Evening star., 1943-12-12

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lower taxes. He suggested that the
National Housing Act be amended
to authorize the Federal Housing
Administration to insure long-term
private mortgages, at an interest
rate of not more than per cent,
on housing renting for not more
than So month room. An amend
ment to the Federal Revenue Code,
which would permit some offset
against Federal taxes for real es-
tate taxes paid, also was suggested
In addition, he urged that the
Districts health and safety laws
be more rigidly enforced and that
they be amended to make the ten
ant, as well as the owner, liable
for proper maintenance of housing
This would force the demolition of
substandard dwellings, and do much
to prevent slum condition in the
future, he said.
An attack on Mr.. Taylor's pro-
posals was made by a member of
the audience, who charged that
while opposing "a subsidy for the
benefit of many" Mr.. Taylor was
advocating subsidy for the bene-
fit of real estate operators"
Ihdler Replies to Taylor.
Mr.. Ihdler. as executive officer of
the public housing agency most ac-
tive in the District, replied to Mr.
Taylor, emphasizing that the Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority is
self liquidating and will not cost
the taxpayers one cent" Most
tenants of NCHA houses pay eco
nomic rents and are not subsidized.
Mr.. Ihdler said. He maintained
that these rents are lower than
those charged by owners of COM
parable private housing develop
mentS.
There is no competition between
NCHA and any but slum landlords"
Mr.. Ihlder said The NCHA pro-
poses not to take the place of pri-
vate builders, but only to supple
ment their work by providing hous-
ing for the low income groups, for
which they cannot profitably build"
Gen. Grant asserted that expert
ence has shown the necessity for
public housing for the lowest in
come groups
He cautioned that public housing
and its management should not be
allowed to grow into a philanthropic
enterprise, but should be kept on an
economically sound basis so rigidly
that shiftlessness and dependency
shall not become profitable"
Other speakers at the meeting in
cluded Alvin H. Hansen. economic
adviser to the Federal Reserve
Board, who analyzed the Thomas
and Wagner bills for urban re-
development, which are now before
Congress; and Mr.. Nolen, who out
lined general plans for the postwar
redevelopment of Washington. Mr..
Nolen said the Park and Planning
Commission proposes to ask legisla-
ton for the District which will per-
NIT use of both public and private
funds in the rebuilding of blighted
portions of the city according to a
predetermined city plan.
MIR. Taylor and Mrz. Roosevelt
again were in conflict on the ques-
ton of segregation of racial and
foreign groups into special sections
of the city. Mrs Roosevelt said she
would be opposed in any new plan
ming to sec any segregation on any
grounds whatsoever" since this is
barrier to teaching people to live
side by side with one another as
Americans. If New York could do
away with Harlem and the Porto
Rican district as sections it would
be of great benefit to the city, she
said.
Mr.. Taylor expressed the opinion
that to attempt to force Negro hous-
ing projects in neighborhoods gen.
orally considered white is "a course
Of action which greatly retards the
attainment of very desirable and IL
evitable objectives."