Evening star., 1946-04-23
Veterans HOUSING
Continued From First Page

housing had gone untitled and that
the pending bill was "the most i'm
mediate solution available" He said
there were cases of veterans and
their wives having three or more
children who now are compelled to
live in one room.
Mr.. Burge insisted that those who
favored the bill and who believe the
units will be temporary" either
nave been misled or don't know
what they are talking about. De-
claratlons that the units will be
temporary" he declared, "are not
genuine or are not true"
When he was ascribing the hous-
ing shortage to the fact that since
the war began people had been get
ting married and raising families.
Committee Chairman Bilbo broke in
to ask You are not going to stop
them from getting married, are
you?"
Mr.. Burge answered by saving the
best solution was to find undevelopeo
land and to build permanent homes.
Mr.. Corbin insisted the temporary
unit would be nothing more than
"demountable shacks" and added
the first thing you know there will
be colonies of termites under each
one"
Legality Questioned.
Further, Mr.. Corbin argued those
the
come squatters." If they get a
good attorney and make a court fight
out OF their eviction, how are YOU
going to get them off these areas?"
he asked.
Mr.. Corbin also contended the
premise" of the bill was not legal
and that it undoubtedly would be
appealed by lawyers.
To this Chairman Bilbo retorted
We'll. get a lawyer-lawyers have
to live"
Mr.. Corbin agreed that they did,
but then turned to reporters and
said, Don't put any of that funny
stuff in the press. There has been
too much funny stuff already"
When he resumed his argument
about "shacks" on park lands paid
for by the taxpayers, Chairman
Bilbo interrupted to say, I'm very
sorry your time is up
With very little delay, the COM
mittee then ordered a favorable re-
port on the bill as amended, as to
the termination of the time and to
permit use of District funds for
utilities for temporary units which
may be built in nearby Maryland
or Virginia.
Col. Joseph D. Arthur. jr., Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner, ~yester-
day notified the Senate group that
four OF the sites on or near park
areas had been approved by the In
terror Department and a committee
of the Park and Planning Commits
sion to provide homes for 688 fam
lilies. The Commissioners had asked
for space to accommodate S48 FAM
lilies.
The sites are along Shepherd
Parkway, near Fort Dupont, strip
on the east side of Fort Mahan and
a strip of Barnard Hill Park.
To Seek Other Sites.
In addition, Col, Arthur said the
Commissioners plan later to seek
approval of sites near Forty third
and Douglas streets NE. and in
the Blue Plains area along Overlook
avenue, near Chesapeake street.
The District also plans to make
use Of District-owned land at Camp
Slmms and small portion of the
War Department reservation near
Fourth street and Mississippi avenue
Sc.
Because of possibilities of using
some Federal land at Suitland. Md,
the Commissioners also are asking
an amendment of the bill to include
permission to pay the costs of utili-
ties for temporary veterans housing,
allocated to the District, but which
may be erected in nearby Maryland
or Virginia.