Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-21
10 Build
Apartments for
Congress Urged
Sobuth Resolution
Also Would Provide
Quarters for Employees
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Erection by the Government of
two apartment houses near the Cap
itol at a cost of $4,000, 900, to be
rented to members of Congress,
legislative employees and their fam
lilies, is proposed In a resolution
which Representative SABBATH, chair
man Of the House Rules Committee
and dean OF the House, says he will
introduce today.
This amount would be made avail
able from funds already appropriate
ed for housing construction. The
SABBATH resolution provides that the
construction of the apartment
houses should be supervised by the
National Housing Administrator,
and that the management, care and
maintenance should come under the
architect of the Capitol, who would
prescribe the rental charges, with
advice of the District rent admin
istrator, collect the rents and make
disbursements.
1t is proposed that the rents would
not only be sufficient for care and
maintenance, but would amortize
the cost of the project within IS
years.
Cuts Travel Handicap.
The present situation, Mr. SABBATH
says, lis not only embarrassing and
unpleasant to the members of
Congress and their employees, but
detracts from their efficiency, re-
tards their work and unnecessarily
takes up great deal of their time
in coming to their Offices and re-
turning to their quarters which they
have been obliged to rent, which
usually are far distant from the
Capitol
Gasoline and tire restrictions
have further tended to delay men,
bers and their employees in reaching
their Offices"
He explained that many mem
bers of Congress and many employees
IN the legislative branch of the
Government find 1t impossible to
lease decent living quarters in
washington, necessitating in many
instances the return OF their FAM
lies to the various States. The UNI
certainty of their length of service
and financial ability precludes them
from acquiring homes in the Cap
ital City by purchase, thus necessi-
tating their reliance on rental ac-
commodations.
Although assurances have been
given by officials of the National
Housing Agency that suitable rental
accommodations would be provided
for members of Congress and legis-
lative employees, such assurances
have not yet been carried out"
Urged Plan Before
Mr.. SABBATH said that three years
ago. recognizing the increasing
housing shortage in Washington and
the difficulty and hardship to which
members and congressional en-
ployes were subjected in obtaining
suitable living quarters. he urged to
be included in the then pending
housing bill provision which would
provide for the construction of two
apartment buildings, one for the
members Of Congress and one for
legislative employees.
Action was obtained and the fol-
lowing year the Committee on Rules
granted rule for the consideration
OF a bill providing $500, 900 900 for
defense housing. During the hear
ings 1t was disclosed that housing
project was contemplated on a site
known as Friendship in the District,
and Mr.. SABBATH was assured that
some apartments would be available
to members of Congress and con-
gressional employees at rental rates
to be fixed by the Public Buildings
and Grounds Commission.
so far as I have been able to
ascertain" Mr.. SABBATH said, mo
construction or rental of quarters to
members and legislative employees
has been undertaken"