Evening star., 1949-04-22
DC. GetsPowe
In Housing Bill
ToC|ear SIunns
Senute Votes TO Permit
Agency to Acquire
Sites for Projects

SfreS ror rroJectS
Power to clear sIums in Wash
ington would be restored to tn
National Capital Housing Author
ity. under q provision of the na
tional housing bill. now befor
the House.
On motion Of Senator Spark
man. Democrat. Of Alabama, tn
Senate last night inserted in tn
national measure an amendmen
TO authorize the NCHA again u
acquire sites for low-rent publi
housing projects.
This authority had been takei
away from NCHA by the Distrfc
Redevelopment Land Agency Ac
in 1946. But the land agenc!
never has been given any fund
by Congress to proceed with it
long range slum clearance pro
gram.
During debate on the Spark
man amendment just before mid
night. Senator Ferguson. Repub'
lican, Of Michigan asked If thu
amendment would repeal any Of
the land agency act.
Wanted to Make Sure.
When Senator Sparkman gave
assurance his proviso would moi
affect the land agency. Senator
Ferguson replied:
That's what want to make
sure Of"
Whereupon the amendment was
quickly passed by voice vote
Shortly thereafter the Senate
passed the much-amended ma.
tional bill and sent 1t to the
House.
Senator Ferguson said later he
planned to 60 ahead with the con-
ference he had scheduled in his
Office with representatives Of sew.
eral agencies dealing with slum
clearance and sanitary regula-
tions.
Ferguson Sees Grant.
Senator Ferguson opened his
study today with a conference
with Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd
chairman of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits.
sion.
He planned also to see John
Ihlder, executive officer of the Ma.
tional Capital Housing Authority
and also an official of the Dis
trict Health Department.
It was indicated that the Sena-
tor wants to get an overall picture
of the status of all agencies hav-
ing legislative authority over
slums. But, as he previously indi-
Gated, he is now particularly in
terested in seeing that sanitary
codes are enforced in District
slumS.
Widely publicized tours of three
groups of Senators to the over
crowded and dilapidated sections
near the Capitol were headed for
even more public attention today
after movies were made yesterday
showing eight Senators inspecting
the ramshackle homes. The films
are expected to be distributed
widely throughout the country.
$4,000 on Waiting List.
Senator Sparkman, in appeal
ing for passage of his amendment
stressed that the NCHA is the only
local public housing agency In
the country without power to take
advantage of the provisions OF
the national bill designed to help
the rest of the country.
He told the Senate that the ma
tional measure always has been
intended to apply to the District
hut that the land agency law had
crippled" the NCHA by transfer
ring its power to acquire property
to the land agency.
The NCHA, Senator Sparkmar
explained. has $4,000 low-income
families on the waiting list fol
public housing accommodations.
During the Sparkman-Fergu-
son debate, it was brought out
that Congress had set up the
Redevelopment Land Agency with
an authorized $2o.o00.o00 revolv-
ing fund, but none of this had evel
been appropriated.
The only money granted by
Congress, the Senators explained
was about 900 for making q
master plan. This money wen,
to the National Capital Park ane
Planning Commission, but Sena'
tor Sparkman pointed out this
was not sufficient even to com
plete the master plan.
Would Build $500 Homes.
Mr.. Ihlder said today that. u
the Sparkman amendment be.
comes law. the NCHA will apply
to the Public Housing Administra'
tion for authority to proceed with
purchase of sites and erection o.
$500 low-rent public housing
homes.
This is the same number M
said he had requested for severa
wears before the NCHA was de.
prived Of its power to proceed
with public housing to replace
slun1s.
The NCHA would apply fol
loans from the Public Housing
Administration. Mr.. Ihlder said. Il
be repaid at an interest rate II
conformity with the going Fed