Evening star., 1939-12-05
Mass Housing
Plan Offered
By Harrington

SVsOAsOu w sS
OfLow-Income Group,
Official Says
The Nations problem Of provid-
Ing adequate housing for low-in-
come groups can be solved by mass
production, Col. Francis c. Harring-
ton, commissioner of the Works
Progress Administration, last night
told the Washington Housing Asso-
citation, but he added that "tradi-
tional views may have to change
not only among investors, but among
labor leaders before such large-scale
housing construction can become
reality"
Such construction, Col. Harring-
ton said, can be done at compara-
lively low cost, but IF the rents are
kept low enough, returns on invest
ment will be smaller and slower
than they have been traditionally In
the field" He spoke before the as
sociation's annual public meeting at
the United States Chamber of Com
merce auditorium.
Acceptance by investment inter-
ests of the terms necessary for such
housing will prove to be no sacri-
flee whatever, but a great gain" he
asserted. And I believe the same
Is true for labor. I believe that Ia
Dor can participate in large-scale
housing construction on terms which
will prove a universal boon, even
though they may be viewed before
hand by some branches of labor as
a sacrifice of their own special in
terests. If unskilled labor has a
large share in the new housing con-
struction it will be of the greatest
benefit to skilled labor because, by
such a move, literally millions of
unskilled workers will be taken out
of the labor market. AS for skilled
labor, there will be more work than
all the skilled labor in America can
do.
Problem Declared Acute.
1--WE all hope that private enter
prise will enter this field on a mass
production scale in the near future.
If, however, private enterprise will
not, or cannot tackle this job, then
the Government must continue to
meet the situation by long-term
investments and partial subsidies"
In his address opening the as
sembly's consideration of "the
three RS of housing-rent, relief
and repairs" Col. Harrington de-
clared that the problem of providing
satisfactory living quarters for low
income groups-including families
on relief or dependent on w. P. A.
wages-has become acute. Such
families cannot afford even moder-
ate rental costs, he said, and what
incomes they have are so unstable
that generally they are not. wanted
by real estate agents as tenants.
The solution, so far as w. p. A.
workers is concerned, Col. Harring-
ton explained, must come in the
form of lower rents for w. P. A.
wages, under present appropriations,
"can hardly be raised"
Col. Harrington maintained that
'lower-income tenants receive pro-
portionately less, dollar for dollar,
in housing benefits for the rent they
pay than higher-income tenants.
It is not merely a question of pay
ing less and getting less. They get
less and pay proportionately more.
A third of any income is too much
to pay for rent, and a third of an
annual relief income of three or
four, our $500 is social absurdity." ;"
Groups Work Outlined.
Before introducing Col. Harring-
ton, J. Bernard Wyckoff, acting
president of the association, who
presided, briefly outlined the work
of the organization in the six years
of its existence, stating that the
purpose is to stimulate the think
ing and activity of the community
SO that adequate housing will be
provided for all families"
Mr.. Wykoff stated that the asso-
citation still has hopes Of obtaining
$8-a a-imonth-a-room renting units In
the District, and that it has pressed
the Real Estate Board for q re-
sponse.
1--WE hope that some day the
Henry Ford of Housing will appear
among us" he said.
John Ihlder, executive officer of
the Alley Dwelling Authority, said
that. contrary to some preliminary
predictions that the authority S
reclamation of slums would scare
private builders away" the author
ity's activities have stimulated pri-
vate building in localities in which
"prive capital did not dare go be-
FORE"
In several instances, he continued,
Improvement of certain sections by
installation of hitherto unprovided
public utilities had encouraged pri-
vate building nearby and resulted in
higher assessment of property values
In the neighborhood.
New Developments Planned.
The Authority, he said, has made
application for development Of three
additional sites in the District
all colored areas. If these applica-
tions receive favorable action, the
Authority will be concerned with
5000 dwellings on 10 sites instead OF
It's present program of 1000 dwell
ings on Z sites, he added. There
is need of 10000 reclaimed resi-
Dental units IN Washington, Mr.
Ihlder declared, but he said this
need may be reduced by improve
ment In business conditions and the
status Of unemployed and low-in-
come groups. v:
Judge Nathan Cayton outlined
recent progressive changes in court
procedure and reductions Of fees
In the Landlord and Tenant Branch
of the Municipal Court. He com.
mended the work of the Washington
Cpariol C0ye