Evening star., 1943-04-11
District Committee
Seeks Way 10 Ease
Housing Congestion
TruiIers and Barracks
Urged in Emergency
During Warm Months
By JOHN r. LITTER.

ditions are marked by dangerous
overcroWding" and widespread lack
of sanitation. witnesses before the
Senate District Committee yester-
day proposed several immediate
steps as remedy.
Principal suggestions were for the
immediate beginning of a program
of permanent housing under the
Alley Dwelling Authority, possible
use of trailers, or erection of bar
racks as an emergency measure to
relieve congestion, adoption of a
District housing code with teeth"
centralization of the inspection serv-
ices now divided among numerous
units of the District government
increased appropriations for the
Health Department and more strict
enforcement of sanitary regulations
Chairman McCarran summed up
the sentiment of the hearing when
he declared he believed more hous-
ing promptly" particularly for low
income families, would be the major
answer to the problem.
Permanent Housing Urged.
There was some division of opin-
ion as to- the type of housing pro-
gram that should be instituted.
Two officials of the Washington
Housing Association = J. Bernard
Wyckoff, president, and Waldron
Faulkner, chairman of the associa-
tion's committee of housing condi-
tions of low-income families-de-
clared an adequate program of
permanent housing should start as
soon as possible under the Alley
Dwelling Authority. They called on
Congress to appropriate s5,000, 900
for work of the ADA, pointing out
these funds were authorized some
time ago. but never appropriated.
John Ihlder, executive officer of
the Alley Dwelling Authority, said
that IF Congress really wants to get
rid of the slums of Washington, ~
10000, Or perhaps as many as $4,000
to 10000 houses should be replaced
He estimated it would take 10 to
Is years" to do the job properly.
Mr.. Ihlder said however, that a
housing program of this type should
start tomorrow In answer to a
question from Senator McCarran
he replied the ADA would be able
to get the necessary priorities from
the War Production Board.
1--WE have been facing all sorts OF
impossible problems and overcoming
them" he remarked
Program Called Inadequate.
Mr.. Ihlder told the committee the
housing program now planned for
Washington is inadequate and will
not relieve present conditions OF
dangerous overcrOwding.
Senator McCarran. agreeing that
more housing is needed said he
feared an epidemic because of pres
ent unsanitary conditions. The
Senator indicated he was in favor
of the construction of temporary
housing units, since he did not be-
lieve the influx into Washington
would continue after the war.
Housing of many families in trail
ers during the summer might be an
immediate step to relieve the pres
sure of overcrowding, Mr.. Faulkner
suggested at another point in the
hearing. Mr.. Wyckoff said that il
tenants are forced out of roomine
and apartment houses by enforce
ment of District fire and sanitary
regulations. trailers should be
brought in and temporary barracks
erected to meet this emergency
housing situation.
Housing Code Urged.
Adoption of a housing code setting
forth minimum requirements fol
proper housing and Capitalization OF
housing inspection services in the
District were advocated by DR.. Lau-
renee Schmeckebier, chairman OF
the committee on law enforcement
of the Washington Housing Asso-
ciation. Mr.. Wyckoff. Mr. Faulkner
and Mrs. Helen Duey Hoffman, ex-
ecutive secretary of the association
also backed the proposal. DR.
Schmeckebier attributed many OF
the present "deplorable conditions
to absence of any centralized unit Of
the District Government dealing
with housing. pointing out that
seven units now divide inspection
and enforcement duties.
Extensive testimony, including a
34-page report prepared by Miss
Mary Kate Wheeler Of the Housing
Association, pointed to unsanitary
housing conditions, high slum rents,
and inability Of families to ind liv-
ing quarters.
Mrs. Hoffman said housing con-
struction now scheduled by the Ma
tional Housing Agency, which will
be we'll under way by midsummer,
will take care of Immigrants" able
to pay more than $50 month rent.
Others. she said. are faced with an
acute housing shortage.
DR.. Charles Campbell, chairman
Of the public health committee of