Evening star., 1946-02-09
Speed on Plan
For 100000
Homes Expected
Wyott's Program,
Chiefly for Veterans,
Hailed by Truman
partial TeTt OF Housing Program
ON Page A-10)
By MALCOLM LAMBoRNE. Jr.

By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Administration leaders in Con-
gress prepared today to expedite
action on President Truman's
request for at least $3.50, 900, 900
and authority to place ceilings
on old and new homes and
building lots to implement the
veterans emergency housing
program for 2,700,00 new houses
by the end of 1947.
Representative Wolcott of Michi-
gan, senior Republican member of
the House Banking Committee
which handles housing legislation,
said If the administration would
drop its proposal for price ceilings
on old houses, Il don't see why we
can't put through the legislation
the President asked for, by unani-
nous consent, within "a hours"
Price control features of the pro-
gram also met opposition of the
National Association of Real Estate
Boards, although it heartily" in
dorsed other features. The Pro-
ducers' Council, national organiza-
ton of building material manu-
facturers, registered opposition to
the proposal for payment of sub
sides to step up production of
building supplies.
Program Called Practical.
Described by the President as
bold, vigorous and eminently prac-
tical," the program was released at
the White House last night after a
five-week study by National Hous-
ing Administrator Wilson w. Wyatt.
who consulted with Federal, busi-
ness, labor and veterans repre-
sentatives.
Democratic leaders were reported
prepared to request a special rule of
the House Rules Committee to bring
to the floor the Patman bill which
the House Banking Committee voted
out yesterday. Modified consider
ably, the measure provides for price
ceilings on new homes and for con-
tinuance until June 80, 1947, of Gov
ernment ALLEGATION of scarce build
ing materials.
May Restore Provisions.
The committee eliminated from
the bill all authority to put price
ceilings on 40,00o,O00 existing dwell
ings and struck out another section
providing for subsidies to spur pro-
duction of building materials.
Administration forces now hope to
restore these provisions and to
strengthen further the measure in
line with the Wyatt proposals, which
the President pointed out had the
unqualified support of the admins
tration.''
Mr.. Wolcott proposed that the
committee recall the Patman bill
and rewrite it along the lines asked
by the President, except for the
feature Of ceilings on existing houses.
However, Mr.. Wyatt tried unsuc-
cessfully in an executive session of
the committee Thursday to get ap-
proval of subsidies and ceilings on
old homes, it was understood.
The President urged Congress to
enact promptly" the necessary legis-
lation to carry out the program, and
urged all civic organizations, COM
munity leaders and citizens to get be-
hind it. Mr.. Wyatt reported that if
Congress passes legislation soon, the
program should move into high
gear" by April 1.
100000 for 1916.
The 1916 goal includes 100000 con-
ventional houses, 250,0O0 permanent
prefabricated houses and 25O,O0O
temporary units. For next year, Mr..
Wyatt envisioned 100000 conven-
tional and 100000 permanent pre-
fabricated houses. Earlier this year
officials talked of between 400 900
and 100000 units of all types for 1946.
Declaring that Americans will
face this task in the same spirit in
which they faced the fighting part
OF the war;" Mr.. Wyatt compared
his goals with that of $4,000 aircraft
which the late President Roosevelt
set in 1912. Though many people
considered it impossible. that goal
and others like it were achieved and
passed." he added.
The program contemplates vast
increases in production of building
materials through use of Govern
ment subsidies estimated at $780,
100000 and utilization of converted
war plants and additional new
facilities.
1t calls for tripling the labor force