Evening star., 1946-02-22
DC. Realty Men
Ask S|um Bill
Amendments
Housing Authority
Abolition Demanded to
Give Industry Chance
By Don S. Warren

~i0t&S
By Don S. Worren
Hearings on the compromise
District slum redevelopment bill
now back into the old controversies
over public housing, were to be re-
sumed today by the judiciary Sub
committee Of the House District
Committee.
with many witnesses waiting to
testify, Representative McGehee
Democrat, of Mississippi, subcom-
mlttee chairman, announced a plan
to cut each presentation in the hope
OF completing hearings within sew
eral days.
Abolition of the National Capital
Housing Authority, or an imme-
dlate end to its power to condemn
sites for low-cost husing, was de-
manded by today's first witness.
Matthew G. Lepley, Washington
architect and taxpayer.
Assails Propaganda.
Mr.. Lepley condemned what he
called the "socialistic propaganda"
which he said was the inspiration
Tor the adoption of the Districts
alley dwelling law and pleaded that
an prlorities for Government hous-
ing be stopped so that private in
ouStry can 60 ahead with full-scaIe
housing developments.
Mr.. Lepley said he was for the
sam clearance and redevelopment
Dill. but added, Il think it should
De given a sleeping powder until
the private builders can provide
housing for GI joe"
When he launched into an attack
on the admirals, generals and lieu
tenants who were provided housing
IN Mclean Gardens, he was inter-
rupted sharply by Representative
Bates, Republican, of Massachusetts,
VINO explained that Mclean Gar
dens was wartime defense housing
project, necessary for war workers
who had 10 come here, and was not
to be confused with "low cost" hous-
ing built in connection with slum
clearance.
Calls Witness Confused.
The admirals and the other Of
hcers have just as much of a right
to place to live as the mechanic
who works with his hands" Mr.
Bates declared. Aren't you con-
1using two entirely different
things?"
c. F. Preller, representing the
Washington Building Trades Coun-
Gil. asked for two amendments to
the Senate bill, one of which
strengthens the requirement that
substitute housing be provided by
the NCHA for families who would
have to be displaced from the sites
of any slum clearance project.
Controversy over the extent to
which Government housing would
be permitted to enter into shum re-
here, believed to have
been quieted when the Senate passed
the compromise McCarran-Burton-
Capper bill last October, was revived
at the end of yesterdays session.
Amendments Asked.
While Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
chairman of the Park and Plan
ming Commission, testified that pri-
vate enterprise would be given all
the slum rebuilding work that it |
found desirable and economically
feasible, three private organization
spokesmen later insisted on amend
ments to the Senate bill.
One of these proposes a return to
the original McCarran definition of
what constitutes public low-rent
housing. This change was asked by
Ernest F. Henry, representing the
Metropolitan Home Builders Asso-
clatlon; Lewis T. Breuninger, presi-
dent of the Washington Real Estate
Board. and Joseph H. Deckman.
chairman of the Housing and Rent
Control Committee of the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations.
All three urged speedy approval
OF the bill but contended certain
changes were essential. The con-
troVersy arose anew over the pro-
posed elimination of the present
wording which defines public low
rent housing as being "low-rent
housing constructed by a public
agency for families whose net family
income does not exceed the income
level tas determined, or from time
to time predetermined, after public
nearing, by the District Commits
sioners) at which a family of COM
size may be reasonably able
to afford to pay the lowest rental
at which private enterprise is pro-
Vldlng an adequate supply of decent,
safe and sanitary housing