Evening star., 1941-12-02
Housing Fund
Of $15,000,000
Asked for DC.
Palmer Would Use
so of Lonhum Cash
For Defense Homes

Recommendation that upward to
S per cent or SIS 900, 900 of the $780,
100000 additional appropriation for
defense housing under the Lanham
Act be earmarked for use in the
District of Columbia was contained
today in a letter addressed to Rep
resentative Lanham by C. F. Pal
mer. defense housing co-ordinator
Of the Once for Emergency Man
agement.
Urging prompt congressional ac-
ton on the appropriation to avoid
making "a critical situation worse"
Mr.. Palmer said the housing ofhce's
program to provide sufficient homes
for Federal employees in the District
awaits only the action of Congress
on this legislation.
The problem of the District of
Columbia can only be solved with
Federal aid" Mr.. Palmer wrote.
Many thousands of workers and
their families are being drawn into
Washington for essential defense
activities in the Government depart
ments and the defense agencies.
This requires a huge volume OF
residential construction by private
builders. This program is under way
/ But governmental aid is necessary
for those defense workers whose
earnings range from about 5000 to
about 81 900 year"
Recommends Change.
Mr.. Palmer continued that he
strongly recommends an amend
ment to the Lanham Act which would
permit employees of the Federal Gov
ernment to be housed in projects
erected under the act
Our program to provide suficient
homes for employees in the Federal
| Government in the District of Co.
lumbia only awaits this authorize
ton" he said. 1T may reasonably
be stipulated that not more than 5
per cent of the Lanham Act funds
be devoted to this purpose"
| Mr. Palmer's appeal for prompt
action was expected to lend impetus
to a move to have the legislation
embodying the supplemental ap-
preparation given a preferential sta.
tus in the House.
The initial action OF Chairman
Lanham of the House Public Build
ings and Grounds Committee to ge
action on the bill failed yesterday
He indicated later he would no
seek special rule, which probabl
sideration of the legislation befor
the Christmas recess of the House
unless instructed to do So Mr.. Pal
mer's appeal would indicate that &
special rule now will be sought.
Might Billet Workers.
Discussing the defense housing sit
uation generally Mr.. Palmer warned
in his letter that unless funds are
promptly forthcoming. the people
of the United States face the same
solution of the problem used by
the British when the suddenly ex-
panded migration of defense work
ers made it necessary by law to billet
tens Of thousands in private homes
Furthermore, he added in ref
erence to the British situation,
movements of the civil population
into defense areas had to be curtailed
and citizens not vital to the war
effort have been removed from de-
fense areas
This Nations great defense pro-
gram" he continued, lis facing a
crisis for lack Of housing"
The production of ships. aircraft
tanks and powder is going to b.
slowed down by delay, Mr.. Palmer
said.
Already it is too late to catch un
completely" he wrote. Every day
counts. Every hour of further DELAY
makes the critical situation worse.
Mr.. Palmer asked specifically ths
three amendments included in II
Lanham Act as reported be kille
(See HOUSING Page A.5l