Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-21
Home Builders Reply
To President; Rally Is
Called by Democrats

Called by Democrats
The Satsonal Association q
Home Builders today hi hack q,
President Truman assault On the
real estate aoeey- for fgaisns
housing legislation. II asserted
The total cost author tse4s by the
measure Still II more than $50 =
900 600 600 despite Mr. Truman 5
claim that II IS only $40 600 aca. =
600.
The assoc IA ton rssngt 10 The
President came as administration
leaders indicated they might Try
TO bind al House Democrats 10
support the housing measure. A
rally Of al 2sl party members wAs
scheduled today.
Set Up List OF Arguments.
In letter 10 Speaker Rayoufn
deprecatlng Mr. Truman action
IN attacking SO intemperate,y the
elected leaders Of the construction
industry" the Home Builders As
ISOLATION also set out other argu-
ments in answer 10 President Tru-
mans contentious as follows:
Private apartment conSiruc-
ton under the FLA is held TO a
top cost OF $500 per unit.
while the administration bill
permits housing authorities 10
spend as much as sli $50 for =
Government unit OF compar-
able size
There is no dollar limit con-
tanned in the bill on the in
comes of people who will occupy
the public housing
The requirement that one
slum dwelling be demolished for
every new public housing unit
build has been eliminated and
there Is no new requirement for
broad program OF SUM
clearance in the measure.
Central Control Charged.
The amount OF local deter
mination left to communities
under the bill is largely ficti-
tious. and control over local de-
tail is centralized in the Federal
Government.
II the public housing units
could be built for an average Of
only $8.465. as the President
says, the public still would have
10 pay an average OF SIS per
month subsidy on the rent of
each family housed In the prof.
ects when taxes and all costs
are considered.
Local contributions. in cash
or by tax exemptions, could add
50. 400 900 900 to the cost of the
program under the bill
Enactment of the bin will
open the way to having the
Federal Government take over
the entire production OF hous-
ang. as In England.
The home builders communi-
cation came from Rodney NJ.
Lockwood of Detroit. the presi-
dent. who followed the line taFen
by Mr.. Truman In directing his
attack to Speaker Rayburn. and
asked that the members OF the
House be advised OF its contents.
Mr.. Truman did not call any
names in castigating the little
band OF ruthless men" who have
distorted and misrepresented"
the bill. but Mr.. Lockwood said,
II am forced TO the conclusion
that we are included In his CON-
domination because OF our opoo-
sition." He explained he SPOKE
for $4,000 members who. Ia
estimated. construct 80 per cent
Of the new homes in the urban
sections of the country.
Gives Rental Figures.
In support OF his assertion that
the public would have to bear q
large share of the low" rent. Mr..
Lockwood said that "on an ordi-
nary economic basis" monthly
rental OF SIS would be required for
unit costing ss.465. II these
units, he continued. are TO be
occupied by families with an aver
age income OF 81 $50 the figure
given In the Presidents letter was
the average Of all eligible occn-
pants OF public housing" they can
afford to pay only slightly under
$50 a month.
The remaining SIS OF neees-
sary carrying costs does not dis
appear into thin air." the builder
continued. 1T is charged to the
American taxpayer"