Evening star., 1947-11-19
Move for Endorsement
OF Middle Income
Public Housing Halted
By Robert J. Lewis

NEW YORK, Nov. s19.-An ef-
fort to have the convention OF
the National Association OF
Housing Officials indorse a pro-
gram of public housing for
middle income" families has
been shelved for the time being
That became clear with disclosure
of the text of an important state
ment of policy" which will come
before the convention here for adop-
ton today. The four-day sessions
will end tomorrow.
Whether the organization should
support expansion of the public
housing program to provide for the
family earning up to approximately
$4,000 year in large cities has
been discussed behind the scenes
since the convention opened.
Warned of Opposition.
Yesterday New York State Housing
Commissioner Herman T. Stichman
WdIlleu tIlG SIOup.
Government intervention In the
middle income housing field car
only increase real estate opposition
to all public housing, Realtors can
then say the Government Is COM
peting with them"
This view prevailed, although the
report drafted by Catherine Bauer
pioneer in the Government hous-
ing field, makes clear that the way
is left open to Endorsement of such
program later.
Miss Bauer, wife OF William
Wurster, dean of architecture al
the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology. head joint committee
of representatives of the association
and the National Public Housing
Conference named to draw up the
policy statement.
The final draft contends that
"only the richest third of our popu-
lation can normally afford the new
homes built by ordinary private
enterprise, and the proportion is
probably lower today"
An earlier draft proposed broader
Government aids, but this was toned
down, it was explained, on the ad-
vice of other committee members,
among them Leon Keyserling, for
mer general counsel of the National
Housing Agency and now vice
chairman of President Truman's
Council Of Economic Advisers.
Mr.. Keyserling was not present at
the convention, but Miss Bauer said
she had endeavored to redraft the
original statement to make 1t con-
form with suggestions he made.
Miss Bauer is vice president OF the
National Public Housing Conference,
and, for a time, served as secretary
to the AFL's Housing Committee.
She is now on the Harvard Univer-
sity teaching staff.
The policy statement would put
the organization on record as hold
ing that 2O,O0O,O00 new homes are
needed by 1860.
This means doubling the current
home-building rate, which in turn
will require permanent expansion OF
the productive capacity Of the
building industry, including both
labor and basic materials" the re-
port said.
Little Hope of Cost Cut.
neclarinp there is little hCpe for
major price ,or cost reductions in
the near future" the report says:
chronological progress is unlikely
to result in lower costs Cor the
consumer until an efficient, nom
speculative distribution system for
homes is developed
The report maintains that Fed
eral housing subsidies for loW-in-
come families are IAN absolute
necessity and that large-scale pri-
vate enterprise must be encouraged
to build for the middle-income
group.
Progress may be slow in this
field, however, and if veterans are
to get decent homes quickly said
the report significantly, supple
mentary measures will probably be
necessary for the middle group
Calling for passage OF the Wag-
ner -Ellender-T bill, tie report
nevertheless expresses doubt that
in the current price situation" the
bills provisions will "go very far