Evening star., 1949-06-26
Senate Group
To Study.S|um
Fund This Week
z Different PropsoIs
To Be Loid Before
Full Committee
By HoroId B. Rogers

this week by the Senate Appro.
priations Committee.
Two different proposals will bs
laid before the committee by thu
subcommittee now handling ths
Independent Ofices appropfia-
ton bill.
Chairman O'Mahoney Of thu
subcommittee announced his unit
decided yesterday to toss to the
full committee the problem OF
deciding the issue presented by
these two requests:
l. Appropriation Of a revolv.
ing fund of 100000 900 authorized
in l946 by the District Redevelop.
ment Act, sponsored by Senator
McCarran, Democrat, Of Nevada
2. Appropriation Of $2.180, ,o0t
requested by the District Commis'
sioners and the President, through
the Budget Bureau, for redevelop.
ment Of Marshall Heights. ir
Northeast Washington.
No Stand Taken.
Senator OMahoney. Democrat
of Wyoming explained that his
subcommittee had neither ap-
proved nor rejected either OF the
items.
The matter will 60 to the full
committee when the independent
offices appropriation bill is sub
mitted for action early this week
Senator O'Mahoney said he hopes
the subcommittee will complete
consideration Of the big supply
bill tomorrow. Congress plans. II
possible, TO- send the measure to
the President for his signature be-
fore the end of the fiscal year
Thursday night.
Senator McCarran announced
he would make a fight in the
Appropriations Committee. Of
which he is a member, for ap-
proval Of the $40, 100000 fund.
He has been urging the full
revolving fund. authorized by the
act he sponsored. to start the
Capital on its long-delayed pro-
gram Of slum clearance. He re-
Gently wrote q letter to Chairman
McKellar of the Appropriations
Committee asking for the sum.
Called Merely . "Device."
The full amount Of the trust
fund ordered by the McCarran
cct of 1946 for q D. c. Redevelop-
rl2nt Land Agency should be ap-
p-opriated e now, Senator McCar-
ran said last night. Supporting
this contention he declared that
tie procedure Of bringing up in
oividual slum projects for ap-
preparations by Congress was
merely a device"
"That device" he charged
"lends itself particularly well to
purposes Of those who dot want
any slum clearance done That
gives opponents two shots It the
projects. I don't know whel this
opposition comes from. but ex-
pect that down under the su lace
it comes from those who 4 Rke
profits out Of slum properties. and
are quite happy when Congress
does nothing about slum rebuild
ing"
Referring to the Marshall
Heights project. Senator McCar-
ran said IF we are going to have
slum clearance we have to start
somewhere. Marshall Heights is
not the worst in the city. but IT
was selected for rehousing Of those
in more congested slum areas who
later will be dispossessed when
those slums are cleared"
Efforts to deal with the problem
here through the national housing
bill now before the House. he said,
could be only partially effective
at most"
House Action Due Soon.
Meantime the national housing
bill. with amendments authoriz-
ing this city to participate in its
benefits, is before the House for
debate and action soon. The
amendments permit Washington
to participate In loans and grants
for slum clearance, and redevelop-
ment. the same as the States.
Debate over these provisions /.
expected either tomorrow or Tues.
day. when the amendments are
called up for action by the House
Chairman Spence Of the House
Banking Committee, handling the
bill on the floor, plans to support
the District amendments. But ar
attack has been promised b,
Representative Phillips, Republi.
can, of California, who hopes te
knock the National Capital amend.
ments out Of the measure.
IT was Mr.. Phillips, as q mem.
Der Of the House Appropriation.
Committee, who led the fight last
. week striking the requested
Marshall Heights fund Of $780,.
900 out Of the third deficiency bill
This measure went to the Senate
without the local slum clearance
money.
Not only did the House Appro.
priations Committee kill the Mar.
shall Heights funds. but 1t recon-.
mended that the District Commits.
sioners withdraw their approva
OF the plan to redevelop that area
Furthermore it recommended thai
the Commissioners proceed t.
assist the residents of the ares
through development and i'm,
provement of the community b,
providing Nessential services" T,
accomplish this it urged" tn,
commissioners to lift the freez,
order which has been in effec
several years which prohibits re-
pairs and improvements"
Taking note Of the committe,