Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-11-23
Farm Committee
Opposes Present
Housing Program

Continued from page u
the cost thereof. The same could
be said regarding expenses per-
tanning to health, social welfare
and relief.
8. We doubt the economy of plac
ing this type of labor on cash
basis. Through periods of unem-
ployment, sickness, etc. his full liv-
ing cost must be paid for in cash,
where, in many cases, he at pres
eDt has place to live, fuel and a
major portion of food furnished as
though he were working. This
leaves a minor portion of his total
living expenses to be paid for in
cash. Few of these people can pro-
cure medical care at present with
out the same is guaranteed by his
employer.
A. This organization, represent
ing as it does the farm people.
cannot agree with a policy of re-
moving farm labor to points out
OF reach, especially if this class
have no form of transportation.
Should, in the future, transporta-
ton be provided several would
travel together to industrial Oh
suburban centers and thereby be
lost to agriculture. 1t is our belief
that this will lead to greater ex-
penditures for relief with lack of
transportation given as the excuse
for not working.
5. The Program in question re-
verses modern tendency against
concentration of individuals. Con-
centration lends itself to so many
social disorders, namely, public
health, unemployment, and crime
without correcting anything or
saving in expense. For instance
houses could be built as cheaply if
scattered through communities
without destroying present labor
contacts. Little, if anything, would
be saved on school transportation
as the buses must cover these
routes anyway.
6. In sympathetic attitude with
the position of some of our men,
bers we would suggest that this
Program could be adjusted in q
way that would get electricity to
practically every farm in Mont
Gomery County. To do this, how
ever, would mean to scatter the
houses along the roads where the
electric load would be built up to q
point where farmers could ge'
lines built at a cost that would be
bearable. Scarcely single electric
line extension has been made il
rural Montgomery County in the
last seven years where some O
these worthless shacks have not
been cheaply wired as means Of
lowering the line cost to farmers
Certainly if more of these house:
are destroyed it lessons the oppor
tunity for electric extension in such
areas.
7. Montgomery County offers t.
our National Capital or to Wash
ington, D. C. her finest field fol
expansion. This, we are sure, would
be very seriously affected by tn
type of developments proposed
The damage to adjacent and near
by properties would be inestim
able.
s. In principle this Organization
sees in the present plan a tendenc!
to further dependents upon Gov
eminent rather than step to thes,
folks becoming more Independent
and self sustaining and we canno
approve a plan which places ;
premium on unemployment and de
liberate refusal to work. On tn
contrary no one will go furthel
than this body to help self-respect
ing, honest, industrious labor t,
improve their housing standards
and become property owners, how
ever little they are able to pay to
wards the equity each month.
I