Evening star., 1938-05-08
BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.

Whether Washington is to share
alike with other cities in the $780,
100000 Federal loans for rehousing
slum dwellers or limit it's efforts to
the somewhat restricted program of
the District Alley Dwelling Authority
appeared last night as an issue in
which a final showdown is i'm
minent.
The matter was brought abruptly
to head by an unexpected inter-
change of views between Administra-
tor Nathan Straus of the United
States Housing Authority and John
Ihlder, executive officer of the local
agency, who have been at odds over
questions of housing policy since early
winter Developments came from q
desire on the part of the Federal ad.
ministrator to inaugurate, before Con-
gress adjourns, a low-rent housing
project IN Washington to cost $le,-
100000 or more
He charged Mr. Ihlder, in letter
made public earlier in the day, with
jeopardizing the possibility of the
project being started this summer by
holding up proposed legislative amend
ments which the U. S. H. A. had for
warded to him exactly one month
ago at the direction of President
Roosevelt. He explained he was both
alarmed and puzzled" over Mr..
Ihlder's continued silence on the SUBJ
| ject of the amendments and for this
reason requested an immediate con-
ference.
Conditions Terrible, Says Straus.
1.-THE slum conditions here are ter
rible," Mr.. Straus wrote, "and a pro-
gram must be started at once toward
their removal on large scale.
The commencement this summer
of a s10,000,000 or more building pro-
gram in Washington is matter upon
which neither business. labor. slum
dwellers nor public minded citizens
can afford to delay"
AS special inducement for a large
project for the District, Mr.. Straus
proposed eliminating the 10 per cent
of the cost which every other city
is required to put up in advance.
Mr. Straus warned that Congress
is soon to adjourn and further delay
in proposed legislation enabling the
Alley Dwelling Authority to partici-
pate in the new Federal program, he
pointed out. would postpone construc-
ton of housing project in the city
for another year.
In reply which he gave to the
press, Mr.. Ihlder rejoined by blam-
ing the Federal administrator in
part for some of the delay and dis
cussed briefly opposing theories which
have served to keep the two officials
apart In a verbal statement to The
Star, the local housing official said
he expected to consult on the mat
ter with President Roosevelt after
the latter's return to Washington. He
indicated then he would be willing to
meet with Mr.. Straus after that
interview.
Agreement Is Possible.
Despite the circumstances which
threaten showdown, a conciliatory
note indicated that the two housing
officials are closer to an agreement
than they have been for some time.
THE Alley Dwelling Authority
hopes and believes it can reach an
understanding with Mr.. Straus that
will enable it to carry forward its
program Of slum reclamation and
provision of low-rent housing, MIR.
1hlder said, "and to include among
its tenants families below the eco
nomic levels that Mr. Straus so far
has been able to reach"
In the latter reference the A. D. A.
official touched on a subject over
which the two have. been constantly
at odds.
Mr.. Strauss, while stating the prob
lem bluntly as he saw it, made it
(see HOUSING. Page A-4.)