Evening star., 1948-04-23
Housing Plan Faces
Stormy House Path;
Hearings Due May ;
D. fhs Assoeiossd Press

House members hoisted storm
signals today for . Senate
approved program aimed at
building $4,000, 900 homes In the
next 10 years.
AS In the Senate, which passed
the multibillion- dollar Taft-Ellen-
der Wagner bill yesterday, the
House controversy centers around
the measures 5oo,ooo-unit public
housing section.
The House Banking Committee
pigeonholed a similar Senate bill
two years ago. Then, as now, many
opponents called the public housing
section "socialized housing"
Banking Committee Chairman
Wolcott set full hearings" for May
3 and told a reporter some sort Of
housing bill" will pass. He refused
to say whether it will make any
provisions for public housing,
whereby the Government would
build and operate dwellings for low
income families.
Smith Opposes Public Housing.
But Representative Smith. Re
publican, Of Ohio. a committee
member, told reporters II am op-
posed to public housing. I think
there is a probability the House will
stop this legislation"
Another Banking Committee men,
ber. Representative Fletcher, Repub
lican, of California said:
'I think there is a $3.50 chance
that public housing will pass. I am
for welfare housing, to help people
who are not able to take care OF
themselves. But I don't believe in
subsidizing special class in this
country through public housing, at
the expense of other taxpayers.
Expects Bill to Pass.
Representative Helen Gahagan
Douglas, Democrat, Of California
had different view. Il am sure we
can get this bill through the House"
she said. II think the nearer we
come to the election the more the
members will be disposed to vote for
this bill. The voice of the people
will be clearer as the campaigns
progress"
Mrs. Douglas already has ia
names to a petition to bring the bill
directly to the House floor. With
218 names the Banking Committee
could be by-passed.
After a week of bitter wrangling,
the Senate passed the controversial
bill yesterday by voice vote. Only
about q dozen Senators were present
for the showdown.
What Bill Would Provide.
Here is what the Senate bill would
provide:
/. A 5OO,OO0-unit public housing
program, with aforementioned
and operated structures for low in
come families unable to afford
houses built by private industry.
Federal subsidies would amount to
$160,000,0OO annually by the fifth
year and would continue at this
rate for the next 40 years.
2. Clearance of city slums with
$500, 100000 in subsidies and 45-year
loans totaling $1,0l0000,0 900.
3. A 1858 100000 farm housing
program, with farmers eligible for
loans or subsidies if they are with
out Sufficient resources to provide
the necessary housing"
4. Extension of Federal home loan
insurance, with the Federal Housing
Administration authorized to insure
an additional $4,000 100000 in mort
cages on new construction. Home
loan terms generally would be lib
eralized-for example next year low
income families could get 80 per
cent loans, with 80 years to pay and
4 per cent interest.
S. To spur construction OF rental
housing, there is program Of 80 per
cent loans over 40. years at 4 per
cent interest Big scale investors in
rental housing would be guaranteed
an annual profit of 3l2 per cent on
their outstanding investment.
Paralyzed Veterans Aided.
The Government also would be au-
thorized to pay half the cost Of
homes for severely paralyzed vet