Evening star., 1940-02-18

Baakhead Praises
Housing Program 5
Firm Foundation
Central Committee
Hears Message From
Speaker Of House

S~~sS
tion that has been laid for q con-
structive housing development sin
every part Of the country.
Compared with what has been
accomplished in the last seven
years, the entire earlier record of the
country in these directions is insig-
nificant," his message read.
About $50 housing officials and
technicians. including the heads Of
half a dozen Federal agencies con-
cerned with the promotion of public
housing, attended the luncheon
meeting Of the governmental COM
mittee in the auditorium of the
National Press Club. Chairman
Lowell Mellett presided.
Sparkman Reads Message.
Representative Sparkman, DEM
ocrat, Of Alabama, who read the
message. conveyed Mr.. Bankhead's
regret at his inability to attend the
meeting because Of illness. He also
conveyed q personal message from
Mr.. Bankhead, saying that he is
sincerely, earnestly interested in
the housing program"
Mr.. Bankhead's message was the
high light Of the "get-together"
meeting Of housing officials and ad-
ministrative heads. Another aspect
was the exhibit of Government in
Housing" prepared by all afYiliated
agencies for the 1910 world fairs at
New York and San Francisco.
Reviewing the seven-year record
OF the various housing programs in
the expenditure Of billions and the
"salvaging" Of millions Of homes,
Mr.. Bankhead told the committee
that "the future holds for you the
gratitude Of the whole Nation If
you can accomplish the housing of
all Americans as Americans should
be housed"
Coordination by Co. operation.
The committee is an informal
group which Mr.. Bankhead said has
adopted . wholly new type of pro-
cedure-co-ordination by co-opera-
tion-in the direction of efficiency
in administration"
The committee, according to Mr..
Mellett. offers the affiliated agencies
concerned with housing a means of
breaking through red tape, pooling
their problems and sharing in the
findings.
As an example" Of the value of
co-ordinated efforts and direction,
Mr.. Bankhead referred in laudatory
terms to the similar work set in
motion here by FREDERIC A. Delano
In promoting the Committee of One
Hundred on the National Capital.
Mr. Delano also Is chairman emeri-
tus Of the Housing Committee.
For decades" Mr.. Bankhead said,
the development Of the National
Capital was retarded for lack OF ade-
quate authorizations and appropria-
ttons-a situation due largely to the
lack OF any basic, co-ordinated pro-
gram. The demands Of diverse aeen-
cies and interests converting on
Congress from many angles usually
confused the issue or afforded an out
when pressure was strong for funds
IN other directions.
Bridges and Fills.
Some agencies having to do with
the District Of Columbia fiourished
while others languished. A classic
product Of the period was the success
OF one group in bridging the Rock
Greek Valley. while another interest
was beginning to I'LL it. In the early
'20s, q Committee Of One Hundred
was organized to reconcile differ
ences Of opinion and approach on
Washington problems and to develop
coordination of effort. National and
local civic and professional groups
co-operated. II agencies of govern
ment were brought together and a
balanced, well organized program
was presented to Congress.
Within two years." Mr.. Bankhead
added, authorization and appropri-
atoms followed and, in the relatively
pr1ef span Of Is years, nearly all OF
the desired objectives have been
achieved by collective agreement"
The year just ended produced the
largest volume Of residential build
ing since 1929, approximating 45o, 900
TO 475,OO0 urban dwelling units-a
significant figure II we recall that
at the bottom Of the depression, only
about $4,000 urban homes were con-
structed," he said. Billions of dol
lars have been spent in home con.
struction and the purchase and i'm
provement Of existing homes" he
reminded, because Government in
itiative led private industry to the
housing we'll"
Low-Income Groups.
Private industry today, he claimed,
Is producing well-designed and we'll
built homes within the means of
families with incomes of 1880
or less.
While giving due credit to the slum
clearance and low-rent housing pro-
gram IN urban areas and the financ-
ing OF some 1886, 900 900 of farm
mortgages, Mr.. Bankhead warned
that Government interest in "the
rural aspect Of the slum problem
must be awakened" The Govern
ment should resume a responsible
ity toward the wretched living condi-
tions OF rural families comparable
ne said. with its program for urban
housing. Under pending lepisla-
tion," he pointed out, "a hundred
thousand homes would be produced :"
In the South, he claimed, approxi.
mately one-half of the farm popu-
lation is housed In substandard
dwellings.
Prominent among the heads of
governmental agencies afiiliated and
attending the luncheon were Jesse
Jones, administrator of the Federal
Loan Agency; John M. Carmody.
administrator Of the Federal Works
Agency; Nathan Straus, admins
traitor Of the United States Housing
Authority; Stewart Mcdonald, ad-
ministrator Of the Federal Housing
Administration; John H. Fahey, d.
rector OF the Federal Home Land
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