Evening star., 1944-05-31
D.C.HeadsUrge
Public, Private
SIumC Clearance
Commissioners Tell
Congress Combined
Program Is Best

The District Commissioners today
renewed their support of the So
called urban redevelopment bill pro-
viding for slum clearance by both
public and private enterprise with
the declaration that slum clearance
"can best be accomplished by the
functioning of private enterprise to
the maximum of its capacity, supple
mented by public housing only when
private enterprise cannot or does
not act"
The Commissioners views were ex-
pressed in letters to Chairman Bilbo
of the Senate District Committee
and Chairman Randolph of the
House District Committee.
In supporting the redevelopment
bill drawn up by the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
the Commissioners made it clear
that private business should not be
handicapped by public housing
agencies being given special
privileges.
Endorsed Earlier by Young.
II Previously, the position of the
Commissioners in favor of the meas
ure had been expressed by Commis-
sioner John Russell Young before
the Judiciary Subcommittee of the
House District Committee on May
23. Richmond B. Keech, corpora
tion counsel, also explained the
Commissioners views at that time.
4 In the letter to Senator Bilbo the
Commissioners said, in part:
1.-THE Commissioners understand
the philosophy of $3.50 to be that
blighted and slum areas must be re-
moved; that a public agency should
be vested with the power 10 acquire
such areas, and that after acquisi-
tion they should be redeveloped,
wherever possible, by private enter
prise, supplemented when necessary
by public housing.
''It is the desire of the Commits
sioners that blighted and slum areas
be removed, and adequate low-cost
housing be provided, with all reason
able dispatch and at the least pos
sible cost to the taxpayer. 1t is their
view that this can best be accom-
plished by the functioning of private
enterprise to the maximum of it's
capacity, supplemented by public
housing only when private enterprise
cannot or does not act.
Should Be Equality.
SIN order that this theory may be
consummated, it is, of course, essen
tial that private business not be
handicapped by a public housing
agency or agencies being given spe-
cial privileges which make it i'm
possible for private enterprise to
compete. In brief, public housing
should be resorted to only when
there is a failure on the part of pri-
vate enterprise to function under
conditions comparable with those
offcred public housing.
This means that there should be
equality so far as taxes are con-
cerned: that money appropriated
for public housing should be on
reasonable terms, due consideration
being given to the prevailing interest
rate charged private builders and
the length of the loan.
ut will be noted that under this
bill the National Capital Housing
Authority would continue to func-
ton for period of five years, sub
ject, OF course, to availability of ap-
preparations, and with the further
safeguard in the interest of orderly
city-wide development that that
agency obtain the approval of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia before
acquisition OF any additional lands.
Budget Bureau Advised.
AFTER the five-year period the
National Capital Housing Authority
would be without authority to ac-
Quire land and would continue only
as operator of the property now
committed to it's charge, and if ap-
preparations be made available, as a
possible development agency when
construction by a public housing
agency is required.
THE Commissioners recommend
that this bill pass.
THE Bureau of the Budget has
been advised of the Commissioners
approval of $3.50 and it is our un-
derstanding that the legislation has
been approved by that agency"
s A similar letter was sent to Chair
man Randolph of the House Dis
trict Committee.
"A