Evening star., 1946-01-23
Co||et Indorses
PriceCei|ings
On New Homes
Subsidies Held
Possible Aid in
Materials Output

otdplllZdClOn DuecUOr JOhn Q
Collet today Endorsed a proposal fol
placing price ceilings on new ane
remodeled homes, in testimony be,
fore the House Banking Committe.
holding hearings on the Patman bill
Judge Collet indicated that sub.
sides in certain industries, such a.
numbering, may solve price problem.
which the industry claims are hold.
ing up the production of buildins
materials.
He stated that to date it appeared
that general price increases" on ar
industry-wide basis "have not go
the job done"
Priorities System Urged.
The Patman bill would set up ar
Office of Housing Sterilization anc
empower housing expediter to es.
tablish a priorities system for the
channeling of all building material.
"for the most urgent purposes"
Under the measure, ceiling price.
on homes could be established. II
also would give veterans top priority
on new building.
Reconversion Director SNYDER
who testified yesterday, backed tn,
price ceiling proposal in the Pat
man measure but said he did no
think it desirable to set up a new
agency in the housing field.
Declines Subsidy Stand.
He declined to take stand OF
subsidies, pointing out that thi
problem was being studied by Viii.
son w. Wyatt, housing expediter il
Mr.. Snyder's Office.
Judge Collet said he thought thu
$4,000 ceiling placed on new con.
structlon under the administration.
reconversion housing program, wa.
pretty high" He added, however
reports from the industry indicate
that it recognizes the necessity
of not using" the $4,000 figure al
the median price.
Questioned by Representative
Patman. Democrat, of Texas or
whether Southern lumber mills
were holding up production await.
ing price increase, Mr.. Collet sale
he had not reached the conclusion
of ANY deliberate withholding or
an appreciate scale"
A program of real action" to solve
the veterans housing problem-witf
the major responsibility probably tt
be placed on private builders-is be.
ing planned by the District Com.
missioners today.
ID. C. Commissioners Act.
On another front, a program OF
real action" to solve the veterans
housing, problem-with the major
responsibility probably to be placed
on private builders-is being planned
by the District Commissioners.
Commissioner John Russell Youne
commented after a lengthy housing
hearing yesterday, that private en-
terprise must eventually carry the
ball"
The Commissioner added that II
the builders need financial aid
maybe we can borrow money tc
help you out"
Lack Materials.
However, two builders, Morris Ca.
fritz and Edward r. Carr, president
of the Washington Home Builders
Association, assured Mr.. Young thai
private enterprise has money anc
= land, but no materials to give thu
veterans permanent homes.
Among the suggestions made t,
the Commissioners was a plea b,
the Washington Real Estate Boart
that the Federal Government b
asked to delay moving it's displace,
agencies back to Washington unit
after the housing crisis is past.
John Ihlder, executive director o
the National Capital Housing Au
thority, said his agency could con
struct 4,500 permanent homes if tn
Commissioners got Congress to Civ
him the money.