Evening star., 1937-12-14
PUBLIC SUPPORT
HELD KEY TOD.C
HOUS|NGREFORMS
Mrs. Roosevelt Points to
Direct Link With Family
Income.
CODE "WITH TEETH"
NOW BEING FORMULATED
Speakers at Association Meeting
Told Health officer to Get
Real Powers.

The need of a housing conscious
public to back proposed legislation for
new zonine and health codes to con-
troll the growth trends in the city and
bring blighted areas more closely
under the regulation of District Off
cials was stressed last night at the
annual public meeting of the Wash
ington Housing Association.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who
has evinced an unfailing interest in
providing better homes for Washing
tons alley dwellers, reminded the 40C
or more persons in attendance that
what we demonstrate here can have
a tremendous influence over all the
country She described some of the
living conditions within 10 blocks OF
the White House as perfectly terrible
and struck popular note when she
visualized Washington of the future
in which better housing would &c
hand in hand" with other things
such as improved health and safety.
Mrs. Roosevelt is honorary presi-
dent of the Washington Housing As
socis.tion, which has worked in close
cooperation for three years with the
Alley Dwelling Authority. She was
introduced by Canon Anson Phelps
Stokes. president of the association.
AS evidence that Washington is be-
coming more housing conscious. -
Canon Stokes pointed out that the au-
dience in the United States Chamber
~f Ja11
perior in numbers to that of last year
This revived interest in national
housing is due largely to the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt" he said.
Officials Heard
Speakers at the session included j.
Frank Butts, director of the Bureau
OF Inspection. District Health Depart
ment, who discussed citizens Coop
Grafton in enforcing health, SANTA
ton, building, fire and safety regula-
tions. John Nolen, jr., director of
planning, National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, discussed the
need of assistance in making effective
the coming regulation and city PLAN
ming program. The last speaker, John
Ihlder, executive officer of the Alley
Dwelling Authority. told of Govern
ment participation in housing in the
District.
At the close of the session, Mrs,
Helen Duey Hoffman. executive sec
retary of the Washington Housing
Association, cited the necessity of. a
thorough housing survey to supply up
to-date information on the situation
for officials Of the Government as we'll
IS builders, realtors and taxpayers.
Mr.. Butts said: In order to correct
the bad housing conditions in this city,
1t is essential that the owner of the
building and the manager of the tene-
ment house become health conscious,
safety conscious, comfort conscious
yes, brotherhood conscious. If this
mot be accomplished through an
educational or conference program, it
is absolutely necessary to be provided
with positive law, ordinance or regu-
lation which can compel them to be-
come So"
Code Being Formulated.
Toward this end. he declared. the
Health Department is engaged in
formulating health code, the hous-
ing section of which is practically
complete
The Health Departments hands
are tied now, he reminded, by the
1nadequateness of the present code.
The Bureau Of Inspection also is
handicapped, he said, by insufficient
personnel. In dealing with situations
found existing in violation of law
Mr.. Butts said it is necessary for q
formal notice to be served In the
event it Is not complied with, enforce
ment may be had through the courts
but for failure to comply with the
requirements of the notice only. and
not for maintaining the particular
unlawful condition.
Under the present laws we are
unable to approach this problem as
We should" he said. For example
we can compel the owner of a building
to provide adequate heating facilities,
but we have no authority to compel
the furnishing of heat"
Mr.. Nolen declared the present
soning regulations in the District
need complete revision Many of the
provisions being antequated and on
an unsound legal basis, he said, they
are inadequate to protect property
fairly and surely. and induce the
development of balanced city.
"One of the most serious deficien-
cies is lack of control over the den
sity and distribution of population, ~
he said. Another unhealthy aspect
cited was the tendency of growth to
the Northwest sections, although
there is now definitely growing
trend in an easterly direction
Would Replace Old Act.
The proposed coming legislation, he
said, would repeal the old act of 1920
except for retention of zoning COM
mission.
Mr.. Nolen called on all members of
the association to familiarize them
selves with the proposed Zoning legis-
lation so that when hearings are held
at the Capitol, responsible spokesmen
may appear in its behalf.
Mr.. Ihdler said the Alley Dwelling
Authority's job will be done when
there are no more slums and when
there is a ready supply of good housing
available.
There is a great need in the Dis
tFict, Mr.. Ihlder said, for loans from
the Federal Housing Administration
to persons of low incomes
The other phase of Government
participation is that involved in the
loans made to local authorities by
the United States Housing Authority.
In such cases, the local communities
put up 10 per cent of the total capital
cost Of the project.
Mr.. Ihlder also urged the necessity
for new zoning regulations to get rid
of blighted areas and control city con-
eestion. The new law, he believed,
would increase the value of property.