Evening star., 1942-02-27
Senate May Act
On DC. Housing
Bill Next Week
Committee Approves
$4,000, 900 Wartime
Measure Unanimously

The Ellender subcommittee and
the full Senate Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor in executive ses-
sion today unanimously approved
the bill authorizing $7o,000,0o to
meet wartime needs for public
housing and public works in the
Metropolitan Area Of the District.
1t Is expected that this bill will
be favorably acted on by the Senate
early next week, possibly on Mon
day.
The bill, as approved, earmarks
$40,0O0000 for housing, $5,0Oo,0OO
for rehabilitation of nine blocks in
Southwest Washington and SIS, ,000,-
900 for public works. Out Of the
$40,000,000 earmarked for husing it
is expected to construct 10000 per-
manent dwelling units at an aver
age cost of not more than $4,000
per unit. Out of the $25 900, 900
for public works 1t Is contemplated
to provide 900 additional beds at
Gallinger Hospital and 400 at Glenn
Dale tuberculosis Sanatoria.
Two Agencies to Handle Funds.
AS passed by the House several
weeks ago, the $50,OO0,000 appro-
priation the bill authorized would
have been in the form OF a 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,
1t stipulated the funds for housing
should be administered by the
newly created National Housing
Agency. The funds 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 $3.50 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 they
probably would be used long after
| the war.
In setting aside 5000 900 for ex-
ecution of the Goodwillie rehabili-
tation plan in Southwest Washing
ton, the subcommittee provided that
temporary homes be provided for
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.
Gallinger May Benefit.
Although the subcommittee left
to the discretion" of F. w. A. how
the s25,o00,000 for community IA
cilities is to be spent, Chairman
Ellender said suggestions would be
made in its report as to projects
1t believes to be deserving.
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.