Evening star., 1946-11-14
District Builder Fears
U.S.. Competition Will
StifIe Private Work
By Robert J. Lewis
Rsol Estoie Editor Of The Stor

ATLANTIC CITY, Nov. 14.--Ed-
ward r. Carr, president Of the
Home Builders Association Of
Metropolitan Washington. today
warned that If the Government
continues to build public housing,
private builders will be forced out
of the low rental field.
This will mean, Mr.. Carr told the
convention of the National ASsocia-
tion of Real Estate Boards here,
that housing would be "socialized"
and the Government then would
build the vast bulk of new homes.
More than 80 District area real
estate dealers and builders are at
tending the seth annual session,
which entered its fourth day today.
NAM Head Asks End of Rent Curbs.
Addressing meeting Of the So
ciety of Industrial Realtors held
this morning tn conjunction with
the associations convention, Robert
r. Wason, president of the National
Association of Manufacturers, Urged
the Government to remove rent
ceilings on new housing "immedi-
ately." Ceilings on existing houses,
he said, should he lifted early in
1947 TO save thousands of landlords
from bankruptcy"
Mr.. Mason also called on the Gov
ernnent TO end priority discrimina-
ton" against industrial building.
Challenging realtors GOODNESS to pre-
fabricated housing, he said 1t was
Inevitable" the public would de-
lnand factory built homes.
Speaking before the main conven-
tion session, MIR. Carr emphatically
contended there was no need for
public or Government owned hous-
ing, and declared that present hous-
ing of this type had been built "at
terrific expense to the taxpayers"
and had failed in its purpose.
Thousands Able to Pay.
What has been accomplished" he
said, "is the housing of a handful Of
deserving cases and thousands of
people perfectly able to pay their
own way"
OF 1000 persons on rent relief In
Washington in 1914, he said, only
60 were residents in public housing.
The\ District builder, who also is
chairman of the National Associa-
ton of Home Builders Legislative
Committee, said private industry
can do the low-rent job with a.
"few simple tools, such as local
public agencies with the power of
eminent domain, which can ac-
quire slum areas"
Builders, he added, have been
handicapped in slim clearance by
the necessity to complete $500, 900
war housing units and provide |
housing for veterans.
up to now we have never had
q real chance to do the job, but |
we will undertake 1t and we will
accomplish It," he said.
To Oppose Taft as Nominee.
Yesterday it was learned the Ma
tion-wide organization of the Ma
tional Home and Property Owners
Foundation will fight Senator Taft,
of Ohio as a Contender
for the COP presidential nomina-
ton in 1948 In retaliation for his
having jointly sponsored the Wag-
-Ellender- Taft general housingl
bill. ID 8M ~ ~
That step was promiSed by Arthur |
w. Binns Of Philadelphia, founda-
ton president, who told the conven-
tion the Ohioan had stabbed the
Nations property owners in the back
in their hour of need" by favoring
the bill. ..-
Has 100, 900 Members.
Mr.. Binfls said the foundation has
~about 100000 members and hopes
to have 1000, 900 In another year."
and pointed out his organization
maintains paid directors in 80
States.
Explaining that State branches
will bring their views regarding |
Senator Taft's support of the bill
to the attention of COP convention
delegates, Mr.. Binns declared the
Ohioan will get his just deserts two
years hence"
Of Housing Administrator Wilson
w. Wyatt, the philadelphian said,
che is doing the wrong thing well"
John 6. Jewett, vice president
of the Prudential Life Insurance
Co., today told session Of the
Society of Industrial Realtors that
insurance companies are now "con-
sidering real estate purchases, in
cluding industrial plants of all
Sorts" in rs States having per-
missive legislation.