Evening star., 1950-02-23
Home Builders Plan
Determined Fight 10
Stop Public Housing
By Robert J. Lewis
Sfor Sfoff Correspondent

; CHICAGO, Feb. 23:-The Ma
tion's home builders today pre-
pared to carry on a determined
fight in cities and towns in IN
attempt to stop public housing
project "at the local level"
This decision was reached after
it was learned the association
would seek to raise Immediately
more than 100000" for a public
relations program.
Thomas P. Coogan, new presi-
dent of the organization. denied,
however, that the funds would be
used directly to fight public hous-
ing, cooperative housing, direct
Government housing loans or
other Government activity to
which the National Association of
Home Builders IS opposed.
Were going to continue to
fight the things we're against, but
we're going to use this fund only
to tell the story of the positive
accomplishments of the home
building industry" Mr.. Coogan
said.
"War Chest" Fund Denied.
In answer to question, he said
the association has spent about
100000 a year on it's current pub
lie relations program, and that
this program would be continued
on separate basis. Mr.. Coogan
denied the proposed fund could
be described as war chest"
At an earlier convention session,
high association officials briefed
representatives from cities all over
the country on how they could
freeze public housing in its
tracks one speaker phrased
it-by seeking to obtain referen-
dums in local communities on
whether the voters favored con-
struction of public housing prof.
ects.
IF you give the people chance
to vote on public housing in the
local communities, they will vote
the thing down." Rodney M. Lock-
wood, former president OF the
national association, said.
Methods Of Combat Outlined.
Different methods of combat
ing a start on public housing
projects in local communities were
outlined, but virtually all speakers
agreed that the most effective
plan was to attempt to "try the
case before the bar of public
opinion" through a referendum.
THE best bet is by compelling
a public vote" Herbert S. Cotton,
general counsel of the association,
observed.
Builders were advised that the
strategic time to seek a referen-
dunn was before a city council had
entered into an agreement with
a local housing authority waving
the city's right to collect real
estate taxes on the public housing
project.
Co Operative Pacts AssaiIed.
Such an agreement between a
city council and local housing
authority is called a "co-operation
agreement" by the Public Housing
Administration. Mr.. Lockwood
said this phrase was used by PHA
to hide the true meaning"
What it is is a tax-waiver
agreement, and such an agree
ment presents the public housing
program at its worst to the pub
lic." he said. because it is an
agreement giving away to the Fed
eral Government the right of a
city to collect taxes within the
city limits
Builders were told that in case
a city council had already en-
tered into a "co-operation agree
ment," it might be possible for
builders to force a review" of
the decision through a refer
endum.
Mr.. Cotton said that another
legal approach" would be a tax
payers suit to stop the city from
entering into a cooperation
agreement or to nullify such an
agreement if it already had been
made.
Also at the meeting was Ward
H. Blackall, former president of
the Michigan Home Builders As
sociation, who explained how a |
Grand Rapids builders group de-
nse %~vy~ -