Evening star., 1947-02-14
5Slun1 Agency
Choices Backed
After Protest
Housing Association
Defends Nominations
Criticized by Builders
By Don S. Worren

~St Ss w
A spokesman for the washington
Housing Association, watchdog of
housing procedures here, today de-
Tended the President and the Com
mtssioners in their nominations for
the new. Land Redeyelopment
Agency-key figures in the $40, ,OO0,-
600 slum rebuilding program.
Although none of the five men
named was suggested by his group,
J. Bernard Wyckoff, president of the
association, said a test of sentiment
among his members showed general
satisfaction.
I'VE found the men named met
proper standards, are men of in
telligence and integrity, and are
fair-minded people," he added.
Answers "Mild" Protest.
His statement was in response to
a letter of so-called mild" protest
against the selections, which had
been filed with the Senate District
Committee by the Metropolitan
Home Builders Association. The
home builders letter, submitted by
Ernest F. Henry, made a special
point that none of the five agency
nominees was q representative of
the residential construction in
dustry."
President Truman late last week
submitted for Senate confirmation
two agency members-Mark Lans-
burgh, department. store owner and
executive, and George A. Garrett,
stock broker and f1nancier. The
Commissioners nominated District
Assessor Edward A. Dents James E.
Colliflower, a veteran Washington
businessman, and Richard r. At
kinson, colored, a lawyer with a
background of municipal admins
tration.
None of the. five, according to a
spokesman for the Commissioners,
was selected as a Representative"
of any specified group. Rather, this
source said, the choices were SEN
tirely on an individual basis"
May Revive Oi0 F1gnt.
The Henry letter raised possibil-
tiles the old fight between free en-
terprise" and public housing" was
being revived over the confirmation
of the agency nominees.
Hearings on the nominations are
expected to be held by the Senate
Committee late this month. Action
now Is being delayed to await the
return of Senator McCarran, Dem
ocrat, of Nevada, principal author
of the law charting the course of
slum redevelopment.
Speaking for the Washington
Housing Association, Mr.. Wyckof
commented that, under the Slum
Act, private enterprise Is given first
chance for all housing projects.
What more could sthe private
builders want?" he asked.
The builders voiced approval Of
only one of the five nominees-Mr
Dent, whose choice, the Henry letter
said, was logical and commendable. "
Mr.. Collifower, Mr.. Garrett and
Mr.. Lansburgh, the Henry letter
added, all were successful and high
ly respected businessmen" Along
with this was a statement that the
association had mo knowledge they
had any special qualifications"
Henry Sees Handicap.
Because of their known capabil-
tiles, we can only hope" Mr.. Henry's
letter said, they will give personal
attention to this important assign
ment and not depend upon paid
staff of underlings for advice"
Lack of direct representation for
the residential construction in
dustry" on the Land Agency was
described by Mr.. Henry as a real
handicap"
The most specific protest in the
builders letter was directed at the
naming of Mr.. Atkinson. Mr.. Henry
emphasized that, while no builders
spokesman was named to the board,
Mr.. Atkinson was on record as a
firm believer" in public housing.
The builders association was in
the forefront of a battle in the last
three years to kill off public hous-
ing" and won most issues in the final
draft of the redevelopment measure
as enacted.