Evening star., 1944-04-02
Private Builders
|PIan 10 Offer
bill on SIums
| Burton Prepares
| Conclusion of
! Senate Hearings
BY JOHN T. LUTER.

A proposed bill embodying prin-
ciples of the private builders slum-
reclamation plan will be presented
within the next few weeks to the
Senate District Subcommittee in
vestigating housing conditions here,
James c. Wilkes, attorney for the
Home Builders Associa-
ton, indicated last night as Chair
man Burton mapped plans to speed
the subcommittee hearings to an
early conclusion.
Meanwhile Senator Burton re-
newed assurances that legislative
action will be taken in time to pre-
vent the mass eviction of alley dwell
ers on July l. Chairman Bilbo Of
the Senate District Committee has
demanded the. 1884 Alley Dwelling
Act be inforced to close all alley
dwellings by that date, but Senator
Burton said last night that his sub
committee will recommend at least
a temporary extension of the dead
line.
In testimony before the subcom-
mittee yesterday Homer Phillips,
president of the Washington Real
Estate Board, said it would be a
horrible thing" for Senator Bilbo's
demand to be carried out, since
many of the alley residents would
not be able to find other housing
here.
Other Plans Offered.
In addition to the private builders
slum reclamation plan, the subcom-
mittee soon will have before it the
recommendations of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, which has been asked by Sem
ator Burton to make a report 'in
the light of its experience and of
testimony in the present hearings"
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, chair
man, indicated yesterday the COM
missions suggestions will be ready
for submission by the end of the
hearings.
The commission has sent to the
Budget Bureau proposed legislation
calling for the establishment of a
land agency under the District Com
mfssioners. The agency would select
the slum areas to be reclaimed and
after condemning the slum property
would sell it to private builders or
a public housing agency for rede-
velopment.
Already under consideration by
the subcommittee is the McCarran
slum reclamation bill, which would
provide $40 10000 revolving fund
to begin public housing antislum
program. Approval of the McCarran
measure would be the first step to-
ward the program suggested by John
Ihlder, executive officer of the Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority.
Under 1T 500 .000, 900 would be spent
lover q period of 20 years in COM
pleteiy eliminating the slums here.
Builders Oppose Plan.
The private builders, seeking to
block the McCarran-Ihlder public
housing proposal, have submitted a
detailed plan under which all
the necessary replacement housing
would be constructed and managed
by private enterprise rather than by
a public housing agency.
This plan asks the creation under
the District Commissioners of rep
resentative public slum clearance
board. This board would select the
slum areas to be reclaimed, buy or
condemn these properties, and then
tear down the slum dwellings.
The cleared land selected as the
site OF replacement housing then
would be sold, or leased for a long
term, on competitive bid basis, to
private builders. The board would
specify in general way the type of
improvements to be erected and fix
ceiling on rents for period of
time to be determined" Families
unable to pay the rents would be
given relief aid through the welfare
department of the local government.
The builders plan is based on the
principle that the taxpayer, as the
price of slum reclamation, should
bear the difference between the
present market value of the slum
properties and the new use value of
IHc cleared ldnQ.
Nicely Supported.
Yesterdays testimony before the
subcommittee indicated that this
plan has the support of the WASH
ington Board of Trade, Washington
Real Estate Board, District Building
and Loan League, District Bankers
Association, District Building Own
ers and Managers Association and
Washington Taxpayers Association.
The Federation of Citizens Assoeia-
tions has suggested plan that COR
responds in all important features.
A lengthy statement from the
Building Owners and Managers AS
sociation is expected to highlight
the subcommittee next session,
scheduled for 10 am. tomorrow.
Senator Burton has tentatively
scheduled daily sessions for this
week in an effort to rush the al
ready lengthy hearings to compile
ton. 1t was indicated yesterday.
however, that much testimony re-
mains to be presented.
While the sprivate builders expect
to complete their case by Tuesday,
a number of witnesses sponsored by
neither the private builders nor the
NCHA have asked permission to ap-
pear before the subcommittee.
Mr.. Ihlder, who is scheduled to
begin his rebuttal testimony late
this week, indicated yesterday that
he will require at least six two-hour
sessions to reply to attacks on the
NCHA and comment on the private
builders plan.