Evening star., 1946-02-21
By Don 5. Worren

n Suuucu IllOfc Was utFclOplliS
on Capitol Hill today to block
the impending sale of Mclean
Gardens and five other Defense
Homes apartments here and to
let the Government continue to
operate them until new housing
construction is under way.
Under present plans, the suggested
abandonment of the projected sale
of such properties here and else
where will be considered early next
week at Joint meeting of mem
bers of two House committees and
Philip M. Klutznick, the head of
Defense Homes Corp.
The suggestion originated with
Chairman Manasco of the House
Committee on Expenditures in Ex-
ecutive Departments, primarily in
response to protests against the
inability Of group of American
veterans of World War II to get
acceptance of their offer to buy
Mclean Gardens.
Mr.. Manasco, Democrat, of Ala
bama consulted Chairman Lanham
of the House Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee, and also with
Mr.. Klutznick, to ascertain first of
all that there was no law compelling
the DFC to proceed Immediately or
at any specific time with the sale Of
the District properties or others
erected as an emergency program
during the war.
The suggestion took hold at least
to the degree that the subject was
scheduled tentatively for considera-
ton at the joint meeting next week.
Mr.. Klutznick was represented as
being receptive to the idea of calling
of the sales II he finds there is sub
stantial sentiment in Congress sup
porting the move. This would be
based on the general theory that
the veterans would be better off, as
to housing, if Government rental
operations were continued instead of
selling such properties to private in
terests, pending actual progress in
the housing construction program.
Cites Housing Crisis.
While making no final commit
ment on the question, Mr.. Manasco
said, "It would seem to make sense
to withdraw the offers to sell and
for the Government to continue to
operate the properties on the pres
ent basis, inasmuch as the housing
shortage Is as bad now, If not worse,
than 1t was during the war. The
properties, of course, should be sold
at some appropriate time, but it
seems to me the proper time would
be after and not before the housing
construction program has actually
begun to show its effect"
The new proposal came to light
as Representative Rogers, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts, was going
ahead with her plan for legislation
to give veterans a first good chance
to buy surplus" Government hous-
ing.
Mr.. Manasco expressed doubt that
an organization of veterans would
find it possible to obtain contracts
for purchase of such housing. He
added a caution that if this were
made possible the veterans would
be committed to loan repayments
that in future years might prove
burdensome.
Best Price Required.
He was advised that under the
spirit Of present law, the DHC
properties should be sold at the best
price obtainable and at no less than
current market value, and that such
dispoSals by the Government should
be as expeditions as possible.
He and others took this to mean
that there was no bar in present
law against temporary continuation
of Government operation Of McLeap
Gardens and similar properties in
view of the shortage of housing and
the general belief that it will be
many months before new construc-
ton has any considerable effect on
the market values of such properties.
Therefore, Mr.. Manasco said, he
could not see that the Government
would be running the hazard of
losing money by some reasonable
delay in the sale Of the properties.
No Houses Left Vacant.
Meanwhile, Defense Homes Corp.
ofncials today assailed "misinforma-
ton" being spread In connection
with the sale Of Mclean Gardens