Evening star., 1947-11-17
By Robert J. Lewis
Stoy Stoff Corraxnondsnt

NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-President
Truman. in a message to the opening
session here Of the annual conven-
ton of the National Association Of
Housing Officials, today called for a
broader attack" to clear slums and
urged determined action by private
enterprise" to cut housing costs.
Decrying the viewpoint that main
tains the Government should not be
interested in housing program, Mr.
Truman declared the country has
scarcely been able to keep pace with
the growth of slums."
In a letter to Erwin w. Blum of
Houston, Tex, president of the as
sociation, which is holding a four
day series Of meetings here, the
President said:
1--WE must treat the housing prob
lem as something more than a re-
curing emergency which the Gov
ernment must periodically relieve,
and bring about basic, enduring i'm
provementS that will make steady
and stable progress in American
housing Standards"
Washington Delegates Arrive.
A large delegations of Washington
nians-representing the associations
300-member Potomac Chapter, larg-
est in the country, arrived for the
14th convention last night and this
morning. The national organiza-
ton is composed mainly of public
housing officials from throughout
the country, with sprinkling of
State housing offioials and repre-
sentatives of private industry.
In his letter, President Truman
made clear he believed Federal aid
for public housing should be con-
tinued.
Il have steadfastly urged the
Congress to enact legislation that
will help private industry to assume
an increasing responsibility for
adequate housing in the lower in
come brackets and will provide
Federal help to communities to en-
able them to meet those pressing
needs which are clearly beyond the
capacity of private industry" he
said.
Greater Need Since War.
"Since the end of the war there
has been an even greater need for
adequate measures to clear slums
and arrest and eliminate blight in
our cities, to provide decent housing
for loW-income families and minor
ity groups, to raise the standard OF
rural housing, to stimulate research
toward better housing at lower cost,
and to broaden and strengthen the
ability of private enterprise to meet
more of our housing demand" he
continued.
In presenting Mr. Trumans atti-
tude on the important question of
housing, the letter followed closely
the line pursued by Raymond NJ
Foley, administrator of the newly
created Housing and Home Finance
Agency.
Mr.. Foley's position, while strongly
advocating passage of the Taft-El-
lender Wagner housing bill which
PlOf4OCS 4O4 pNbl1S 1lOuo1AI6 PlO-
gram, emphasizes that private in
dustry should be relied on to provide
the bulk of needed housing. Mr.
Truman did not mention by name
the Taft-Ellender- Wagner bill, which
is strongly supported by the associa-
ton and one of whose sponsors is
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio, a
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation.
Three Washingtonians were
among the speakers at today's ses-
sions, which drew approximately 700
delegates from throughout the
country.
After a brief welcoming address
by Mayor William O'Dwyer, a panel
discussion on What are the Facts
on Housing Costs?" was held, at
which Curt c. Mack, Washington,
the Federal Housing Administra-
tons assistant commissioner for
underwriting presided.
Other Washington panel speakers
were to include Harry H. Steidle,
manager of the Prefabricated Home
Manufacturers Institute and Boris
Shishkin, secretary of the American
Federation of Labor's Housing Com
mittee.