Evening star., 1944-05-28
Slum Clearance
Action IsUrged
BYCIergyman
Give Human Values
First Consideration
Senate Group Told

A plea for prompt action and an.
preparations for slum clearance anc
rehousing of alley dwellers, wa.
made before the Burton Senate Sub.
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 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 taking 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 subcommittee's in
vestigation and hearings. He has
scheduled another hearing for
Wednesday at 2 pm, but hopes to
end the hearings shortly thereafter.
Another subcommittee, headed by
Senator Walsh, Democrat, of New
Jersey, has been named by Chair
man Bilbo of the Senate District
Committee to bring out bill chart
ing the future course of slum clear
ance work. 1t Is to begin its 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 3 and
18 years have been herded into
three small and squahd 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 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
given 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.
The public agency part should be
construction, ownership and man
agement of all properties in which
public subsidies are required. Under
no circumstances should rental SUBJ
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 NCEA 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-t
vate builders in the subsidized rent
al field, while a communication
from the Brightwood Citizens AS
ISOLATION, 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