Evening star., 1942-02-22
THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. c. FEBRUARY o. 1912
EIIender 10 Probe
Government Prices
On Housing Sites
Round TobIe' Scheduled
Tuesdoy on $50, ,ooo, 900
Lonhum Bill Projects

Aroused by reports that the
Government Is paying exorbitant
prices for private land needed in
the greater washington area,
Chairman Ellender Of the Senate
subcommittee studying defense
housing last night disclosed that
his group will delve deeper to
determine whether there Is basis
for such claims.
Senator Ellender made this reve-
lation after . round table discussion
on the best application Of the $780,
00o, 900 authorized for defense hous-
ing under the Lanham bill had been
set tentatively for Tuesday. The
District Commissioners and all Gov
ernment officials connected with de-
Tense housing are expected to attend.
Decision to broaden the investiga-
ton to embrace prices being paid by
the Government for land came, SEN
ator Ellender said, when testimony
before public hearings of the Senate
Education and Labor Committee de-
veloped evidence that property sales
are getting out of hand.
Agencies Competing.
One witness at the hearing, he
said, claimed he was negotiating for
an option at $500 an acre, when just
few days later the Government
stepped in and bought the land in
question for $500 an acre.
>"There are too many housing
agencies which are buying in COM
petition with each other with q lack
Of co-ordinator and cooperation" !"
Senator Ellender said. I'm conf
dent that we may find out who is
making the excessive profits. and
how, and that we may be able to
curtail this excessive cost to the
Government and develop more CEN
tralization Of housing activities.
II am now engaged on such an
investigation with the support of
members Of my subcommittee. I
am confident that this will develop
into hearing on the entire hous-
ing problem. Some members of our
committee have become suspicious
that improper profits are being
made.
Calls for Summary.
T have contacted the Federal
Works Administration for q sum-
mary Of the entire housing agency
structure in the Government, asking
who is at the head Of each housing
activity. the number of employees
and how each agency was created.
I, and other members of my COM
mittee feel that there should be q
cleaning up and Capitalization Of
this entire phase Of the Govern
ment's emergency work"
The subcommittee will winnow
out conflicting testimony before the
bill Is acted on by the Senate Com
mittee on Education, and Labor.
Senator Ellender said he plan
ned to bring together all housing
heads for round-table discussion
at which they can cross-examine
each other with the subcommittee
acting as arbiter. Out of the dis
cussion he hopes to obtain a def
mite statement on how the housing
authorities believe the money can be'
best employed. The subcommittee
then will act on such recommenda-
tions.
Plans to QUA Chiefs.
Senator Ellender said he particu-
larly desired to hear from Brig. Gen.
Philip Fleming, Federal works ad-
ninistrator, and Charles F. Palmer
Of the Defense Housing Corp. He
expressed the desire to learn how
the various agencies have handled
the housing program, and that in
cludes, he said, the Alley Dwelling
Authority. John Ihlder, executive
officer Of the A. D. A., will. be in
vited to the conference.
''If we find that the Alley Dwell
ing Authority has done its job we'll.
we will be inclined to allocate to
that authority some of the defense
housing projected under the $50,-
100000 fund now being considered"
Senator Ellender said.
Handling Of the bill was referred
to Senator BLENDERS subcommittee
Friday after Chairman Thomas
Of the full committee closed two
days Of public hearings, which
revealed varying opinions. as to
how much should be set aside for
housing, for hospitals. schools and
other needed facilities.
Group Protests Contracts