Evening star., 1944-05-27
Contrasting Views
On NCHA Rehousine
Offered al Hearing
Two Organizations Back
SIum-C Clearance Efforts,
Third Charges Failure
BY DON S. WARREN,

Divergent views as to whether
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority should be abolished or per-
mitted to carry on rehousing oi
slum dwellers were presented today
to the Burton subcommittee of the
Senate District Committee as efforts
were made to complete the subcom-
mittee's protracted investigation oI
the alley dwelling problem.
j. Bernard Wyckoff, president of
the Washington Housing Associa-
ton, concluded review of Wash
fngton lum-clearance efforts with
the declaration:
I'm the face Of our great short
age Of low-rent houses I know OF
no new housing units renting at
less than $25 month that have
been built in Washington in the
past 10 years by private construc-
ton. In this regard Washington is
conspicuous (among other cities).
Experience has proved that al
leys can not be cleared by promises,
and that adequate housing for low
incomes demands specialized
sympathetic organization to produce
it. Such an organization we have
in the NCHA and we citizens do
not want that organization casually
cast aside by those who say they
can do as good a job"
Also supporting the NCHA was a
statement submitted for the "vote-
less" District of Columbia League
of Women Voters by it's president,
Mrs. Eugene S. Duffield, who said
the organization stood for three
principles: That q public housing
program is needed to supplement,
not to supplant, private business in
this field; that the NCHA be con-
tinued as the practical existing body
to carry out the public housing pro-
gram. and that slums and blighted
areas be condemned and redeveloped
in keeping with a comprehensive
city plan.
An opposing view was expressed
in resolution adopted by the
Brightwood Citizens Association
which asked that the NCHA be abol-
ished on the ground that sit has
failed in its original purpose of slum
clearance and that, judging from
the way it has disregarded the pro-
tests of property owners against
construction of cheap and unattrac-
tive homes in desirable neighbor-
hoods, where it will result in low
ering of property values, is operat-
Ing IN manner not conducive to
the best interests of the city and
property owners"
The statement of Mr.. Wyckoff in-I
cluded protest that in 1910 the
Commissioners opposed a proposed
new housing code for the District,
which had been drafted after
lengthy surveys and studies. and
that the Commissioners had de-
clared they had suf1cient authority
under the police power given them
IN 1892 to provide adequate and
effective regulations.
Next Session Wednesday.
Senator Burton announced the
next session of his subcommittee
would be Wednesday at pm.
Scathing criticism of the free en-
terprise" slum clearance bill voiced
yesterday by Chairman u. S. Grant
III OF the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, last
night brought a sharp rejoinder
from spokemen for the Home
Builders Association.
Following session of the Nc
Gehee Judiciary Subcommittee of
the House District Committee, con-
sidering the future course of Wash
ington slum clearance, James C..
Wilkes, private builders counsel, de-
clared:
Gen. Grant is splendid citizen
OF whom Washington and the