Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-05-08
Negro Leaders
Bill on
Red Cross Site
Object to Move From
Homes to Clear Area
In Pleas to House Unit

DlStIlCG OIlapL6T OF the heQ GLOSS
to build new headquarters on
Government-owned land between
Twentieth and Twenty-f1rst streets
on the north side of e street NV,
a group of colored leaders today
asked that the site be used instead
either for colored housing or a
colored school.
They laid their case before the
House Subcommittee on Public
Buildings OF the Public Works COM
n1ittee which is about to complete
considerations of the measure.
Chairman McGregor of the sub
committee said afterward he be-
lieves the bill, with amendments
probably will be approved at a COM
mittee session at 1880 am. tomor-
row.
Need for Move Is Seen.
Commenting on the testimony
Representative MeGregor, Republic
can, of Ohio, emphasized:
I'VE Of the committee, are not for
moving people from their homes
because of race, color or creed. But
we must recognize that when the
city develops as 1t Is changing In
that area, families will have to be
moved"
Furthermore, he asserted that
the residents of the block would
not be ousted for at least two years,
during which he hoped they would
have an opportunity TO find hous-
ing elsewhere.
The site is occupied by rows of
old houses along Twentieth and
Twenty-f1rst streets, and by tenn
porary housing project known as
O'Brien's court, between the old
residences. The entire site is owned
by the Federal Government.
Red Cross Is Praised.
The delegation protesting the bill
included representatives of the
Federation of Civic Associations, in
dividual civic associations, pastors
Of several churches. and a physician,
DR.. c. Herbert Marshall, who said
he had many patients In the area.
The Red Cross itself was praised
by most of the witnesses. A COM
plant, however. that the develop
ment of that section of the city
over period OF years had forced
out Of the area so many colored
people that their community life
there was being 'strangled."
DR.. E. F. Harris, president of the
Lincoln Civic Association, told the
committee that "this protest is en-
tered not as against the Red Cross
but against the use of this land for
any other purpose than that of
housing colored residents"
Churches Lose Members.
Without exception, the clergy from
several churches said they were los
ing so many members that eventu-
ally, If the present trend continued,
they would have to move their in
situations elsewhere at great f1nan-
cial loss.
DR.. Marshall appealed to the COM
mittee from what he said was the
human side of the thing" He said
residents were being ousted from
that area and forced to 60 great
distances for other housing, now
difficult to get because of the short
age Of homes and widespread re-
strictions against his race by cove
nant on property.
John Ihlder, head of the National
Capital Housing Authority, said his
agency had no dwelling accommoda-
tons into which the families va
Gated from the block could be
accommodated.
Approval Indicated.
Several committee members ex-
pressed sympathy with the problem
of both white and colored tenants
being ousted by Government pur-
chase of property. But it was indi-
Gated generally the committee will
approve the bill.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, chair
man of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, admitted
the housing situation here now is
quite desperate" But he pointed
to the reduction of Government per-
sonnet and construction of new
homes as a reason to hope that
more dwellings eventually will be
available. He said the Urban Re-
development Act would help the sit
uation in the long run.
There is no question of discrim-
mating against any race or group"
assured Gen. Grant, "but the needs
of the Government have first
priority"
Among witnesses testifying for
their groups against the bill were
the Rev. Jerry A. Moore, pastor of
the Nineteenth Street Baptist
Church; the Rev. L. C. Murray, of
the Morning Star Baptist Church;
the Rev. William A. Stewart, of IN
ion Wesley M. E. Zion Church; the
Rev. Edgar Newton, of Mount Leb-
anon Baptist Church; Mercer F.
Sampson, of the Federation of Civic
Associations, and Mrs. Matte Dan
ford, vice president of the Briggs
Montgomery School Parent Teach
er Association, who is president of
the Parent Teacher Association
Council, covering schools in Divi-
siOnS 10 to 49,