Evening star., 1948-05-03
Foley Again Pleads
For Quick Approval
Of 0fHousing Program
by the kssoeioted Press

eS the Assoeiofed Press
The administration renewed its
appeal to the House today for a
long-range housing program.
. And Chairman Wolcott of the
House Banking Committee said he
intends Ito get the bill out of the
committee as quickly as possible
for action by the House"
Raymond NJ Foley, housing ad-
ministrator, presented the new plea
as the Banking Committee opened
public hearings on the Ellen
der-Wagner bill which has passed
the Senate.
The bill provides for Govern
tent encouragement in construct
g 100000 homes in 10 years.
Emphasis on Private Building.
Mr.. Foley said the measure aims
a decent home for every family
imarily through private means,
md the governmental aids shall be
esigned to stimulate and supple
,ent-not to impede or supplant-
rivate enterprise operations.
In the Senate, leaders called for
housing showdown today. Some
enators said this may determine
le fate of long-range housing legis-
lation, as well as some political
prestige of Senator Taft, Republi-
can, of Ohio, who pushed the Taft
legislation through the Senate 10
days ago.
The Senate had before it a pro-
poSal to revive Government home
loan insurance for a month while
awaiting House action on the long
range bill which contains this fea-
ture. Some contend the course the
Senate takes may decide the fate
of the main bill itself:
Cause of Angry Debate.
The public housing feature Of the
Taft bill has been a principal cause
of angry debate Under it, the
Government could engage directly
in slum clearance and low-rent
projects.
Chairman Wolcott of the House
committee said neither he nor the
committee has taken position or
the puDllc housing issue.
AS matter of policy, he stated,
the committee must determine
whether Slum clearance and low
lent housing, for loW-income fam
lilies, is the primary responsibility of
the Federal Government or the
States, or both.
Representative Spence of Ken
lucky. senior Banking Committee
Democrat, voiced the hope that
some members would not engage in
"dilatory tactics" which he said re-
suited in similar legislation failing
TO get action in the committee two
Years ago. Mr.. Wolcott said, Il
share your hope"
Pending Bill Appears Simple.
In the Senate the loan insurance
measure already has provided fire
works.
On its face the pending bill ap-
pears simple. 1t merely proposed
reviving until the end of this month
the Government power to insure
home loans with an additional $3.50
100000 in loan guaranteeing au-
thority.
But Senator Cain, Republican of
Washington, with the open help of
House Republican leaders, touched
eff political fireworks last Friday
by asking a one-year extension and
l,600.000000 in additional authority.
Move to Sabotage Bill Charged.
Senator Ives, Republican, of New
|ork with gleeful assists from Sen
te Democrats, contended that Sen
tor Gains move was "a direct
attempt to sabotage" the Taft
Illender- Wagner long range housing
bill.
Senator Ives and other supporters
of that measure say it has slight
chance for House passage unless
considered as a whole-including an
extension Of the loan insurance pro-
gram through next March.
The reason for their pesSimiSm is
that the long-range bill also in
cludeS a hotly disputed section call
ing for public housing-that is,
Government-inan dwellings for
loW-income groups.
The House two years ago let
.imilar bill die because of opposi-
ton to that provision.
House Passes Own Measure.
More recently. the House passed
its own measure extending the loan
Set-up until April l, 1949 But the
Senate Banking Committee Shelved
that bill in favor of the 30-day stop
gap eXtender. The strategy was to
give the House only until June to
pass the Taft measure.
Senator Gains maneuver. If sue
cesSful, would knock out of that
bill the one section its sponsors
had hoped would prod the House
into action.