Evening star., 1942-10-30
Congress Group
ToAir Halt in
Home Bui|dinq
WPB Aides Called
To Explain Action
On Private Housing

Va PAAOAAoy vi VAA4SoCCo All PlA-
vate home building, it was dis
closed today.
Representative Hebert, Democrat
. of Louisiana, a member of the sub.
committee, charged that Congress
was promised specifically by WPE
officials last summer before appro
priating additional money for wal
housing that private industr.
would be given an even break with
public building"
He said the WPB order was ear
unexplainable reversal of FORM" ane
added:
Its about time that these bu.
reaus recognize the fact that they
are creatures of Congress and not
the Congress their creature, merely
existing for the purpose of writing
blank checks"
Mr.. Hebert said the WPB mer
asked to appear Monday included
Vice Chairman Ferdinand Eber-
stadt, Col G. E. Textor, acting
chairman of the Facility Clearance
Board, and William v. Kahler, chief
of the construction bureau, who
issued the order Wednesday.
Two Others Invited.
John B. Blandford, jr., admins
traitor of the National Housing
Agency, also was asked to testify
Mr.. Hebert said, as we'll as Frank w
Cartwright, executive secretary of
the National Association of Home
Builders.
Mr.. Cortwright said his group was
banking heavily on Mondays hear
ing to bring out what he called the
real facts about private building.
public housing" he said, cant
do the entire job We have the men,
the materials and the experience,
and we think we can do the job
Mr.. Cartwright. said he expected
the whole thing would be cleared up
when it was fully understood that
private building plays an important
role in the war effort He said he
believed there were certain mis-
apprehensions' concerning alleged
waste of materials and lack of 100
per cent occupancy in relation to
private buildings. 49,.
Representatives of the Home
Builders Association yesterday pro-
tested the WPB order, claiming that
it would halt the proposed Gonstruc-,
tion of about 100000 private housing
units all over the country, while
public housing developments would
continue.
WPB, in issuing a code of building
standards yesterday, said priority aid
again would be given private builders
on completion of an overall review
of materials, supplies and the need
for additional housing. Plans must
conform with standards restricting
the use of scarce lumber and metals,
however.
Mr.. Hebert said: II agree with the
WPB that critical materials must be
zealously guarded. There has never
been any argument on this score. I
insist, however, that the statements
made before the Public Buildings
and Grounds Committee be carried
out and the agreements lived up to
in that where all things are equal,
private industry will be given the op-
portunity to stay in business"
Standards Set Up.
WPB established rigid standards
OF design and specifications for war
housing for use by builders the
country over which virtually will
eliminate the one-family dwelling
until after the war and restrict fur
ther the use of lumber and critical
metals in housing.
The order will mean that nearly
all housing to be built during the
remainder of the war will be in
multi-family structures, constructed
of brick or other wood substitutes,
and that minimum amount of
lumber will be used throughout.
WPB also limited the amount of
floor space and set,., square foot
specifications for dwelling units of
various sizes.
Called war housing construction
Standards" the new limitations on
types and sizes of housing were
worked out by WPB in consultation
with representatives of private home
builders and the MIA. The action
was taken so that the maximum of
essential housing can be obtained
through use of minimum of ma
terials. 1t resulted from growing
shortages of metals, softwood lum-
ber and manpower.
Single Houses Possible. :.
Under the regulations, single
family dwelling units, whether for
rent or sale, can be built only where
there is definite need for that type
of housing, and then only when
essential utilities are contiguous to
the lot. The only previous WPB
restriction for one-family dwellings
was that the structure must be built
to cost no more than $4,000, if for
sale, or to rent for not more than
$50 month.
All structures, WPB stated, must
be of masonry or other wood sub
stitute exterior wall construction,
except in areas where masonry ma
terials or labor are not, obtainable.
The use of softwood lumber is
greatly reduced throughout the
structure. Softwood subfooring or
finished flooring is prohibited.
WPB stated that maximum floor
areas for dwelling units of various
sizes were prescribed 80 as to in
sure that the maximum number of
units will be produced from the
limited visible supply of critical
material"
Plumbing Specifications.
Strict minimum specifications
likewise are established for heat
ing units and plumbing equipment.
Restrictions on the size Of dwell
ing units in structures of two or
more stories follow: Apartment with
no bedrooms, 420 square feet; house
or apartment with one bedroom,
$50 feet; two bedrooms, 800 feet;
three bedrooms, 900 feet.
The new regulations are appli-
cable to both private and public
housing.