Evening star., 1946-02-27
Home Builders Wait
Wyatt Speech Tonight
On Housing Program
By Robert J. Lewis
he Stor'x RsaI Exfots EdItav

The stur'. ReaI Esiots Editor.
CHICAGO, Feb. 27. - Arrival of
Wilson w. Wyatt to address the
home builders convention, now in
its third day here, was expectantly
awaited today as the high point OF
the four day sessions.
Convention officials remained ST.
lent on the National Housing Admin
istrator's charge yesterday that an
"integrated lobby" was deluging
Congress with kilograms opposing
vital phases Of his program for
2,700,000 homes for veterans.
Earlier, Joseph E. Merrion, retir-
ing president of the National Asso-
citation of Home Builders, appealed
to members to wire their Represen-
tatives in Congress urging defeat of
the Patman bill, now before Con-
gress.
The bill would provide full con-
gressional approval Of the wyatt pro-
gram, including his proposals for
subsidies and program Of prefab-
ricated homes.
To Amplify Statement.
More than SO Washington builders
are attending the sessions.
Mr.. Wyatt is scheduled to address
an association banquet tonight and
is expected to amplify his previous
statement that the Government
plans to channel the bulk" of ma
terials into homes costing less than
sc, 900.
Latest clue to the character of
the forthcoming regulations for con-
troll of construction came at joint
press conference held by Raymond
M. Foley, commissioner of the Fed
eral Housing Administration, and
John D. Small, civilian production
administrator
Mr.. Small limited that while the
matter was still in the discussion
stage, it was possible that control
would not be based on priorities
but on permit" system.
He indicated the percentage of
homes costing under $4,000 and
those costing from $4,000 to $4,000
would be controlled by FHA permits
to build.
Half May Be in $4,000 Class.
Mr.. Forley said he thought the
number to be authorized for con-
struction at less than $1,000 would
be something over so per cent"
This percentage, while not definite,
came as surprise to builders, many
OF whom were under the mistaken
impression that the Wyatt proposals
meant a $4,000 ceiling on all home
building
Tomorrow Mr. Wyatt will meet in
closed session with new officers and
directors of the association, includ-
ing four Washingtonians elected last
night.
j. Wesley Buchanan, former ma
tional director, was elected regional
vice president with jurisdiction. over
the District, Maryland, Virginia,
Delaware and West Virginia.
Donald l.. Chamberlin, vice pres
jdent of the Home Builders Asso-
citation of Metropolitan Washington,
was elected director when the Dis
trict was granted third place on
the national board for the first
time this year. Reelected directors
were Edward r. Carr, president of
the Washington Home Builders,
and Waverly Taylor.
Meyerhoff Is President.
Joseph Meyerhoff of Baltimore,
president of the Maryland Home
Builders Association, was elected
president.
Washington residents yesterday
participated in two panel discussions
as the convention centered its at
tention on increasing the flow of
building supplies and available
labor.
Mr. Carr, serving on a panel TAX
ing up the materials problem, said
tagging supplies were reflected in
higher home COSTS
Difficulties we had getting ma
terialS threw us back on a group of
90 houses we built in Washington so
they cost us $500 more apiece than
they should have" he said.
Part of the cost we absorbed and
part We had to pass on to the pur-
chaser"
He referred to houses built in
the East Hills development at East
Capitol street and Benning road Sc.
Hits Exports of Materials.
Mr.. Carr told more than 1000
builders that while the Nations
construction industry was "starv-
ing" for materials, many home
building products were being ex-
ported.
Il heard today that Is or 2oI
buildings are being constructed in
Latin American with American
materials" he said.
Another Washingtonian on the
panel, Alvin I. Brown, an assistant
to Mr.. Wyatt, said he also heard
many rumors. He added that 80
far as I know there is no truth to
that story"
Other District residents partici-
pating in panel discussions included
John c. Houston, jr., director of