Evening star., 1943-03-28
u. ). Asked TO Drop
Immigrant Rule.
For Housing Priority
Lifting Of $1,000 Top
On Private Home Cost
Also Is Proposed
BY JOHN T. LUTER.

BY JOHN T. LUTER.
Substantially the same two-point
program to aid war workers who
have lived here more than year
and families with children to find
adequate housing is proposed by
John Ihlder, executive director of
the Alley Dwelling Authority, and by
the War Housing Committee, ad-
visory group to the War Housing
Center.
Mr.. Ihlder, in an interview last
night, recommended:
/. That the Government abolish
for the Washington area the "in-
migrant requirement, which now
gives priority on occupancy of all
war housing to war workers who
have come here within the past year.
Instead, Mr.. Ihlder said, the War
Manpower Commission and the en-
ploying Government agencies should
classify all war workers as to their
degree of essentially and allow them
housing priorities on that basis.
Would Set Up Flexible Plan.
2. That the War Production Board
lift the present $4,000 ceiling on pri-
vate home construction and replace
1t with flexible ceiling which would
allow an increase in the construction
cost for each additional bedroom.
At the same time. it was learned
that the War Housing Committee,
ir~iY or i1o !,
the civilian defense program and
now also serving as an advisory
body to the War Housing Center, has
passed resolutions proposing the
same action. The resolution asking
exemption of the Washington area
from the "in migrant" provision al
ready has been sent to Commissioner
John Russell Young, with a request
that he seek action from the Ma
tional Housing Agency. The other
resolution will be delivered to Com
missioner Young in q few davs.
Clarence Arata, secretary of the
committee, said.
Opposes Rigid Rent Ceiling.
Mr.. Arata said the committees
second proposal also asks that
flexible rent ceiling be substituted
for the present $50 monthly maxi
mum on all new dwelling units.
The housing committee, in sug~
gesting the flexible ceilings, declared
there Should be recognition of the
need for larger dwellings to accom-
modate families with Children
Under the present rigid limit on
construction costs, private builders
are confining themselves almost en-
tirely to construction of small, one
bedroom apartments. Mr.. Ihlder
pointed out. By putting up small
units, the builders are able to use
more expensive materials, making
the houses more durable and more
likely to pay themselves out he
said.
Families with children particu-
larly large families, are now having
greater difficulty than others to find
suitable places to live here, it was
said.
To Discourage doubling Up"
Mr.. Arata disclosed that because
the demand for family accommoda-
tlons far exceeds the supply, the
War Housing Center this week
adopted a policy of referring listed
apartments only to applicants who
represent bona flde families. In
the past, several single persons
might group together and share
several bedroom place, he said. The
housing center will attempt in the
future to put all single applicants
in single rooms
The Washington area should be
exempted from the migrant"
provision, Mr.. Ihlder explained, be-
cause problems here do not cor
respond to those in most other war
work centers.' Many local residents
have gone into Government service.
In accordance with suggestion BY
the President that local persons
should be employed for Government
jobs wherever possible. AS the sys-
tenn Of priorities on occupancy of
war housing now operates. Mr..
liIluel pOlIIeQ OuJ, Waterman fCT
a war agency might have priority
over a key enploye. simply because
he has been in Washington shorter
time.
Wants Supplies Released.
Mr.. Ihlder also called attention
TO the need for additional housing
construction here. Materials for new
housing units should be made avail
able as soon as possible after mill
tarV needs have been met, he said
Our first job is to win the war"
the Alley Dwelling Authority head
declared After meeting military
needs, we must next provide ade-
quate housing for essential war
workers to maintain their health.
efficiency and morale. We then
should provide for other civilians to
prevent the spread of epidemics.'
Washington is now overcrowded
to an extent that is becoming
menacing" to low income groups. he
said, pointing out that overcroWd-
Ing promotes insanitary conditions
that will cause very rapid spread
OF disease if it should get started