Evening star., 1949-06-23
Marshall Heights
Funds Rejected
By HouseGroup
City Heads Urged to.
Drop Project, Install
Utilities in Area


Utilities in Area
A $2,180.000 budget item to
cover a start on the Marshall
Heights redevelopment project
was turned down by the House
Appropriations Committee today
as it reported a 1927 ,000, 900 third
deficiency appropriation bill.
In denying the request of the Dis
trict Redevelopment Land Agency
for funds to buy land in Mar
shall Heights in East Washing
ton near the District line, the
committee urged the Commission
ers to drop the project and go
forward with street improvements
and installation Of water and
sewer facilities in the area.
The committee cut a total of
$35, 100000 from budget estimates
in the bill which covers also oper-
alton of a number of Federal
agencies during the balance of the
fiscal year, and In some cases. next
year.
Finding Funds Allotted.
The committee approved an
extra allotment Of $33 3,000.0 for
grants to States for administering
their job finding and jobless pay
ments program. This was $8.000.-
900 below the amount President
Truman had requested.
The committee said available
evidence indicates the money is
needed to handle claims of the
large number of unemployed and
any further "unforeseeable work
load"
The committee eliminated a
$4,000 item for repairs to the
Court of Claims building and
$26,500,O 900 estimate to continue
the War Assets Administration
through June 80. 1850, as urged
by the President.
The committee did include,
however, $2,500,000 to pay the &C
crued annual leave of WAA en-
ployes and $4,000, 900 for the Re-
construction Finance Corp. to
cover management of real prop
erty transferred to RFC from
WAA.
Facilities Emphasized.
In connection with the Mar
shall Heights plan, the committee
stated:
1T is the recommendation of
the committee that the District
Commissioners withdraw their ap-
proval of the Marshall Heights
plan and proceed to assist the res
idents of the area through devel-
opment and improvement of the
community by providing essential
services.
1.-THE Commissioners should ex-
tend every assistance such as the
grading of streets and the install,
lation of water and sewer and
other improvements in the same
manner that other areas have
been developed The Engineer
Commissioner of the District testi-
fed that where mere subdivision
is being developed, the District is
automatically required to provide
facilities. The same recognition
should be given to the Marshall
Heights area.
Finally, the committee urges
that the Commissioners lift a
freeze order which has been in
effect several years which prohib-
its repairs and improvements in
the area. This order has stif1ed
and retarded development and
should be lifted Immediately. Also,
testimony was given that there are
substantial acreages in this locali-
ty already owned by the Govern
ment which are not used and
which could be used for develop
ment program in the event such a
program is essential"
The committee, in its report.
pointed to the low valuation of
the property in the area and stat
ed the payments the District
agency might make for it would
not be sufficient for the disposses-
sed home owner to make a down
payment on a new home, either
IN the new development or else
where"
Vigorous Opposition to Plan.
"It necessarily follows that
many of these unfortunate people
would be dispossessed without any
propect of securing a home"
The transcript Of hearings on
the bill revealed the subcommittee
which studied it heard vigorous
opposition to the Marshall Heights
plan from representatives OF the
colored residents of the neighbor-
hood.
J. C. Mason, a member Of the
Barry Farms Civic Association,
declared:
SuCll IlOQolAAS PSJSSoS SeA@S
with them a label that stigmatizes.
It is like referring to those who
live across the track"
Agency Officials Chided.
Representative Phillips, Repub-
lican, of California chided Off
cials of the Redevelopment Land
Agency for what he said was their
continuing failure to provide Con-
gress with a satisfactory explana-
tion of how they proposed to safe
guard the interests of present
home owners In the neighborhood.
Despite denial of Marshall
Heights money in the deficiency
measure. the District still had q
chance of obtaining slum clear
ance funds. as well as low-cost
public housing money. through the
National housing bill. now under
debate In the House.
The Redevelopment Land Agen-
cy, established by Congress In
1916. has been unable to obtain
any money to, date, even for en-
plovment of clerical help