Evening star., 1946-07-24
Committee 'FiIibuster'
Against Housing Bill
Charged al Hearing
By Robert J. Lewis

Representative Outland, Demo-
crat, of California today charged
at meeting of the House Banking
Committee that "filibuster' was
delaying continuance of hearings
on the Wagner -Ellender Taft gen.
eral housing bill.
Chairman Spence announced yes
terday that a resumption OF hear
ings on the measure was scheduled
to begin at 10:30 o'clock this morn
ing after a short hearing, beginning
half an hour earlier, on a bill to
extend S75,000000 credit to the
Philippine Republic.
Owing to the insistence of Repre-
sentative Smith, Republican. of
Ohio. and number of other COM
mittee members that testimony
continue on the loan bill, there was
no time left before the House con-
vened at noon to start testimony
on the housing measure.
House Rule Cited.
Shortly after noon, when testi-
mony on the loan bill was termi-
mated, a point of order by Repre-
sentative Wolcott, Republican, of
Michigan cut short the committees
meeting. Under a House rule, Mr..
Wolcott indicated, the committee
could not sit while the House was
in session.
In heated outburst which inter-
rupted testimony being heard by the
committee on the Philippine loan
bill, Representative Outland, COM
mittee member, declared:
1--WE all know the Importance the
American people attach to this
housing bill For nearly a month.
we've been having what amounts to
fllibuster in this committee against
1t. I should like to know how long
We are going to discuss the Philip
pine loan bill and how soon we can
take up the housing bill"
Limit Rule Sought.
The statement of the Arkansas
Representative came after Repre-
sentative Patman, Democrat, of
Texas, an author of the recently
passed veterans emergency housing
bill, and Representative Foleer,
Democrat, Of North Carolina sought
an agreement to limit testimony on
the loan bill.
Upshot Of this discussion, how
ever, was that testimony was con-
tinued on the loan bill without a
committee vote on the matter.
The point of order by Mr.. Wolcott
was the same parliamentary tactic
used on several occasions since
hearings were started on the Wag-
ner-Ellender-Taft bill June %.
Employment of points of order to
delay hearings on the bill was criti-
cized last week by Housing Admins
traitor Wilson Wyatt as "un-Amer-
lean, parliamentary filibustering
tricks" to kill the housing bill.
Provides MIA Continuance.
The Wagner -Ellender- Taft meas
ure would make permanent a ma
t1onal housing agency to coordinate
Government housing functions, ex-
pand and liberalize loan insurance
terms, provide for a slum clearance
and public housing program and au-
thorize research into the building
field.
Mr.. Wyatt has characterized the
measure as basic part" of the
veterans emergency housing pro-
gram.
Hearings on the housing bill were
held last July 5. In six DAYS of
hearings before that time about five
hours of testimony had been heard
from advocates of the bill, including
Senators Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
and Wagner, Democrat, of New
York, both sponsors of the bill along
with Senator Ellender, Democract,
of Louisiana; Mr.. Wyatt, Raymond
M. Foley commissioner of the Fed
eral Housing Administration, and
others.
Denies Filibustering.
David L. Krooth, commissioner of
the Federal Public Housing Author
ity, today was present in the COM
mittee room, and was prepared to
testify. During discussion over the
flibustering charge, Mr.. Smith de-
MED he was filibustering and said
the matter involved in the Philip
pine loan was "a serious thing"
Testimony in behalf of the loan
measure was given by Assistant
Secretary of State Will L. Clayton
and Joseph J. O'Connell, jr., treasury
department general counsel. who
read statement of Secretary OF the
Treasury Snyder