Evening star., 1949-06-29

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SENATOR WAGNER.
-AP Wirephoto.
Republicans Renew
Attack on Housing Bill
As House Vote Nears
BY the Assoeioisd Press
Republicans launched another
major assault on President Tru-
mans big housing bill today but
administration Democrats conf
dently held to their forecast Of
victory by nightfall.
The Republican proposal would
prevent the Government from
providing homes for low-income
families costing more than most
people who house themselves can
afford.
Representative Halleck, Repub-
lican, of Indiana said the admin
istrations bill would allow costs
running as high as $4,000 to $l5.-
900 per dwelling unit in publicly
owned housing with subsidized
rents. He announced he would
offer an amendment limiting the
average cost to $8,465 per unit.
"Mr. Truman, in a letter to
Speaker Rayburn," Mr.. Halleck
said, was very indignant at what
he said were the overestimates Of
unit costs. Mr.. Truman said the
average cost would be $8.465 per
dwelling unit. In consequence. I
plan to offer an amendment re-
quiring that the average cost not
exceed $s.465."
Has Two Objectives.
He said he has a twofold OBJ
jective:
l. To make sure that building
expenses are as economical as
possible: and 2. To prevent the
Federal Government from financ-
ing publicly owned dwelling units
for low-income families Of a type
most people buying their own
homes cannot afford.
Under the housing bill, the Gov
ernment would undertake slum
clearance and public. housing, and
provide farm housing aids.
Administration forces cleared
a major barrier yesterday when
the House killed, 168 to $780,. .an
amendment that would have pre-
vented racial segregation in pub
licly owned housing projects.
Offered by Representative Full
ton. Republican, Of Pennsylvania,
this amendment would have per-
mitted white and Negro tenants
to occupy the same public housing
buildings. /. =
+ Representative Spence. Demo-
crat. Of Kentucky. leading the
fight for the bill, said such an
amendment. If approved, would
have killed the whole housing pro-
gram
The amendment got virtually
solid Republican support, but very
few Democrats supporting the
housing bill Joined with them.
However. all was not velvet for
the administration forces in the
rugged week-long battle over the
bill.
A tie vote narrowly defeated q
home rule" amendment that
would have barred public housing
in any city unless voters there first
approved it In q referendum.
Representative Boggs, Democrat,
of Louisiana. presiding at the time.
announced the vote as 1872 to 1872.
He quickly added: 'The chair
votes no. and the amendment is
defeated" "a tie would have
killed 1t without his vote.)
Administration forces then were
defeated on two lesser amend
ments. one by Representative Pow
ell, Democrat. Of New York, giving
first priority for occupancy to pub
licly-owned housing to persons re-
moved from their homes by slum
clearance operations.
The other amendment adopted
over administration objections was
by Representative Bennett, Dem
ocrat, Of Florida. It would require
hearings by local public housing
authorities before they acquire
land for slum clearance.
But many other amendments
we're beaten down. including one
by Representative Cole. Republi-
can. Of Kansas. that would have
banned the housing program from
taking effect as long as q Federal
budget deficit exists.
The House approved an admin
|istration-sponsored amendment to
increase by $500. ZOO. 900 the
amount Of insurance the Govern
|ment can issue on mortgages for
single and multiple dwelling units.
It also continues tor so days be-
yond june 80 temporary authority
for remodeling loans and mort
gage insurance on houses costing
UP to $4.500 In urban or rural
areas.
337 10 Graduate Tomorrow
+