Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-11
Wyatt 10 AIIot
Most Material
To Small Homes
Order to Expedite
Veterans Housing
To Be Given Soon
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.


National Housing Administra-
tor Wilson w. Wyatt disclosed
today that the Government soon
will issue regulation channel
ing the bulk of building mate
rails into homes costing less than
Sc, 900 unit or renting for under
$50 a month.
This will mean an amendment to
the present Civilian Production Adj
ministration regulation earmarking
at least so per cent of the Nations
building supplies for homes costing
under $4,000 each or renting for less
than $50 month, he told a press
conference.
1t was the first concrete step in
the administrations program to pro-
duce more low-cost homes for vet
Grams and followed an earlier CPA
announcement that it was prepared
to drastically curtail commercial and
industrial construction.
Some Projects May Be Halted.
CPA Administrator j. D. Small
said in statement that it may
even be necessary to prohibit COM
pletion of some projects already un-
der way. Mr.. Wyatt explained that
there would be a greater cut in COM
mercial building than in industrial
construction, as the latter was con-
sidered more essential to recon-
version
Both Mr. Small and Price Admin
istrator Bowles joined yesterday in
pledging full%support of their agen-
cieS in helping carry out the vet
Grams emergency housing program
released last week by President
Truman. Mr. Bowles told Mr.. Wyatt
that he could assure builders and
prospective home owners that they
will be protected from the kind of
skyrocketing prices for materials
we had after the last war"
Mr.. Wyatt told reporters the ad-
ministration's program for 2,700, 600
homes by the end of 1947 would be
handicapped if Congress fails to set
ceilings on existing homes. This re-
quest already has met opposition
from some members of Congress.
/ Cooperation Indicated.
I Mr.. Wyatt said he had every
indication of cooperation from BIZ
partisan groups in both houses of
Congress"
The favorable signs, he said, in
dictate House and Senate support
even for the controversial plan for
$500, 900 900 in subsidies or pre-
MUM payments" to producers OF
5 building supplies.
The housing chief said he expected
' aircraft factories and other unused
5 war plants to be used very extern
: sively'' in mass production of pre-
fabricated homes, with the Govern
ment guaranteeing market for the
makers.
| Meanwhile, Mr.. Wyatt was sched-
: uled to discuss later in the day
necessary housing legislation with
Chairman Spence of the House
! Banking Committee and Represent
alive Wolcott of Michigan, ranking
Republican member of the commit
tee.
May Seek Substitute Bill.
Members of the committee indi-
Gated they might put aside the Pat
man emergency housing measure ap-
proved by the committee last week
. and write another closer to the
+, White House proposals.
Speaking for Committee Repub-
licans, Mr.. Wolcott told reporters
I'VE are not very far apart. There
Is no reason why we Democrats
and Republicans should not get to-
gether."
He objected only to one proposal
) in the Presidents request for legis-
lation. This calls for price ceilings
on 10000, 900 existing houses.
Issue Can Wait on OPA.
THAT issue can wait until we take
= up the OPA continuation BILL" Mr.
S Wolcott said
4 Mr.. Spence told newsmen he ex-
pected the new housing bill to be
Y introduced later in the week.
4 The bill approved by the commit
e tee last week was introduced by
Representative Patman, Democrat,
t of Texas but before the committee
4 got through with it., Mr. Patman
= commented that Its teeth are
v pulled"
e The committee deleted all refer
ence to price ceiling for existing
: houses as well as provisions for
: subsidy payments to spur produc-
$ ton of scarce building materials.
!, Truman Calls for Both Powers.
4 The President in announcing Mr..
!, Wyatt's program again asked that
both these powers be specified in
the housing measure.
In order to avoid delay, the price
!. control feature probably will be by
Il passed, and Mr. Wolcott commented
;, that the President already has au-
= thority to use subsidies under his
= war powers.
: The new housing bill is expected
to continue the Governments au-
thority to allocate building mate
;, rails, provide for price ceilings on
= new construction, set up veterans
: preferences to buy or rent new
i houses, channel available materials
from less essential commercial con-
tStrllctiOn tO home bIIildinc and