Evening star., 1943-10-17
Senators End Tours
OF SIums, Turn 10
War Housing Study
BY JOHN T. LUTER.

| oouOy AAS Vic OlSGI1CU nOuSlIlE
problem, after completing the
last in a series of three tours OF
slum areas and slum reclamation
developments, yesterday mapped
plans to extend it's investigation
to the low rent and war housing
projects of the National Capital
Housing Authority.
Chairman Burton of the subcom-
mittee indicated that on the basis
of findings so far he is in favor OF
granting the NCHA funds for q
conservative and continuing" pro-
gram gradually to wipe out the Dis
trict's slums.
Senator Burton also indicated he
would favor the housing authority
request that it be permitted to use
income from its existing slum recla-
nation properties for maintenance
instead Of being limited to a fiat
appropriation of $4,000 annually
for maintenance purposes.
New Tour Tuesday.
The study of the NCHA's low
rent housing properties-eight de-
velopments and three uncompleted
projects with total of more than
5000 housing units-will begin with
a tour by the subcommittee Tues
day at 10 am, Senator Burton an
! nounced.
While many of the low-rent prop
critics house former slum dwellers
they are to be distinguished from
the "slum reclamation develop
ments' of the NCHA, in that they
have been constructed since 1898
under title of the District Alley
Dwelling Act with funds loaned by
the Federal Public Housing Au-
thority. Some have been built on
vacant land, rather than on the site
of former slurls.
The "slum reclamation deyelop-
ments." which the subcommittee AL
ready has inspected, were built with
funds appropriated directly for the
NCHA, under Title 1 of the Alley
Dwelling Act, passed in 1894.
After its tour of the "low-rent
properties" the subcommittee will
make one or two additional inspec-
ton tours. to see housing the NCHA
has constructed specifically to re-
lleve the shortage of living accom-
modations for war workers. Most
of the war housing is temporary,
and is to be cleared away within six
months or year after the end of
the emergency period.
Hearings to Resume.
Senator Burton said that after the
subcommittee has made these tours,
to give members complete picture
of the NCHA's housing work, it will
reopen hearings on the District S
housing problem. The hearings
probably will be resumed within two
weeks, he said, and all persons who
wish to testify before the subcom-
mittee will be heard.
Senator Burton emphasized that
the subcommittee is primarily and
vitally interested" in what must be
done to remedy the Districts slum
conditions, but that it expects to
make recommendations on several
points.
1t first will attempt to determine
the immediate policy to be followed
in granting maintenance funds to
the housing authority, he said.
Secondly, it will make recommen-
dations as to the future policy in
reclamation of the Districts slum
areas.
Finally, the subcommittee will
draft recommendations covering fu-
! ture policies in construction of low
/ rent and war housing here.
Senator Burton said the abandon
ment of all slum reclamation activ-
ities-which now have been halted
due to the failure of Congress to ap.
propriate funds for this purpose tc
| the NCHA-has been clearly a mis-
! take
There never should be a stoppage
of the attack on the slums, where
there are conditions such as exist II,
the District" he said.
Silent on Ihlder Proposal.
Senator Burton withheld specific
! comment on the proposal by John
Ihdler, executive officer of the
NCHA, that the housing authority
should have appropriation totaling
100000, 900 over 20 to Is year pc
riod for slum reclamation work here
He indicated, however, that while
the subcommittee will recommend
some appropriation for beginning of
the program, it will suggest that the
initial appropriation be only for the
work that appears Immediately
essential.
There is a need for "some mini
mum program continuing from year
to year." he said, but the work
must be done on a conservative
basis that will fit the need TO,
economy in these times"
The size of the appropriation that
will be recommended will depend
largely on the extent to which the
NCHA can plan to make slun
reclamation self sustaining, he in.
dicated. He pointed out that the
authority so far has made "ar
unusual record" of virtually re.