Evening star., 1942-06-28
Final Congress Action
Near on S32,500,000
War Housing Here
Conferees Set ; Million
Fund for Temporary
Family Units
By ], A. O'LEARY.

The House and Senate Are ex-
pected to give prompt approval
this week to the agreement
reached by conferees yesterday
on a $32,500,000 housing and
public works program to accom-
modate war workers In and near
Washington.
Breaking a deadlock that for
time threatened to kill the measure.
the compromise leaves in the bill
the following:
For dormitories, $12 900 900. to ac-
commodate $4,000 single persons.
For family units, SO ,OGo 900, with a
stipulation that construction be
temporary, at unit cost Of not
more than $4,000 This will provide
1000 units, and they may be planned
in separate or multiple units.
For public works, sl7,5Oo000, ad-
ministered through the Federal
Works Agency, and available for
schools. waterworks, sewers, streets,
hospital or recreation facilities.
Tied Up for Month.
The controversy that tied the bill
up in conference for a month re-
volved around whether any family
Il eh ho h,,i
House took the view that permanent
family dwellings should not be built,
and had confined the bill to $4,000
900 for the dormitories and sl7,500,-
900 for public works.
The Senate added $l3500,000 for
5000 family dwellings, at an aver
age cost of $4,000, raising the total
of the bill to s43 900 900. Repeated
efforts to get together had failed
before both sides consented yester-
day to cut the Senate increase to
$1,000 900, with the understanding
that the family dwelling units would
be temporary. so that they could be
/ torn down and salvaged after the
war.
| Oficials of the National Housing
Agency said last night they would
proceed as quickly as possible to
carry out the program. if the House
and Senate ratify the compromise.
List of Sites Approved.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission already has
approved a list of sites for the dor
mitories, including:
/ On the Arlington Experimental
Farm. near the new War Depart
ment Building.
West Potomac Park, south of
independence avenue.
The northeast section of Union
/ Station Plaza. on square that
would not block the vista between
the Station and Capitol
East Potomac Park, near the tour
ist camp area.
Near the National Guard Armory.
beyond East Capitol street.
Near the Langston housing prof.
ect in the Northeast.
! At Suitland. Md, where the Gov
ernment has built some of its new
| Office space.
Leasing Of Land Suggested.
Housing officials indicated that in
/ determining where to put the 1000
family dwelling units they would
have to take into consideration the
requirement that the construction
be of temporary nature. For ex-
ample, it was suggested that with
! temporary construction it may be
| feasible to lease land although that
has not been decided upon.
! The Public Buildings Administra-
ton probably will be designated to
supervise the dormitory projects,
which are to be located near public
office buildings, while' the Federal
Public Housing Authority proba bly,
will have charge of erecting the
temporary family units.
/ Congress began considering Wash
/ ingtons war housing needs early
this year. First came lengthy de-
liberation over the Enabling Act,
which became law April 10, auth
orizing s50,0O00 900, of which $780,
100000 was to be for housing and
S20,000.00 for public works.
President Roosevelt on April IA
submitted a budget estimate for the
full amount. OF the $4,000, 900