chamber of
! Commerce president, discussing the
probable effect of the Federal Gov
ernment'S ambitious housing pro-
gram, now in the hands of Congress.
said 1t appeared to be the means of
freeing the jammed-up permanent
| goods industries.
The industrial products Of the
Nation" said Mr.. Hartman, "can be
| divided into two claSSificationS; those
which, when made, are promptly
consumed, and those which add to
our permanent wealth. The revival
in industry has thus far been largely
confined TO consumable goods, and
such industries are now running at go
per cent or better, of their average
| output.
Permanent Goods Suffer.
mot so with the permanent goods
| industries Normally, there are over
100000 workers employed in such
industries and in construction; but
when business Slackened in 1929,
there was very great decrease in the
output of these industries, and the
number Of the employed fell off be-
tween SO and rs per cent. 1t always
happens that, in times of depression,
the permanent goods industries suffer
first, and they are the last to revive.
1T was for this reason that the
Government undertook the huge P.
w. A. campaign for the construction
of public works. But that campaign
was admittedly stopgap to keep men
employed in the construction indus
tries until private business could, it
self, take up the task. 1t is for this
reason that the chamber is urging
that all laws, such as the securities
act of 1888, which prevent the normal
flow of capital into construction, be
fairly and promptly nberalzed. The
unemployment problem which we now
have is one connected with the per-
manent goods industries, and when
men can return TO work, renovating
factories, undermining railroads, and
rehousing the people, the depression
Will be at an end.
Better Than Highways.
THE administration has just intro
stimulate the use of private capital
| in the modernization of old homes
and in the construction of new homes.
and 1 can conceive of no finer or
better way of putting men to work
1t is far better to build modern
homes, and to abolish slums, than it
is to build public buildings or high
ways. I do not attempt to pass upon
the details of these bills, but I do
wish to point out certain very wise
provisions incorporated in these
| measures:
| ''First-They attempt to stimulate
the construction industries.
"Second-The renovizing of old
homes and the construction of new
homes will not only give employment,
but will tend to create better social
| conditions. Slums, whether in the
city or the country, breed crime and
disease, and add greatly to the ex-
pense of the government.
| "Third-TheSe bills aim to stimu-
late construction through the use Of
private capital, rather than through
government funds.
Amortized Mortgage Sound.
"Fourth-The principle of the amor
tized mortgage is sound. Where debts
are contracted, reserves should be set
| up to pay them off within a reason
able period. This is true, not only of
mortgage debts, but of the debts of
corporations, utilities. and railroads.
| Too long we have said to ourselves,
when debt was created, thank God
that bill is paid!' And in too many
instances the debt has remained un-
paid, long after the property for
which it was created has worn out
or become obsolete.
"Fifth-The bills provide for careful
supervision, to determine the loca-
tionS where new homes are needed
and their character and type. This
is most important. There are loca-
tions where new homes are needed.
There are other locations, where the
supply is ample. Furthermore, the type
Of house to be constructed is most
important, as we'll as the question as
to whether the borrower is justified
In assuming a debt for the desired
home"
Citizens Associations Aid.
Vying for the $l00 supplemental
cash prize put up by The Star for
the best home improvement campaign
conducted by a citizens association,
civic groups throughout the District
and nearby Maryland and Virginia
are pushing the contest on every
front.
Thousands Of booklets describing
the contests have been distributed and
application made for large number
of contest entry blanks.
The 81 200 in cash prizes offered by
The Star are divided in two classes,
for homes valued at $4,000 and less
and homes appraised at more than
$4,000.
Prizes in each class will be:
First prize, $3.50; second prize, 500;
third prize. $50, and four honorable
mention prizes of S25 each.
Giving It's Whnlehao rted a opprovoI 70