Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-12
IhIder Endorses
Senate sSIunl
Clearance Bill
Opposes Restrictive
Amendments Sought
By Private Interests
BY Don S. Worren

Senate District Slum bill without
restrictive amendments sought by
private building interests.
Testifying at hearings before the
McGehee subcommittee of the
House District Committee on legis-
lation proposing a $20,000,0 900 10
year attack on Washington's blight
ed areas" Mr.. Ihlder urged speedy
enactment of the bill as passed by
the Senate, except for q couple Of
changes he deemed advisable.
Mr.. Ihlder reminded Chairman
McGehee that he had been quoted
as being largely satisfied" with the
bill, but wanting assurances pri-
vate enterprise would be protected.
THE bill does this" he declared.
Senate Definition Called Simple.
He made a lengthy answer, how
ever, on amendments strongly urged
recently by spokesman for the Met
ropolitan Home Builders Associa-
ton and others for changes in the
definition of public low-rent hous-
ing and for stronger auditing con-
troll over public housing projects.
He said the more restrictive def
milton urged by private enterprise
had been discussed and discarded"
IN the Senate because 1t was Gin
volved and confusing"
The definition of public low-rent
housing that was adopted by the
Senate, he continued, was simple
and understandable" protesting
that private builders still are seek
ing to restore the discarded pro-
vision.
After reviewing many of the "old
issues" Mr.. Ihlder said:
Il mention those instances be-
cause some of the testimony before
you paints a startling picture Of
what NCHA may do unless Con-
gress puts it in a straitjacket so it
can do nothing; unless Congress
prevents 1t from acquiring sites. re-
stricts it to an Understandable 20
per cent of the population. Instead
Of appealing to imagination, I am
appealing to actual experience in
both private and public housing"
Efficient Housing Chief Concern.
Mr.. Ihlder declared repeatedly
that the Senate bill protects private
enterprise and gives it a full OPP
portunity to engage on low-cost
housing projects related to redevel-
opment of blighted areas, but he
said his main concern was that
there be sufficient housing for low
income families at prices they could
afford to pay.
II am convinced" he asserted,
shat however much private enter
prise may do, there will remain
some part which must be done by
public housing"
The definition of public low-rent
housing sought by private builders
would restrict public housing oper-
atoms to that needed for the So
called submerged fifth" of the Dis
trict population according to net
income.
The apparent intent Of this sub
stitute, Mr.. Ihlder said, is to re-
strict public low-rent housing to
the lowest income fifth of the pop
ulation, but "it makes no pretense
of having any relationship to the
bad housing in the District"
If it developed that one-fourth
instead of one-flfth of the District
population were living in slums, he
argued, and that private enterprise
was unable to provide for it, then
1t would be too bad-too bad for
those between a fifth and fourth
who could not get decent housing. q
Little Space for Displaced.
Mr.. Ihlder recommended q
Strengthening Of a provision in the
Senate bill which is designed to
assure housing for families which
are displaced from areas which are
TO be redeveloped.
The bill provides that displaced
families shall be given preference
as tenants for vacancies in public
housing projects until other "appro-
pirate housing" is available to them
But now, Mr.. Ihlder said, there are
practically no such vacancies, while
the number of requests for low rent
housing amounts to about $4,000.
NCHA is providing for 2,819 OF
them and in addition is providing
for 4,619 war workers, servicemen
and veterans families in war hous-
ing. In view Of the backlog of de-
mands, however, he said, there will
be no place for families in the lower
income groups to 60 unless the
NCHA development program lis re-
sumed on q commensurate scale"
Mr.. Ihlder also voiced fears that
II the proposed restrictive amend
ment sought by private builders is
adopted the District may be unable
to share in benefits which would
come under the national housing
legislation now awaiting congress
sional action.
McGehee Promises Good Bill"
Endorsements of the bill as passed
by the Senate also were voiced today
by Waldron Faulkner, speaking f6a
the District chapter Of the American
Institute of Architects, and Thoma.
S. Settle. secretary and legal adviser
to the Park and Planning Commits.
sion.
When no others asked to be heard
Chairman McGehee said the hear.
ings apparently were concluded ane
that after time had allowed 70,
preparation of the transcript HI
would call q session Of his group te
take action.
1--WE are going to give you a good
BILL" Mr.. McGehee said.
Mr.. Settle, who said he had beer
working on Stun redevelopment leg.
islation for Is years, opposed majol
changes In the Senate bill. He sale
the NCHA had done "a fine Job anc
should not be crucified and put GU,
Of business"
Mr.. Faulkner took issue with some
Of the arguments presented earle,
by the Home Builders Association
Eliohu Epstein to Speak
egs Eliahu Epstein, who is with tn,
Washington stan Of the Jewish
Agency for Palestine, will discus.
Is Arab-Jewish Cooperation Pos.
Rih1a20 ~ q ,,nna<{yn. nt o.aeK-- a..