Evening star., 1942-02-27
Senators Study
.S70,O00,000
Housing Bill
Lonhom Proposal
To Come Before
Labor Committee
BY JAMES Z. CHINN.

Calling for an increase from
$50, 900 900 to $4,000 900, the Lam
ham bill authorizing appropriations
for construction of homes and re-
lated public works for Government
war workers In the District and
Metropolitan Area, Is scheduled to
be considered today by the Senate
Education and Labor Committee.
A subcommittee gave the legis-
lation q favorable report yesterday
after adding s20000,000 to the
House approved figure and definitely
earmarking distribution OF the $7o,-
900, ,OO0-$45, ,00O, 900 for housing and
SIS 900 900 for such additional COM
munity facilities as public schools.
extensions to hospitals and the
water and sewer services, and in
creased police and fire protection.
Five million of the s45, 900 900 nous
ing fund was allocated to carry out
the so-called Goodwillie plan for
rehabilitation of nine blocks in
Southwest Washington.
Two Agencies to Handle Funds.
AS passed by the House several
weeks ago. the $4,000, 900 appro-
priation the bill authorized would
have been in the form of blank
check to the Federal Works Agency
with which to provide the housing
facilities and the accompanying
necessary public works. The Senate
subcommittee, however, divided the
$40 900 900 it agreed to recommend
between two Federal agencies. First.
it stipulated the $45 ,000,0 900 for
housing should be administered by
the newly created National Housing
Agency. The remaining SIS, 600 600
for community facilities, it decided
should be handled by the F. w. A.
Further, the subcommittee de-
creed that the maximum cost OF a.
housing unit should be $4,000 IN
stead of s3,750 as fixed for defense
housing in the original Lanham
Act. Senator Ellender. Democrat,
of Louisiana, the subcommittee
chairman, said this was done be-
cause some of the members felt
housing accommodations erected In
the Washington area should be
permanent in character, as tney
probably would be used long after
the war.
In setting aside s5,O0O,00O for ex-
ecution of the Goodwillie rehaoili-
tation plan in Southwest Washing
ton, the subcommittee provided that
temporary homes be provided Tor
about 600 residents who would have
to be evacuated from this area dur
ing the period Of reconstruction.
Senator Ellender pointed out the
rehabilitation program would in
crease the housing facilities in the
nine block area from 500 to 900.
GaIlinger May Benefit.
Although the subcommittee left
to the discretion" of r. w. A. how
the SIS ZOO, 900 for community ia
cilities is to be spent, Chairman
Ellender said suggestions would be
made in its report as to projects
it believes to be deserving. For in
stance. he explained, suggestion
will be made that funds be set aside
to add 1900 beds at Gallinger Hos
pital and the District tuberculosis
sanatoria at Glenn Dale, Md. A
bill now pending in the House Dis
trict Committee would provide 1000
additional beds at these two NUM-
cipal institutions-60o at Gallinger
and 400 at Glenn Dale.
Senator Ellender disclosed no spe-
cific ALLEGATION of funds would be
recommended to provide urgently
needed additions to Washington's
overcrowded private hospitals. The
acutely needed hospital extension
program, he indicated, would be
left to the Commissioners, and A.
nanced with loans advanced to them
by the Federal Government.
Senator Ellender also intimated
the Federal Government might bear
the entire expense of the emergency
housing program, but that the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia communities would be loaned
Government money to finance GER
tain community facilities.