Evening star., 1935-02-10
HOUSING SURVEY
BY SENATE BODY
URGEDBY CAPPER
Transportation Also Re.
garded as Pressing Problem
in National Capital.
C0-ORDINATED PROGRAM
OF ACTION ADVOCATED
Declares Congress and Community
Faces Weighty Responsibility in
High Rents and Traffic Congestion

A survey by the Senate District
Committee into housing and trans
portation problems in Washington
was advocated last night by Senator
Capper of Kansas, ranking minority
member of the committee, in state
ment in which he described these as
pressing problems at this time.
washington is confronted with
the immediate necessity Of solving
two critical and pressing problems"
Senator Capper stated. "One Of these
is the housing shortage, with accom-
panying high rents and overcrowd-
ing. The other is traffic congestion,
which has been intensified by an
increased population and a heavier
demand on the street railway and
bus facilities of the city"
Urges Public Works Projects.
Pointing out that District officials
have been asked to consider local
projects which might be undertaken
under the administrations new pub
lie works program, now in the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee, the
Kansan added:
"I think it is of the utmost i'm
portance that any public works pro-
gram in the District should include
projects which would help in the
housing and transportation of the
public. I believe also that If new leg
islation is required. the various pub
lie interests should be known TO
Congress, so that a carefully CO.
ordinated plan may be developed. In
other words, l am anxious to prevent
at the outset any possible conflict
of good ideas and good motives. In
stead We should endeavor TO bring
these ideas together.
Weighty Responsibility.
Without indicating he has any par
ticular form of legislation in mind
at this time, Senator Capper said
Congress and the community have
a weighty responsibility in connec-
ton with these two big questions. No
half planning no temporary ex-
! pedients will be of assistance. 1t is
| essential that the matters of hous-
/ ing and transportation must be given
| the immediate attention of Congress
with a view to action at the present
session of Congress that will enable
the proper agencies to deal effectively
with these questions.
Reports have come to me from sew
eral different sources that a number
of unrelated organizations and indi-
viduals. some connected with the Fed
eral and District governments and
some in private life. are interested in
seeing something done about high
rents, slum living conditions, street
car and bus service all-night parking.
speed limits and the numerous other
phases of the two problems I have
mentioned"
Would Like to See Survey.
Continuing, Senator Capper stated:
The District government and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission have an excellent agency
( which is known as the Co-ordinating
Committee. This committee meets to
! pass on the plans of engineering agen-
cieS engaged in public work in the
District. so that the plans of one
Office will not interfere with the activ-
I tiles of another.
This committee, however. cannot
so expand its functions as to bring
together the various groups and agen-
cies interested in the improvement of
local housing and transportation. But
! its work. believe, furnishes an excel
/ lent model for the Senate Committee
on the District Of Columbia.
! Il would like to see the District
COMMITTEE make a survey of housing
and transportation requirements.
| These two subjects are not entirely
unrelated. Were it not for the great
/ congestion Of population in the north
west section of the District, our traffic
and transportation problems would not
be nearly so grave.
II do not suggest that the District
Committee should throw its doors
| open to an avalanche of unconsidered
/ opinions. / think there will be found
in Washington a considerable num-
| Der of agencies and persons who can
give us facts and real help in draft
ing an adequate housing and trans
portation plan for the Nations Capt.
tai.
Should Be Kept Informed.
'In think the committee would be
| particularly interested in knowing the
/ salient points of the effect of the pres
ent housing shortage on the people
and what plans are being undertaken
to meet the needs of the people. The
! committee should know also how the
street railway merger is working and
what is needed to improve the service.
There cannot be much doubt that
consideration by the committee of the
statements and recommendations of
responsible officials will be of untold
value in helping the committee to
draft such legislation as may be re-
quired to start the machinery for
unified, orderly and effective housing
and transportation plan.
$50 far as housing is concerned, it
is my feeling that the period of agi-
tation for housing reform in Wash.
ington has come to an end. The facts
are in. We know there is a great
shortage Of decent dwellings for per-
sons of low income. We know that
rents are high. The time for action
is at hand"