Evening star., 1946-12-15
Housing
Continued From First Page

tation on non-residential construc-
tion and prohibition of luxury-type
housing, now makes them unneces-
sary.
The priority system holds indus
trial and commercial construction
over the whole Nation now to $685.
000, 900 monthly.
While disclosing that the Gov
erpment plans financing aids to
builders, the President emphasized
that "the great bulk of this task will
fall upon private enterprise"
He said that the premium pay
ment subsidies for which Congress
last summer appropriated $400, ,000,-
900 will be reviewed critically, and
only those will be continued which
will result in substantial" benefits
to housing.
Funds Made Available.
Mr.. Truman is making available
to the Federal Housing Administra-
tion the second 81 900 ,000, 900 of Title
8 mortgage insurance authorization
provided by the Patman Emergency
Housing Act to be used primarily in
the financing of rental homes.
More types of rental housing will
be made eligible for FILA financing
and the life of amortization Of Title
8 loans win be extended beyond the
usual 28 years to cut monthly pay.
ments and make lower rents pos
sible. The extension term will be
fixed individually for each project.
The National Housing Agency Il
to arrange at once local and re-
gional meetings Of builders and lend
ers to survey rental housing needs
in the respective areas and mar
speedy construction programs.
Army surpluses will continue to
be made available for these ventures
Studies of proposed new legisla-
ton will be concluded quickly
President Truman said. and will
cover cooperative and mutua
housing enterprises, yield insur-
ance" by which the Government
would guarantee. profits to sponsors
of big rental projects, tax incentives
to builders, and Federal aid fol
housing low-income families.
Product Of Conferees.
The. new program is the product
OF conferees who included the new
housing expediter. Frank B. Cree
don; MIA Administrator Raymond
Foley, Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming
administrator of the Once OF Tenn
porary Controls: George E. Allen
director of the Reconstruction Fl.
nance Corp, which will have a part
in the financial phases; Secretary
of Labor. Schwellenbach and Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Anderson.
The Presidents statement sale
that the RFC will continue to as.
sist producers of prefabricated hous.
ing and industrially-built dwelling
components "when it is warranted,
point that was in controversy be-
tween former Expediter Wyatt ant
Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Wyatt wanted power to direc
RFC to make prefabrication loans
He had asked for about $50 ,000. .00l
in such loans and received abou
81, ,OO0, 900. The President appar
entity settled that point finally b,
putting it up to RFC TO determine
what Is warranted"
Program Critized.
One official who worked with MI
WYATT in the National Housing
Agency had this to say of the nev
program. with the proviso that n
not be identified:
This really cuts the roots o
THE once e-fiourishing Wyatt housin'
trees.
Production of building material:
has been increasing enormously ant
there is no doubt that we will ge'
housing in l947. But we won't gel
as much housing. or at as favorable
price to veterans, as We had anti
cipated."
On the other hand. Frank w
Cortright, executive vice presiden
of the National Association of HON.
Builders. predicted large volume
of comparatively low-cost homes ant
greater activity in every field O
construction. He noted that thu
steps ordered by the President arr
"the things that We have been ad'
| vocating."
The President fixed no specific
housing goal for 1947.. Mr.. Wyatt''
objective. was 2,500,O00 units startet
In 1916 and 1947. Of which 1,200 ,0Oa
were tn he under vay this wear