Evening star., 1946-02-26
Small Warns
Home Builders
OF New Curbs
Needed to Garry Out
Veterans Housing
Program, He Says
By Robert J. Lewis
The Stars Real Estate Editor


By Robert J. Lewis
The Stars Real Estate Editor
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Feb. 26.-John D.
Small, civilian production admins
traitor, today warned the construc-
ton industry that Forthcoming
limitation order will require Serious
curtailment" of non-essential build
ing in order to carry out the Gov
ernment's housing program for g.
100000 veterans in the next two
years.
Speaking today before the con-
vention of the National Association
Of Home Builders, Mr.. Small said
that while the Civilian Production
Administration is taking steps to
increase building supplies, there
won't be enough for all industrial
and commercial construction.
He also warned that the program
outlined by Wilson w. Wyatt, Ma
tional Housing Administrator, won I
allow the home building industry to
build "as great a proportion of
high-cost houses as formerly" that
new methods will have to be used"
and that there must be "a very con-
siderable substitution Of new and
alternative materials where mate
r1als are scarce or not available"
Big Expansion in Materials.
The CPA chieftain explained that
the Wyatt program will mean pro-
duction of $3.50 900 900 in building
materials over a two-year period
or 13 times the $400 ,000, 900 spent
on materials going into homes last
year.
ITO put this program over for
veterans, we are going to have to
put materials where they are needed
most" he said.
ITO do it, we must revise some
Of our old ideas very substantially.
There simply won't be enough ma
terials to permit every one to build
everything he would like to build.
Some sacrifices are going to be
necessary if we are going to get
housing for veterans"
Referring to the materials prob
lem. Waverly Taylor, a national di-
rector of the association and for
mer president of the Washington
Real Estate Board, said today:
THE whole housing shortage Is
really due to the materials shortage.
If the Government will lend its in
fiuence to stimulate the flow of ma
terias, private home builders will
produce sufficient housing in short
order"
Attack Red Tape"
In unanimously opposing passage
OF the Patman bill on motion OF
Joseph E. Merrion, association pres
ident, the convention last night de-
clared the measure would "drasti-
cally retard" veterans housing
"enmesh the industry in red tape
and provide 5000 900 900 in subsidies
which would have to be paid out
of the taxpayers pockets"
Mr.. Merrion appealed to every
builder to wire his own Represen-
tative in Congress to urge its defeat
This action of the convention
plus statements critical of certain
other features Of the Wyatt housing
program for veterans, heightened
interest in an address to be given
by Mr.. Wyatt at banquet here
tomorrow night.
Members of the Washington del
egation were studying proposals
that groups of small builders band
together to develop cooperative
housing projects in the District area
to attain volume production and
thus reduce home costs.
Clarke Daniel, a member of the
Low-Cost Homes Committee of the
Home Builders Association of Met
ropolitan Washington, said he be-
lieved this proposal of the national
associations low-cost group might
be worked out by Washington
builders.
Directory Is Suggested.
A suggestion that the District
association compile a directory of
home-bnilding information to cover
Washington and Alexandria, Ar
hngton, Fairfax, Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties was being
discussed by the Washington group.
Advice From Command" Kelly.
Charles E. Commando" Kelly,
who opened the exposition of build
ing materials yesterday, advised
veterans to wait a year" before
building home.
In an interview with represent
ative of The Star, the 25-year-old
"one-man blitz" of the italian cam
paign, said he wants to build house
in Pittsburgh but knows he can't
go ahead now land get my moneys
worth"
"Ill just have to wait, and my
advice to a lot of other guys who
want to build a home is to wait, too"
His wife, Mrs. May Kelly, 20, carry
ing a big bouquet of red roses, said
she was willing to wait a year."
She said she had figured out just
about what she wanted in the way of
a home.
ut doesn't have to be large for us
yet" she said, "only about six
rooms"
Dr.. Crawford Heads LIST
NJ eI