Evening star., 1949-04-20
Senate Housing Plan
Faces First Test Today
On Cain Amendment
By J. A. O'Leor

Inc nrst test vote on the long
range housing bill may come In
the Senate today on a move by
Senator Cain. Republican. of
Washington to require communi-
ties TO conduct a referendum on
public housing projects before OBJ
tanning Federal aid funds.
The Senate is expected to get
down to brass tacks on this and
half dozen other amendments
this afternoon. after several days
Of debate devoted partly to un-
related subjects.
The bill proposes to help States
and municipalities finance three
distinct types Of residential con-
struction-slum clearance. low
rent housing developments and
better farm homes.
In the low-rent public housing
field. the bill starts out with a fund
of S85:000. 900 Of Federal money
next year. TO help cities and towns
finance such projects. This would
be stepped UP to q maximum Of
$308. 900. 900 q year after July /.
1853. The projects would be owned
and operated by local housing au-
thorities. The bill contemplates
$40, 900 public housing units in six
years.
Cain Would Prohibit Haste.
The bill already requires a COM
munity to demonstrate that it
needs public housing, and the local
government would have to approve
the project before Federal aid
could be granted. Senator Cain
wants to add a referendum vote as
a third condition. He said his pur-
pose is to prevent "over-zealous"
city councils from going too fast
on public housing, and to keep any
pressure group from blocking
PUBIC housing.
The wiping out Of slum areas
such as the alleys Senators have
been visiting In the shadow of
the Capitol this week, is covered
by another section of the bill.
This section would allow the Fed
eral Government to make 81, ,000,-
100000 in loans and up to $780,
100000 in grants to cover two
thirds Of the cost. Communities
would meet the rest.
Senator Cain has another
amendment. providing that where
public housing units are built q
comparable number Of slum
dwellings must be demolished or
repaired.
Bricker Plan Faces Battle.
Supporters of the bill fear such
an amendment may add $780,
600, 900 to the Federal cost Of the
slum clearance program, but
Senator Cain called that only q
guess.
One Of the main nights still to
be decided is the Bricker amend
ment to prohibit racial segrega-
ton in public housing develop
ments. which the Democrats are
expected to oppose through fear
1t might endanger final passage
Of the housing bill.
In this connection. Edgar q.
Brown. director Of the National
Negro Council, said today that
Senators who have been touring
slum areas Of the District this
week have been concerning them
selves only with . symptom and
not the cause" He centended
segregation is the cause OF such
conditions, as he advocated adop-
tion Of the Bricker amendment.
The bill also calls for . $685.
100000 program Of loans and
grants for farm housing. Sen
ator Taft. Republican, Of Ohio
introduced an amendment yes
terday which would bar both ca
loans and CD $12,500,000 in
grants. to owners of substandard
farms in need of minor improve
ments and repairs.
Senator Taft called that part
Of the farm program q waste Of
Another Taft amendment would
permit no more than ITS 900 pub
lie housing units to be constructed
in any one year, as q safeguard
for private industry.