Evening star., 1946-02-10
Pafman Housing Bill
Reported Undergoing
Revision in Committee

night to be preparing at leas
five amendments to the housin,
bill bearing his name to carr,
out the huge home building pro.
gram sought by President Tru,
man.
Chairman Spence OF the Hous,
Banking Committee said yesterday
that unless something intervenes, ,
the Patman measure probably viii
be reported to the House floor this
week.
Before approving the bill Friday
however, the committee knocked out
provisions for price ceilings on ex-
tsting homes and for subsidies tc
spur production Of building ma
terials-both cardinal points in the
veterans emergency housing pro-
gram for 2,7oo,00O units by the end
OF 1947 as outlined by Mr.. Truman
Friday after an exhaustive study
by National Housing Administrator
Wilson w. Wyatt.
Ceilings Opposed.
Both Republicans and Democrats
In Congress appeared solidly behind
most of the plan, but the proposal
for ceilings on old homes and build
Ing lots was far from having uni
versal support.
Messages offering warm praise
and offers Of cooperation poured in
on the President and Mr.. Wyatt
They came from housing, labor and
farm organizations, from mayors,
veterans and individuals.
The program calls for building
some $4,000, ,000,O worth of new
homes in the next two years, mostly
by private firms. Most of the houses
would sell for no more than $1,000 or
rent for no more than $50 month.
Cites Subsidy Need.
To accomplish it, Mr.. Wyatt said
there would be needed a tremendous
expansion in the output of building
materials, three times the labor
force now working on home con-
struction, and, in some cases, Gov
ernment subsidies for wages and
prices.
Representative Wolcott, Republi-
can, OF Michigan, member of the
Banking Committee, said he and
Chairman Spence met yesterday
and would meet again tomorrow to
discuss the required legislation. Mr..
Wyatt and some of his lawyers are
expected to join tomorrow's huddle.
We are not far apart now," Mr..
Wolcott told a. reporter. For the
time being, he said. complicated sec
tions on prices, subsidies and taxes
may have to be left out. They could
be considered later.
Mr.. Wolcott agreed that the Pat
man bill might be amended to
meet most of the legislative needs
listed for the new program.
Five Changes Listed.
Chairman Spence said the Wyatt
program was very clear" and that
he thought it a practical program. 4"
He added that "it appears that SUBJ
sides may be necessary"
Mr.. Patman was reported draft
Ing the following amendments to his
bill:
l. To amend Title 6 of the Ma
tional Housing Act to guarantee an
other $500, 900 900 worth of loans for
home building.
2. Set a ceiling price of 5000 on
new houses, but give the housing
administrator discretion to increase
the price in areas where building
lots and labor costs are high.
8. Provide for $500, ,000, 900 to be
used as premium payments for in
creased building materials produc-
ton.
Would Limit Resale.
4. Reoffer his proposal for cell
ings on used homes to allow, dur
ing the life Of the act, for an origi-
nal sale at any price, but limit the
resale to the last sale price, with
provisions for any improvements
made on the property in the in
terim.
5. Ceilings on urban building lots,
using the same formula as in pric-
ing existing houses.
Five Democrats, headed by House
Majority Leader Mccormack, went
to the White House yesterday to
assure the President of "our Coop
Grafton to the fullest extent pos
sible."
For the most part, the housing In
dustry lauded the plan, too.
Subsidies Opposed.
The National Association of Real
Estate Boards disapproved price
control provisions. The Producers
Council, Inc, representing materials
manufacturers, opposed subsidies to
expand production of supplies. 1t
recommended 10 per cent increase
in prices of materials instead. West
Coast interests talked about price
increases to boost production.
The CIO said the program "is in
the best interest of the veteran and
all citizens who want a prosperous
American economy"
In a message to Mr.. Truman,
william Green, president of the
AFL, and Chairman Harry c. Bates
Of the AFL Housing Committee
promised organized labor would
help.
Mead Has Bill.
The American Veterans Committee
called the program "the veterans
first real sign of hope in the housing
crisis since vi day."
Senator Mead, Democrat, of New
York, introduced a bill to raise from
$160 100000 to $410,000, 900 appro-
priations authorized for emergency
housing for veterans.
He said his plan involves no new
construction, but simply the reuse
of existing government-owned ia
cilities."
Kaiser Plans to Build
10, 900 Homes in 1916
Nv the Associated Press