Montana labor news., 1948-09-16
CALHOUN LANE CTS
TIRED OF DELAY

lrked by the many delays and excuses
given b. the Department Of Justice
during the past six months-for not
starting court action against those who
sold them shoddy houses, several OF the
Calhoun Lane veterans are threatening
| to bypass the department and swear
| out complaints covering both criminal
| and civil suits.
The Department OF justices treatment
oi the Calhoun Lane CTS is the same
| a. accorded 10 the thousands OF other
sc'erans who have been the victims Of
INSCRIPTIONS contractors and builders
IN all parts OF the country. Delay. ex-
cuse>. neglect and downright evasion
oi dong their duty have marked the
word, and actions OF the Department
Of Justice from Attorney General Tom
Clark 8n down the line.
During the past six months the CAL
houn Lane veterans houses have been
inspec, ted and double checked BY in
spector, and underwriters from the
Helena and Washington offices Of the
federal housing authority by inspectors
rom the office Of housing expediter at
san Francisco. and highly trained
members OF the Billings construction
union, have assisted the government
employees. Each inspection confirmed
the fact thu, the Calhoun Lane houses
are not bull. according to the plans and
specification, submitted BY the builders
and approved By the FILA ior loan Sc
curly HE house, are worth less than
bali the 5000 the CTS paid for each
amt Yet. lpr some reason. the De-
plrlmeHt II Justice refuses or neglects
, 10 start action in federal court. Why,
The Calhoun Lane veterans are not
only acays losers on their shoddy-
| built houses. but they also suffer from
take pans. When they bought their
houses. liiey state. they were told BY
the lending agency, the Security Trust
and Saving, bank. that the yearly taxes
would not exceed so per unit. The
Nefcrar, al complied with the request
that llAcs deposit S per month to take
are OF the iaNcs when due. Now
,ornc have told u>-they receive tax
statements from Yellowstone county
morning them that their tax is about
$40 of more. per unit.
linen, iIflfI 10 tNt WinuIc-Outt(
houses and large increases in taxes. the
veteran, received the sad word in Sep
TENDER. lol7. that Yellowstone county
holds 4 special improvement assess
ment tax against each unit. This tax
amount, 10 abou, SSs5. and natures in
~ year, The principal and interest In
10 years will amount to about $l.<M
per unit
At the time oi purchase. the veterans
paid $1,000. per unit. and the property
vas t. be Tree from all i~ncumberance
except the mortgages held by the Sc
cunts Trust and Savings bank. These
mortgages are guaranteed by the FILA
and w Neither OF these government
.gencies made inspection OF the houses
while being constructed.
There may he one or two Of the Cal
holn me tlS who can stand 4 heavy
loss Oh their house. but most OF the
SIS cannot Several have told US that
they have a hard time meeting current
expenses and do not see how they can
faisc the large amount needed TO pay
their tax bill
II IS almost certain that no federal
court, action will be started until after
the November election. unless one or
more t,l, swear out complaints cover
fng criminal and civil actions against
The parties they implicate in selling
f'lcm poorly constructed houses.