Evening star., 1949-06-09
jen. Grant0ffers
Plans 10 Finance
SIum REBUILDING
Coils for S., ,000, 900
OutIoy immediately
To Lond Agency
By Don S. Worren


A real start on actual rebuild
ing Of Washington's slun areas
would be made under finance
plans laid before the Senate Ap-
propriations Committee yesterday
by Mai. Gen. U. S. Grant III for
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
An immediate outlay OF 5.000.-
600 for the work of the money
starved Redevelopment Land
Agency was proposed by Gen.
Grant, former chairman of the
commission.
He also urged that contract au-
thority for a similar amount OF
work in the 1851 fiscal year be
granted the Land Agency.
Statements Filed.
His statements were fled with
Chairman O'Mahoney Of the Ap-
propriations Subcommittee on In
dependent Offices. Senator Nc
Carran, Democrat. Of Nevada is
urging the advance of the full
$40, 900. 900 revolving fund for
slum rebuilding authorized in the
1916 Redevelopment Act.
The issues were expected to be
carried to a decision soon since
the Budget Bureau now is con-
sidering an earlier request from
the Land Agency for a 1850 ap-
preparation of $2,100, 900 to begin
slum reconstruction here. This
was asked to permit work on the
first slum redevelopment project
in the Marshall Heights area and
the only one so far to be admins
tratively approved.
Gen. Grant urged the Senate
| funds subcommittee to recommend
not less than $73.700 for slum
planning work by the planning
commission. The House had
slashed this item by $50. 700. leav-
ing only $4,000 for publication of
plans now prepared.
Comments on Request.
Commenting on the McCarran
request that the full $4,000. 900
fund be made available now. Gen.
Grant said this would offer some
advantages-of relieving Congress
of having to deal with each slum
redevelopment project as it came
along.
But he added that since some
time must be taken for surveys
for each individual project, it
would be impossible to use major
part of 100000 in the next
two years. Another reason for
granting redevelopment funds
somewhat slower. he said. was that
time would be required for the re-
housing Of families dispossessed
by rebuilding programs.
If the land agency can make
rapid progress with a 5000, 900
fund In the fiscal year beginning
July /. an additional appropria-
ton In the first deficiency bill
next year might be sought to per-
NIT the planning commission to
accelerate its project designing.
He also urged provision OF
funds for low-rent housing by the
National Capital Housing Au-
thority and adequate funds for
the Health Department and
Building Inspection Office for
effective enforcement Of health
and housing codes.
Warns Against Substitutes.
He cautioned that use OF the
so-called Baltimore plan for a
cleanup of slum areas, now being
considered by District officials.
could not be regarded as any
substitute for the redevelopment
of blighted areas.
Such program, he wrote
Senator O'Mahoney. "is merely a
f1xup. cleanup process which
may remedy the appearances for
the moment and will not take
care Of our overload of INDECENT
families without redevelopment
of the slums and additional low
rent housing"
Opposition to the projected re-
building Of the Marshall Heights
area was voiced to the O'Mahoney
Subcommittee by two spokesman
for home owners of the area.
They were Everett L. Edmond,
president of the Marshall Heights
Civic Association. and Mrs. Patsy
Allen. Mr.. Edmond called the
redevelopment law unconstitu-
tional and said q court fight
against it might be started.