The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-01
TRUMAN
Continued From Page One)

gard to the damage done to
others" he said. 1T has display
ed a ruthless disregard Of the pub
lie welfare"
2. Congress stay in session long
enough to met ''squarely" the ma
tional housing problem, and enact
a remedy along the lines of the
Observation-Disclosures bill now on
tie Senate calendar.
3. Governors of the states
exert every effort to protect ten
ants from hardship, eviction or
exploitation" and thus soften,
although not avoid completely, the
blow to rent control dealt by the
new law.
The statute, besides allowing
Involuntary" rent increases
throughout the country, abolishes
all federal controls over construc-
ton, except on theaters, bowling
alleys and other amusement
places.
Hot Criticism
Mr.. Truman singled out this
provision for a major share OF his
scorching criticism, terming it a
severe blow to veterans housing
and a step that may prove dis
a%strous" to the entire housing pro
gram. And he blamed the "rea]
estate lobby" for this action. too.
"They have constantly sought to
weaken rent control and to do
away with necessary aids to hous-
ing" he said. "They are openly
proud Of their success in blocking
a comprehensive housing pro-
gram"
The new law also lifts rent con
trolls on newly-built. newly-rented
and newly-remodeled dwellings.
and on hotel accommodations, and
abolishes special eviction safe
guards set up by OPA and puts
eviction cases back under state
laws. This means that in most
cases landlords row will be able
to evict tenants on 30 days'-in.
stead of six months-notice.
The President didn't like these
provisions, either, and said so in
equally torrid terms.
In the face of our acute need
for more effective aid for hous.
ing" he said, "it is unthinkable
that the Congress would actually
take steps to make more difficult
or even impossible the efficient
administration of the govern
ment's present activities relating
to housing and home finance.
Yet, I fear that this may han
pen"
Price Program
Mr.. Truman tied the legislation
indirectly with his campaign to
force prices down. campaign he
said had shown real progress" in
the second quarter o. this year.
increases, particularly IN food
costs, were checked during that
period, he said, and ION the
whole, prices and the cost of liv-
ing have levelled off"
TT is evident that the present
high cost of living should not be
increased further by a sharp in
crease in rents. We must gel
prices down, not devise means OF
getting the price of shelter up.'
Inc new statute does not affect
the District of Columbia-the Citv
OIL Wash1ngton-in which a great
majority OF the members of Con.
gress make their homes for al
least six months out of every
year The district has its own sen.
arate controls enacted by Con.
gress-which contain no provision
Tor g. voluntary Is per cent in.
crease.
The Chief Executive took Con-.
gress to task severely tor ignor.
ing his repeated requests for q
national housing plogram-a pro.
gram he first put forward in =
1pueial message in September.
1915, five months after he entered
the White House. He renewed !,
IN January, 1916, and again in
January of this year.
Glaring Gap
The lack Of adequate housing
marks a glazing gap in our
achievements toward fulfilling the
promise Of democracy" he saio
today.
The progress in housing has
not kept pace with progress in
other fields. Private industry has
not done and cannot do the whole
job without government aid.
In no part of Our national life
is there more urgent need for con.
structive legislation at this time. >
>..--