Evening star., 1946-08-18

LEWIS
put by guaranteeing markets with Gov
ernment funds.
g. Hold down deferrable non-housing
construction and broaden the priority
setup to help home builders get more
materials.
4. Channel supplies to moderate
priced homes.
5. Grant price and wage increases, If
necessary to lift materials production.
g. Train 100000 additional construc-
ton workers by mid1947.
7. Impose ceiling prices on new and
existing homes, and on building lots,
and continue price control.
8. Insure mortgages on loW-cost homes
up to 90 per cent of the current cost
value.
9. Obtain s25O,O0o, 900 more for tenn
porary reuse war housing.
10. Enact the Wagner -Ellender-Taft
general housing bill as a basic part of
the program.
To get the program rolling in high
gear, he said, ''labor-a usual, building
as-usual and Government as usual
would have to be tossed out of the win
dow.
On the legislative front, Mr. Wyatt
had considerable success, but his pro-
gram was not adopted in it's entirety.
Vital parts were delayed several months
by failure of Congress to act promptly
BY April an appropriation of $685.
727,0o0 was passed for additional tenn
porary reuse housing. But not until
May % was the Veterans Emergency
Housing Act approved to authorize pay
ment of s4O0, 100000 in subsidies to en-
courage materials production Ga cut from
the s60o,o0o,oo requested.
This act also enlarged the mortgage
insurlng capacity of the Federal Hous-
ing Administration by 81 ZOO 100000, set
the rate of interest on such loans at
per cent, and allowed 80 per cent home
loans on necessary current costs"
On the other hand, Congress refused
to allow imposition of price ceilings on
existing homes or on building lots Like
wise, the r-Ellender-Taft bill,
though passed by the Senate, failed to
reach a vote in the House before ad-
journment.
Though handicapped by uncertainty
over the legislative fate of his proposals,
Mr.. Wyatt went ahead.
Defer Federal Work.
Five days after he announced his plan,
the Government deferred Federal con-
struction which would compete with
veterans housing.
On March 26, Mr.. Wyatt issued the
so-called construction limitation order
Under this order, the Civilian Produc-
ton Administration was to hold down
nonessential nonhousing construction
and all new housing was to be restricted
to that covered by priorities at sales
ceiling of $4,000 or rental limit of
$50 monthly. Aim was to channel sup
plies to home building, and halt con-
struction of expensive homes.
On April 81, an order was issued which
required that at least 25 per cent of all
home building authorized was to be for
rental housing, and that so per cent of
both rental and sales housing was to be
below local dividing line" prices. OBJ
jective of this order was to force pro-
duction of as large a number as pos
sible of moderate and loW-priced houses
and apartments.
AS the construction industry revived,
materials shortages became the buga-
fo nj,
OPA blamed industry conditions, includ-
ing reconversion problems, labor diff
culties. shortages of raw materials, and
even the weather. Production crept up
ward, but at painfully slow pace.
In this early period, OPA probably
deserved some of the blame for slow
production. Probably the most convinc-
ing evidence on this point is that after
long delay price increases were granted
at an accelerated rate in belated recog-
milton that higher profits were needed
as production incentive. A few days
after Congress granted authority to do
SO, Mr.. Wyatt issued the first subsidy
payment plan Today eight such plans
are in operation and the guaranteed
market program is about to begin.
This somewhat telescoped summary
brings the Wyatt programs course sub
stantially up to date. There are diff
ferences of opinion today, as before, on
the program. Not surprisingly, great
amount of criticism is inspired by op-
position to Mr.. Wyatt's support of pub
lie housing as evidenced in his fight for
the Wagner Ellender-Taf bill; to his
encouragement of prefabricated hous-
ing, and to his decision to grant priority
aids to help the Federal Public Hous-
ing Authority obtain scarce materials
for conversion of Army barracks into
veterans homes.
Today, eight months after arriving
In Washington, Mr.. Wyatt seems to be
(See HOUSING. Page C-5)