Evening star., 1944-05-21
Cuuqht in the Middle

Nou9nC IN tne Ml00Ie
The confusion over Slum reclama-
ton legislation is due almost en-
tirely to the fact that the primary,
common objective has been subor-
dinated in the clash between two
groups of special interests-the pri-
vate and the public housers.
This clash is intensified far be-
yond its local Importance because
this happens to be Washington, the
Capital of the United States, and
what Congress does will be clothed
with national significance.
Thus, even should local building
interests be willing to compromise
in favor of leaving to public hous-
ing agencies field which may prove
as in the paSt-to be economically
Improbable for private investment,
the national groups with which they
are allied would feel that if this
is done the fight to eliminate public
housing has been lost Undoubtedly
a comparable sentiment is found in
the camp of the public housing in
tereStS, who do not want to. see
themselves relegated as ignominious
failures in Washington.
This is not the first time that the
Washington community has been
caught in the middle and it will
not be the last. Such clashes have
delayed needed legislation in other
fields, but no more important legis-
lation than is involved in slum rec
lamation.
The muddle is illustrated by the
checker-like moves by Chairman
Bilbo of the Senate District Com
mittee in shifting housing subcom-
mittee chairmen, substituting SEN
ator Walsh of New Jersey, a Demo-
crat, for Senator Burton of Ohio, a
Republican. 1t is further illustrated
by the three bills which have been
presented: One by Senator Nc
Carran, representing the thought
of the National Capital Housing
Authority; one by Senator Tydings,
representing the private builders
and some local citizens, and the
third by Senator Capper, represent
ing the year of work on the sub
ject by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
Congress, acting as a local legis-
lature for the District, should at this
point disregard the selfish aims on
either side and get down to the busi-
ness OF what is best for the people
Of Washington. For this fight,
largely between interested parties, is.
not going to settle any such ques-
ton as whether private enterprise"
or Government control is to tri-
umph. What is going to triumph in
the end is the best way of getting
a Job done that everybody agrees
should be done. -..y~1a - -.v
No scheme can be devised which
Is free of flaws. But in the present
case, as the District Commissioners
obviously realize in giving it their
Endorsement, the bill which is most
free OF special interest pressure is
the bill proposed by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion. It leans, as it should, toward
giving every encouragement and as
sistance to participation by private
builders in slum reclamation and
housing. But it does not blindly
eliminate from the picture the Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority or
any other public housing agency on
the ground that its work has been
a failure and that no condition can
arise where it alone can do the lob.
Senator Bilbo is correct in limit
ing extension of the present Allev
Dwelling Act to one year only, in
stead OF a longer period. For what
1t Is worth, the "deadline" for COM
pleting the alley elimination pro-
gram should always be near enough
to spur Congress to needed action
The other need now is for decisive
leadership in adopting a plan best
designed to meet the needs of all
the people of washington, not the
needs of special interests here and
elsewhere.