Evening star., 1944-08-01


On Housing Question
Denied by Wyekoff
J. Bernard Wyckoff, president Of
the Washington Housing Associa-
ton, today declared the COMMITTEES
which sent out six docun1nts re-
gardtng slum clearance fully in.
tended" that the material should
bear the name Of the VIVA and that
the omission Of explicit identifica-
ton Of the sponsor was due entirely
to an oversight"
The VIVA was severely criticized
recently by J. H. Deckman, chair
man OF housing and rent conrtol
OF the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, for sending out its com.
munications anonymously and for
giving out "misinformation and de-
liberate Misrepresentation" in the
controversy.
The Washington Housing Associa.
ton never has intended to issue
anonymous communications, nor
tried to hide behind anonymity, Mr..
Wyckoh said. The failure to
identify the documents, Mr.. Wyckof
explained, was due to three things.
First, 1t was found mechanically i'm
possible to mimeograph a statement
on the hard-surfaced regular letter.
head Of the association. Second, it
was an oversight" that such identi.
fication was not typed into the ma.
terial which was mimeographed.
And third, there was q rubber stamp
which should have been used to
stamp on the top of the documents,
about which there could be any
question, the name and address Of
VIVA.
VIVA Purposes Outlined.
In a formal statement issued last
night, Mr.. Wyckof outlined the
purposes of VIVA, replied in some
detail to DR.. Deckman's charges,
and declared that four of the docu-
ments clearly showed that they
came from the (WHA) associa.
ton"
The Home Builders Association.
meanwhile, notified the National
Capital Park and Planning Com.
mission that it would like to post
pone further discussions on slum
clearance until the September
meeting of the commission. The
builders had been invited to the
August meeting of the commission
on Friday.
In a letter to Maj. Gen. q. 8.
Grant III, chairman of the commis-
sion, Myron Davy, president of the
Home Builders, said that 'the Ma.
tional Association of Real Estate
Boards has an expert legislative au-
thority writing new draft embody-
ing material from the three slum
clearance bills already introduced.
When this new legislative draft is
ready" he added. I'VE viii be pleased
to give you and your commission
copies preparatory to getting to-
gether to discuss it,. Unfortunately
it will be impossible TO have this
ready before August 20, This should
enable US to intelligently discuss the
matter before the meeting in Sep
tember, but obviously makes an at.
tempt to confer with your commis-
sion at this time more or less mean
ingless."
Pamphlet Issued.
Meantime the Housing Committee
Of the Washington Industrial Union
Council issued a pamphlet which
outlines pending legislation on hous-
ing here, opposed the Tydings' bill,
sponsored by private enterprise, and
supports the Capper and McCarran
bills.
Measured against the Industrial
Union Council minimum require.
ments for an adequate housing pro-
gram for the District of Columbia"
said the report, signed by Charles
S. Duke, chairman of the Housing
Committee, and Joseph D. Phillips.
president Of the IUC, there il
room for improvement in all three
bills. The Capper bill is apparently
the best. The McCarren bill is not
quite as desirable. The Tydings bill
is wholly inadequate, and every ef-
fort should be made to prevent its
becoming law"
Wyckoff's Statement.
In his formal statement defending
VIVA against the Deckman criti-
cism, Mr.. Wyckoff said:
THE slanderous attack on the
Washington Housing Association by
j. H. Deckman as reported in the
press calls for a rebuttal.
THE Washington Housing Assoc
citation was incorporated in the Dis
trict of Columbia July 30, 1885, to
aid in the improvement in housing
conditions in every practicable way.
Among its activities may be: Secur-
Ing and disseminating knowledge
relating to housing etc.
"The principal activities of the
Washington Housing Association at
this time are the inspection of dwell
ings in the District for legal viola-
tions and reporting these violations
Ito such city enforcement agencies
Is the health, building and fire
departments; recommendations for
better regulations guarding against
future slums and the adoption Of
proper housing standards; the en-
lcouragement Of efficient housing
management and, finally, the stimu-
lation of construction of sufficient
quantity Of good low-rent housing
by both private industry and public
housing agencies. The paid staff to
carry on this work numbers four
Ipersons-hardly the large ONCE staff
alleged by Mr.. Deckman. 4
Offers Contribution.
TN view OF its having originally
been established to secure legislal
tion for the removal OF alley dwell.
ings and for the provision Of ade-
quate low-rent housing for the low
income groups, the association nat.