Evening star., 1945-03-18
McCarran Bill
Given Approval
By Federation
SIum Clearance Plan
Favored Over Copper
Housing Measure

The Federation of Citizens AS
sociations last night voted its pref
erence for the McCarran slum
clearance bill for the District over
the Capper bill for housing inn
provements here.
The Federation approved the
report of its housing subcommittee,
headed by Ernest F. Henry, which
found that ''in sharp contrast to the
Capper bill, the McCarran bill with
some amendments advocated by
the federation) places all phases Of
slum clearance and low-rent hous-
ing under the initial control of mu-
nicipal authorities"
1t also was the committees find
ings that the McCarran bill pro-
vides "a clear-cut definition Of
what is meant by the terms low-
rent housing assures housing for
low-income families, avoids the use
of tax exemptions and thereby pre-
vents further inroads on the main
local tax structure, and cuts the
time lag between plans and con-
struction to the "the very mini
mum"
Would Abolish NCHA.
The McCarran bill would abolish
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority and transfer it's function to
"a five-member agency which would
come under the jurisdiction of the
Commissioners. One of the commit
tees objection to the Capper bill
was that the NCHA would be pre-
served Ito continue its activities in
the same manner as now conducted"
Mr.. Henry's report also criticized
the Capper bill as placing vast ad-
ministrative powers in the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, including the all-important
powers of determination, selection
and initiation of project areas. and
including the determination of the
specific public and private uses to be
made of all parts of such areas down
to exact rents and specifications Of
population density and building
intensity"
This. the committee contended,
would seriously impair, ''if not COM
pletely supplant," the existing Mu-
nicipal Building, health and zoning
laws and regulations and local in
spection services.
Discourages Private Enterprise.
| The committee also asserted that
the Capper bill would discourage
participation by private enterprise
by failure to limit or define the low
rent housing field of public housing
agencies. 1t also was contended that
placing of the initiative in the hands
of the National Capital Park and
| Planning Commission would rele-
gate the bills local budgetary con-
trolls to a minor and Intellectual role.
Joseph H. Deckman is chairman
of the federation's Housing Com
mittee.
In another action, the federation
urged that the Metropolitan Police
Force and the Park Police enter into
closer cooperative agreement de-
signed to eliminate overlapping Of
patrol activity.
The committee found that while
there is at present some co-opera-
ton, there is still considerable over
tapping of jurisdiction due to widely
scattered and irregular park areas.
At the same time the report rec
ognized that the federation is still
on record as indorsing in principal
the Hebert bill to consolidate the
two police forces.
Legislative Report Planned.
Guy H. Birdsall. chairman of the
Federation's Law and Legislation
Committee. told the delegates that
his group would submit reports
shortly on various legislation pend
ing before Congress. among which
is the bill to establish a boundary
line between the District and Vir-
ginia.
The delegates were urged to at
tend the three-hour church services
on Good Friday. March 80, by
George Gooch, chairman of the
Federation's Committee on Observ-
ance of Good Friday.
Wilbur S. Finch. president. pre-
sided at the meeting held in the
District Building.