Evening star., 1946-03-20
SIur1 Clearance
Bill Threatened
With New Delay
House Group Action
Moy Woit McGehee's
Return From South
By Don S. Worren

Another delay was threatened to.
day in action on the bill for rede.
yelopment of Washington's slum,
although "the last year of grace
for alley dwelling occupancy wa.
running out.
Representative McGehee, Demo-
crat, OF Mississippi. chairman OF
the Judiciary Subcommittee of the
House District Committee, in charge
OF the bill, indicated there was small
chance for action by his group be-
fore the end of this week.
II this proves the case action
probably will be deferred until
early in April since Mr.. McGehee
plans to leave Friday for his home
state and does not plan to return
to Washington until after April l.
Bilbo Words Recalled.
A warning that June 80 would be
the "real' deadline on occupancy
of alley dwellings, was voiced some
weeks ago by another Mississippian,
Chairman Bilbo of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
Because of protracted consider
alton of legislation cliarting a new
program for elimination of blighted
areas and construction of necessary
low-cost housing, Congress twice has
extended, for a year at a time, the
deadline on use Of alley dwellings
which house thousands, mostly col
ored. The new deadline will be
reached June 80.
This is the last time-we won't
extend the deadline anymore" Sen
ator Bilbo said recently. Next time
I expect we will tell the police to
move them out of the alleys"
Bill Passed by Senate.
Last October ID, the Senate
passed and sent to the House the
compromise McCarran- Burton Cap
per bill, after sponsors accepted sew
eral amendments urged by Senators
wagner, Democrat, of New York and
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana,
co-sponsors of a national urban re-
development bill. The compromise
eliminated more than two years of
study by Senate groups.
Chairman McGehee of the House
subcommittee now is awaiting a re-
port from the District Commits
sioners on the bill as it passed the
Senate. The city heads are prepared
to give general approval to the Sen
ate bill, it is said, but submission
OF their report has been delayed
because of illness of one or more
Of the Commissioners.
Extended hearings have been held
by the McGehee Subcommittee, on
both the original slum clearance
bills and on the revised measure
passed by the Senate. The hearings
were presumed to be concluded
March II when Chairman McGehee
found no more witnesses then want
ing to testify. But last Saturday
1t was recalled the Commissioners
had given no statement on the Sem
ate version Of the bill. Chairman
McGehee then requested this.
Report Yet to Be Made.
As the hearings apparently were
ended a week ago yesterday, Chair
man McGehee promised his sub
committee would bring out "a good
bill"
Prompt action is expected to be
taken by the full House District
Committee as soon as the subcom-
mittee presents its report.
The Senate bill proposes a $20,-
100000 program for 10 years, after
which there would be an accounting
of costs, achievements and a fore
cast of work yet to be done.
In addition to Mr.. McGehee, other
members of the Judiciary Subcom-
mittee are Representatives Harris
of Arkansas, Abernethy of Missis-
sippi and Smith of Virginia, Demo-
Gratis, and Bates of Massachusetts,,
Baldwin of New York and O'Hara
of Minnesota, Republicans.