Evening star., 1938-06-10
BY NELSON. M. SHEPARD.

by NELSON, M. SHEPAkD.
Unless the Senate comes to the aid
OF the United States Housing Au-
thority. it was said today, the passage
Of the pending deficiency appropria-
ton bill must be followed by such .
slash in the personnel Of that agency
IS to cripple the Governments slum-
clearance and low-rent housing pro-
gram.
Nearly 500 employees are threatened
with the loss of their jobs. it was said.
because Of the action Of the House
In reducing the Budget Bureaus
u. 500 900 accommodation for ad-
ministrAtive purposes to t2.50o, 900.
with the U. 3. H. A. program rapidly
gaining momentum throughout the
country. Administrator Nathan straus
i hoping the Senate will restore .
portion, at least. Of the Budget Bu-
reau's figures. The chances of this
being done, however. were said to be
none too favorable.
The U. 8. H. A. originally had re-
quested $4,000, 900 for expenses, rep
resenting / per cent of the cost OF ad-
ministering . $500, ,OO0, 900 slum clear
ance program. Since then, the Senate
added $500, ,000, 900 to the recovery bill
for the housing program, bringing the
total to $500, ,000, 900. It is regarded as
almost certain that the House con-
ferees would agree to this increase
since it win be distributed eventually
In cities in every State.
OnleiaIs Worried.
The handling Of = program involv-
ing $500, ,00O, 900 with . reduced stan
and an administrative fund Of only
$2,500, 900 worried ofiicials explained,
would reduce the administrative costs
to slightly over three-tenths Of ! per
cent. That is . sum entirely out of
proportion, 1t was believed, to the
amounts available to other New Deal
spending agencies.
Mr.. Straus was admittedly worried
over the situation and conscious OF
the disastrous effect it will have on
maintaining the program at its peak
On November /, when Mr.. Straus
assumed charge OF the slum clearance
work, l,577 employees were certified
to the q. s. H. A. from the Housing
Division Of the Public Works Admins.
tration. As of April 80, the last date
on which there was . compilation, only
% employees had been added to the
sszn total Of the rolls, bringing the
number to 1910. OF these, the total
active personnel in the field num-
bered 35S, and 773 were assigned tc
the Washington ONCE. The totals
include 80 consultants used here and
in the neld.
7. w. A. Work Taken Over.
The former P..w. A. Housing stafl
handled the work involved In q
$135, ,0O0, 900 program over q three
year period. With only small in
crease In the stan, the U. s. H. A. not
only has to administer the 81 housing
projects inherited from the p. w. A.,
but had to initiate $500, ,o00, 900 pro-
gram Of its own.
Despite early delays, the U. s. H.. A.
program Is now getting into full stride.
Today 1SS local housing authorities
have been created and numerous 9TH
ers throughout the country are in
process Of being established. Contracts
have been signed to date involving
$11l, ,000, 900 for slum clearance and
low-rent housing projects in q dozen
cities or more.
With the stair working at top speed,
from 80 to so days Il required to work
out all the details Of . contract from
the time that local authority applies
for funds. There is no doubt that the
stan, which would Be reduced from
1910 to approximately 1.1S8 employees,
or maybe considerably less. would have
to put forth superhuman efforts to
prevent decided slowing up Of the
program.
b. C. WsFk Would Suffer.
A serious reduction in the personnel
ct this time, no doubt, will AFFECT the
negotiations between the District Alley
Dwelling Authority and the Federal
agency. Washington's loW-rent hous-
ing program. tagging far behind Balti-
more's. u still In It's Legislative stages.
With other local authorities putting in
requests for funds In greater numbers
each week, It was said the Districts
agency might face considerable delay
IN the matter q oapAndlins . contract.