Evening star., 1949-08-19
Senators Study
Rehousingof
S|un Dwe|Iers
Conference Reveals
Marshall Heights
| Still Is Considered

Still Is Considered
The possibility that Marshall
Heights still may be used for hous-
ing persons displaced by slum
clearance elsewhere arose at the
Capitol today despite the ban
against redevelopment of the area
in the National Housing Act.
Senators Sparkman, Democrat.
of Alabama and Flanders. Repub-
lican, of Vermont said they
planned to study this prospect
after a lengthy conference today
with the District Commissioners
in Senator Flanders Office.
The two Senators said after the
conference that their discussions
with District officials were very
satisfactory, but that further
meetings were in prospect.
Legal Block Cited.
They indicated at this time that
probably no new legislation would
be needed. But it was learned
later that the legal block against
the use of Marshall Heights would
prevent taking advantage of loans
and grants under the new 1949
Housing ACT.
Commissioner Guy Mason said
that he and his aides would con-
fer again later with the Senators
on the whole problem of slum
clearance end redevelopment.
A personal visit by Senator'S
Sparkman and Flanders may be
made to the Marshall Heights
area some time next week to sur
vey the problem there.
One of the principal problems
faced by the District now is the
fact that housing accommoda-
tions must be found for people who
will be displaced when slum areas
anywhere in the city are torn
down.
Protests Lodged.
Protests against the redevelop-
ment of Marshall Heights for
slum- displaced persons had been
lodged by leading residents Of the
Marshall Heights area. which is
occupied largely by Negroes. This
led to repeated refusal by Congress
to appropriate funds under the
District Redevelopment Land Act
of 1916.
Such protests, it was known, also
led to an amendment placed in the
1949 housing act on the floor Of
the House which prevented the
Commissioners from applying for
funds to be used in that section.
The amendment was adopted by
The House and became law after its
presentation on the House floor by
Chairman Macmillan of the House
District Committee.
In the meantime, Commissioner
Mason announced that he would
make public later today at the
District Committee two letters
one from the two Senators re-
questing a report on slum clear
ance action in Washington. and
the other the Commissioners re-
ply.
Questions involved in these two
letters were discussed at length
at the conference today. Accom-
panying Commissioner Mason
were Lt. Col. L. E. Cox. assistant
engineer commissioner and Dis
trict Corporation Counsel Vernon
E. West. Also at the meeting was
Laurence Henderson, legislative
assistant to Senator Flanders.
Senators Sparkman and Flan-
ders are members of the Senate
Banking Subcommittee on Hous-
ing and Rents. They not only
took an active part In the franz
ing of the national housing act
last year, but also have shown
deep interest in the slum clear
ance problems of this city. They
were among several Senators who
made personal tours Of slums
within sight of the Capitol.
"Freeze" Order Cited.
The Marshall Heights area is
now under a so-called freeze"
order of several years standing
against repairs and Improvement
in the area.
City Officials are awaiting ac-
ton by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission before
developing plans for improving
Marshall Heights in the event the
Commissioners freeze order Is
lifted.
The release must be adopted by
the planners and approved by the
District Commissioners after q
public hearing.
Commissioner Mason, asked
after the conference this morning
about the freeze order. replied:
1T is still In a very deep freeze"