Evening star., 1949-04-19
Denial Of Money
Cited After New
Blast at SIums
Flonders Points to
Area Near Capitol
In Housing Bill PIeo
By Don S. Worren

W 6oH D VQfIGH
How TO eliminate Washington s
slums-some of them within a few
blocks Of the dome of the Capitol
still is matter of money. so far
denied.
Redevelopment and planning
officials made this clear today, as
they cheered an attack on slum
conditions delivered to the Senate
yesterday by Senator Flanders,
Republican, Of Vermont. who had
made a personal inspection Of
some of the back alleys near the
Capitol.
But as far as progress ives con-
cerned. they were as frustrated
for lack Of funds" as Senator
Flanders was shocked and in
censed" by the conditions he saw.
For, while a new District act for
slum clearance and redevelopment
work has been on the law books
for nearly three years. money to
make it work still is missing
Senator Flanders said he had
been impressed by the conditions
after hearing the reactions of an
Indian woman who had been
shown about the slums by an at
tache of the Czechoslovakian EN-
bassy.
The statement Of Senator Flan-
ders about things he saw in near
by Southwest Washington. sent
police and health officials, report
ers and photographers scurrying
through the area, only to come up
once again with about the same
story.
Urges Inspection.
absolute squalor," the Vermont
Senator called 1t.
In one of the opening state
ments in support Of the pending
national long-range housing bill
Senator Flanders urged all mem
bers of the body to make an
inspection of housing "a few
blocks down toward the river"
He told the Senate: II went
there and was shocked and in
censed that such conditions could
exist in this country. I cannot
convey to you the absolute squalor
Of life for many thousands right
here IN the Nations Capital.
High disease rates combine
with high crime rates to create a
dangerous and threatening situa-
ton. Public health and police
officials feel they can do little
to fight filth and crime in this
section.
There are too many people
living in too small an area, in
houses too old and neglected for
salvation.
These people have no place to
go. They cannot. with any stretch
of imagination, afford new hous-
ing built by private enterprise.
The rents they must pay now
CONSUME 80 and 40 per cent of
their incomes.
He added that many had been
prevented from moving to other
sections by restrictive covenants.
Inspects Low Cost Housing.
But he saw a brighter side to
the picture, from an inspection
of some of the modern low-cost
housing that had been built in
the same general Southwest Sec
ton He described inexpensive
brick homes of simple design that
allow plenty of light and air.
with lawns for play. He quoted
a city health official as saying
that the transfer of "slum area"
families into these modern dwell
lings brought an almost un-
believable drop in crime and dis
ease rates"
Financing. however. remains
another matter. For two years
running, Congress has denied all
requests for pushing the District
program ahead. The only pro-
gress made in the new Congress
this year is House approval Of
$4,000 for publication Of plan
developed in broad outline by the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. This awaits
action on the Senate side.
Congress enacted new slum
clearance and redevelopment act
for the District in 1916, after a
legislative battle of more than
two years.
It was thought 1t provided a
broad and continuing drive to
wipe out or rebuild" Washington's
slums since it called for a l0-year
SIC, 900, 900 program. But no
money was ever appropriated.
Making No Progress.
THE whole program Is in a
hell of a mess" commented Mark
Lansburgh, chairman of the Re-
development Land Agency. set up
by the 1916 act. yet each year
we have to make a report to
Congress. We are hopeful but as
yet we are making no progress"
The story of Southwest Wash
ington was outlined to reporters
late yesterday by Larry Hender-
son of the staff Of Senator
Flanders and DR.. John r. Pate.
medical director of the Southwest
Health Center.
They took reporters and photoe-
raphers to a place where 13 MEM
bers of one family live in a two
story frame shelter.
The grandfather. who lost one
leg, was immoblized on a couch
on the first floor. The husband.
who does odd jobs, had been out
of work lately because Of illness.
Some of the children were there.
playing among odd pots and pans.
Out back there was an array Of
discarded household effects. along
with an outdoor privy. An out
door pipe supplied water to the
house.
It is In this house. Senator Flan-
ders was told. that O dozen MEM
bers must sleep In q single room.