Evening star., 1940-01-28
Legislators Ask
Farm Aid 10
Better Housinq
Conference Is Told
Low Incomes BoIk
Solution of Problem

A Republican Senator and DEM
ocratic Representative told the Ma
tional Public Housing Conference at
its closing session yesterday after
noon that the greatest handicap to
a successful program of replacing
substandard rural housing is the
deplorably inadequate incomes of
agricultural families.
Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas
and Representative Jerry Voorhis
of California gave their full support
to the proposed program, but warned
there can be no real solution of the
problem until farmers are given a
greater share of the national income
They agreed also that the plight of
migratory farm families, housed by
thousands in tent colonies, is de-
serving OF more governmental aid
than is now being given.
The conference members, who are
on record in favor of congressional
approval of the 5000, 100000 ear
marked in the United States Hous-
ing Authority bill fer rural housing
projects, adjourned to the White
House at the END of a day devoted to
many phases of the proposed pro-
gram. The $50 or more delegates
were received by Mrs. Roosevelt, who
is member of the conference and
one of the most enthusiastic leaders
in the public housing movement.
Mrs Roosevelt was unable to attend
any of the sessions.
A Nom Partisan Problem.
The two members of Congress who
addressed the closing session took
the position that housing was nom
partisan issue and should be kept so.
They differed in their views on some
of the measures to promote housing
generally, Mr.. Voorhis taking sharp
issue with the practice of issuing
U. S. H. A. bonds to finance loans to
local authorities. He particularly
condemned it as a fetish" and
blamed it for higher interest charges.
Leon H. Keyserling, deputy ad-
ministrator of the U. S. H. A., ad-
vocated passage Of the proposed
amendment which would provide
for home ownership" as well as
rental occupancy of Government
aided rural housing One reason for
the relatively slow start in rural
areas, he said, was the lag in rural
interest. When the U. 8. H. A. came
into being there Was only one
county housing authority in rural
areas. To-day there are 81, with
every prospect of rapid multiplica-
tion." the official said.
With the cooperation of the Agri-
culture Department, Mr.. Keyserling
suggested, Congress should author
ize the U. s. H.A. to extend aid even
into rural areas where there are
no county housing authorities and
no State enabling legislation.
Compared to Russia.
irving Brandt presided at the final
session and declared there Is a
greater contrast in the housing Of
Massachusetts than there is be-
tween the housing in Denmark and
in Russia. The former country is
noted for the best housing in Europe,
he said, while housing conditions
in Russia were described as the
"worst." George S. Mitchell, assist
ant administrator of the Farm Secu-
rity Administration. credited with
laying the groundwork for rural
public, housing, was another speaker.
Different phases of the problem also
were discussed by Robert Hand
'schen, executive secretary of Farm
Research, Inc, and Cecil Owen, rep
resentative of the Congress of In
dustrial Organizations.
Statistically minded, Senator
Capper drew a drab picture of hous-
ing conditions in agricultural areas.
A recent Federal survey, he declared,
disclosed that IS per cent of the farm
homes had no bathrooms; 81 per
cent had no indoor toilets and IS
per cent didn't even have outhouses.
At least rs per cent were more than
IS years old. he declared, and de-
teriorating from lack Of paint and
improvements.
Virginia Slums.
In Virginia, he claimed, a third
of the farm operators live in houses
valued at less than $500, providing
the barest shelter. Counting farm
laborers, he said, As per cent Of
Virginia s farm families live in
such homes.
bad as these conditions are,
there is a significant segment of the
rural population living under even
worse conditions" Senator Capper
(See HOUSING, Page B-2)