Evening star., 1944-05-28
.S|um C,Iearan
Action |sUrged
Give Human Values
First Consideration,
Senate Group Told

"A pea IOr prompt dcJlOn ana ap-
preparations for slum clearance and
rehousing of alley dwellers, was
made before the Burton Senate SUBJ
committee yesterday by the Rev.
Francis w. McPeek for the Social
Welfare Department of the WASH
ington Federation of Churches. He
emphasized the harsh effects bad
housing has on children who live
in blighted areas.
Supporting the contention of the
National Capital Housing Authority
that a public agency, instead of
private enterprise, should operate in
the low-rental field where tenant
rental, aid is needed, Rev. McPeek
pleaded for an end to talking and
delaying" and urged that human
values" be given first. consideration
His testimony came at the end
OF hearing for citizens as Senator
Burton, Republican of Ohio, neared
the end of his subcdmmittees in
vestigation and, hearings. He has
selRduled- another hearing for
We tuesday at 2. pm, but hopes to
end the hearings shortly thereafter.
Anf ther subcommittee, headed by
SaAtor Walsh, Democrat, of New
Je tey, has been named by Chair
n an Bilbo of the Senate District
G Cemmittee to bring out bill Chart
I pg the future course of slum clear
Ance work. 1t is to begin It's func-
tions soon.
Calls for Speedy Action.
"The grim, ugly setting of life for
thousands and thousands of chill
dren in this city is a terrible re-
proach to both civic and religious
conscience" the clergyman told the
subcommittee.
The simple fact alone that 6.286
children between the ages of 8 and
18 years have been herded into
three small and squalid census
tracts should of itself be relent-
less spur to action"
The housing hearing hardly had
begun, he protested, before the sit
uation of thousands of families
trapped in slovenly and make-shift
quarters" was lost sight of, as en-
phaSiS shifted to debates over "spe-
cial privilege" and "quarrels over
dollars and cents" He added it was
time to call halt" to this.
On the specific issue as to wheth-
|er private enterprise or a public
agency such as the NCHA should be
Egiven subsidized low-rental rehous-
ing work, the clergyman declared:
Private builders should be given
first consideration in low-rent build
ing OF any nature, subject to limita-
tions imposed by a public planning
agency, and should be permitted in
every instance to build, own and
manage such properties as are cap
able OF bearing commercial rents.
Stresses Public Agency Role. i,
"The public agency part should be-
construction, ownership and, man
Qneuet M1gpll properties iff @waaich
peabA aa36i dies Are required. Under
no circumstances should rental sub
sides. in any form, direct or in
direct, be made available to proper
ties where the titles remain in
private hands"
Two other witnesses at yesterdays
session sided with the NCHA and
one petition filed called for the abo-
lition of that agency. j. Bernard
Wyckoff, president of the Washing
ton Housing Association, and Mrs.
Eugene Duffield for the "Votless"
District of Columbia League of
Women Voters, championed the
cause of the NCHA as against pri-
vate builders in the subsidized rent
al field, while a communication
from the Brightwood Citizens AS
sociation, urged abolition of the
agency on the ground it had failed
in its original purpose of slum clear
ance and had "disregarded" pro-
tests of property owners against
construction of cheap and unat-
tractive homes in desirable neigh
borhoods."