Evening star., 1941-12-27
War Housing
loco Forward,
Builders Told
Decentralization
Won't Returd
Vast OutIoy Here

Assurances that the Districts
new $10O,000000 defense housing
program would 60 forward despite
Government moves toward decen-
tralization and that priority assist
ance for prompt delivery OF ma
terials needed in the program would
be granted were given some 2O0
Washington real estate men and
home builders late yesterday by
Federal officials
The local builders, who will share
heavily in the construction OF the
emergency dwellings. were told by
Frank A. Vanderlip, jr.. housing
co-ordinator for the Washington
area, that although definite figures
on the effect of any decentralization
moves were not available, the hous-
ing projects outlined for the Met
ropolitan Area would go forward on
schedule
Builders Given Assurance.
Mr.. Vanderlip acted as chairman
of the meeting. held in the audi
torium of the United States Cham
Der of Commerce Building, in the
absence of Defense House Co-ordi-
nator Charles F. Palmer, who asked
that the session be called to clear
up certain problems that have
arisen in connection with the pro-
gram in the past few days.
Sullivan Jones, director Of de-
fense housing priorities. assured the
builders that the Government would
do everything possible to aid them
in obtaining materials for the pro-
gram. He pointed out that prefer
ence ratings would not be given I'M
less there was reasonable assurance
that materials called for are avail
able.
Naturally. the Government can
give no absolute assurance of de-
livery because we don't know what
the requirements of the armed serv-
ices and the lease-lend administra
ton will be-" he added. but we
have no reason to suspect that man
ufactured articles will not reach
the builders on time"
Mr.. Jones appealed to the builders
to play fair" with the Government,
pointing out that a number of cases
where contractors have not played
fair" had come to the attention of
his Office and two such cases ARE
on their way to prosecution.
FLEXIBLE" Program.
Mr.. Jones said that nationally
200, 1000 defense housing units to be
built by private enterprise had been
authorized by the Office of Produc-
ton Management He added that
undoubtedly more will be needed"
and additional authorizations will be
forthcoming.
Mr.. Vanderlip explained that the
national program already authorized
was to be regarded as flexible"
I'VE are taking some units away
from certain cities where needs have
diminished and added units to others
where needs have become more
acute" he added.
Curt c. Mack, director of under
writing for the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration, said his organization
was studying fluctuation of construc-
ton costs in Washington to deter
mine possible changes in the financ-
ing program for the local area. The
results Of the study should be COM
pleted within the next few days, he
said
Other Government representatives
who answered queries of the real
estate men included H. Loy Ander-
son. Washington representative of
F. H. A: Clyde L. Powell of the F.
H. A., George Williams of the Re-
construction Finance Corp. Col.
Conrad Beard, liaison agent between
defense housing and Defense Homes
Corp, and Maj. George H. Baker,
chairman of the manpower division
of National Selective Service Maj.
Bakers remarks on the housing Ia
Dor situate in relation to the draft
program we're off the record.