Evening star., 1942-02-11
Lanham Bill
Passes House
By3o3 10 18
so Million Housing,
Utilities Measure
FIoyed by Better
Ry JAMES E. CHM.

The House this afternoon by
record vote of 303 to 18 passed
and sent to the Senate the Lam
ham bill authorizing an appro-
priation of $50, 100000 to provide
housing and public works facili-
ties for Government war workers
in Washington and its surround
ing Metropolitan Area. Action
came at the conclusion Of nearly
two hours of debate.
Virtually all members who took
part in discussion of the legis-
lation stressed the urgency of the
housing shortage and the existing
lack of school, hospital, water anc
other facilities for Government en-
ployes and their families. An ex-
ception was Representative Better
Democrat of New York, who charged
that the Defense Homes Corporation
has been buying up expensive tracts
If land in fashionable areas OF Wash
ington" presumably as sites for low
cost housing units for Government
workers.
Attacks Friendship" Deal.
Mr.. Better centered his attack on
the Governments purchase OF
Friendship on Wisconsin avenue
from Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Mclean.
he declared Mrs. Mclean was paid
$1,000, 900 for the property which con-
sisted of rs acres, and added:
Think of it; well over $4,000 for
each acre of land. And this does
not take into account the expendi-
lures to'be made for the actual hous-
ing itself, the utilities and incidental
appurtenances. This is extrava-
rance that is nothing short OF a
public scandal"
Later Representative Better add
sd: THE fact that some officials OF
the Reconstruction Finance Corp.
nearly always attend the cocktail
parties and gold-plate breakfasts
Of Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Mclean may
have no bearing on the fact that
they were willing to pay her one
million dollars in cold cash for a
comparatively small tract OF land.
ON the other hand, it looks suspi-
Z iously like drawing room deal and
il there is an explanation I think
it should be forthcoming quickly"
Protests Other Purchases.
Representative Better also called
attention to sites purchased by the
Defense Homes Corp. in Montgom-
cry and Prince Georges Counties,
Md, and property at Sixteenth and
Euclid streets NV. on which dor
mitory for Government girl war
workers is being erected. In this
connection he declared:
Another tract purchased by this
corporation is the Mccormick Good :
hart property in Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties, Md, just
outside Washington, owned by Le-
ander Mccormick -Goodhart, an
other member of Washington So
ciety. His property is many miles
from the Government departments
and is not easily accessible. But the
Defense Homes Corp. chose this
CSCdOC oAIC 4oA
another 1ow-cost housing develop
ment for Government workers.
"a Government dormitory for girls
who are employed by Uncle Sam is
under construction at Sixteenth
and Euclid streets NV, in the FASH
ionable upper Sixteenth street sec
ton. This is expensive property in
an expensive location. 1t would be
of interest to know what fabulous
sum was paid for this site and which
darling of Capital society owned II"
Recalls Other Deals.
Mrs. Mclean, by the way" he
continued, "is the same doWager
whose property at 1000 Massachu-
sets avenue now is being leased by
the Government at 1000 per an
mum. She is the same Mrs. Nc
Lean whose town house property
was purchased by a private con-
struction group financed by the r..
r. C. to be used as site for the
(See I.ANHAM, Page 2-XD