Evening star., 1949-06-05
7 Senators Urge
Speed on Funds
To Clear SIun1s
O'Mohoney, SoltonstoII
Demand Eradication
Of BIiqhted Areas
by Dom s. Warren

1S46 McCarran ACT were reVlSeC
yesterday by two members Of q
Senate Appropriations Subcom-
mittee.
A bipartisan appeal for a real
start now on the program was
voiced by Senators O'Mahoney
Democrat. Of Wyoming. and Sal
tonstall, Republican, Of Massa-
chusetts. as they held hearings on
the independent officers supply
bill for the next fiscal year.
Both denounced the continued
existence Of slums in the Capital
and called for a clear outline OF
tine plans of the Redevelopment
Land Agency.
Agency Created I'm 1S46.
This agency, created under the
1e46 McCarran Act. has been
starved to death financially SO
far. Although 1t was designed
to be the manager Of the rede-
velopment Of the Districts blight
ed areas.
The subject came UP as spokes-
men for the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
appealed for. funds for drafting
of more plans for slum clearance
work beyond the single project
now awaiting development funds.
Mai. Gen. y. 8. Grant III,
planning commission chairman.
was appealing for an item of
$53.700 for slum project studies
which had been cut out Of the
bill by the House.
Senator O'Mahoney, chairman
of the Senate Funds Committee.
quickly brought up the plan of
the McCarran Act for q 500
100000 revolving fund to keep
the redevelopment program roll
ing.
Reflection On Congress.
II quite agree with Senator
McCarran." said Senator O'Ma-
honey, that the continued ex-
istence of slums here is q
reflection on Congress and upon
the administrative agencies"
LET me add my agreement to
that" interjected Senator Salton-
stall.
Senator O'Mahoney then direct
ed Gen. Grant and other officials
of the planning commission to
submit this week, o formal state
ment of their justification of what
could and should be done under
the slum redevelopment program
as authorized in the 1946 act.
Senator O'Mahoney voiced the
opinion that the National Capital
was sadly marred" by continual
ton of slums.
The appeal of Senator McCar-
ran for a $20.00O,000 revolving
fund, he told Gen. Grant, had
"opened the door," He added,
"and we would like to have you
walk in now and tell us specifically
what you want to do and what
ought to be DONE"
Grant Praises McCarran Law.
Gen. Grant said the McCarran
Act probably was "the' best law
in the country on slum redevelop-
ment." When he hesitated to
make recommendations on the
District plan. In advance of ac-
ton by the Budget Bureau, Sena-
tor OMahoney directed his staff
to inquire as to what action the
Budget Bureau was taking on the
request Of the Redevelopment
Land Agency for a starting ap-
preparation Of about $4,000, 900.
There is general agreement on
the need for removal of the Capt.
tails slums." said Senator O'Ma-
honey. Perhaps this is the time
to do it."
The program ought not to be
in1peded by delays in awaiting
Budget Bureau approval of ad-
ministrative plans, the senator
added.
Gen. Grant and other planning
officials, including John Nolen, jr.,
director of planning. and Thomas
8. Settle, general counsel, appear
ed before the committee to urge
an extra $53,700 for planning
work, denied by the House.
All that the House had granted,
1t was explained. was $4,000 for
printing of the commissions COM
prehensive plans to date. includ-
ing an autline of the Marshall
Heights slum redevelopment plan.
This is the only slum rebuilding
plan so far approved by admins
trative agencies, but 1t cannot be
put in effect until redevelopment
funds are appropriated.
Two Other Projects Mentioned.
In asking for the larger plan
ming fund, Gen. Grant said it
would permit work to be pushed
on studies of two other projects:
A big plan for redevelopment of
the lower Northwest area of the
District. generally between New
Jersey avenue and the railroad
lines leading into Union Station
and an alternative development
area In Southwest Washington.
Slums IN Southwest Washington
recently received Nationwide pub
licity as numerous Senators made
personal inspection trips, seeking
enactment of the national hous-
ing bill.
On this point, Senator O'Ma-
honey commented yesterday that
while the District was made eligi-
BILE for national grants for slum
clearance work under the pend
ing national housing bill, this was
not yet enacted into law, and
might not be. On the other hand,
he noted that McCarran Act al
n q