Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-25
Truman Asks
Laws 10 Provide
More Housing
Hits Selfish Interests
In Letter PubIicized
At Conference Here

President Truman put In a new
plea today for legislation to heir
provide "as many good homes
as we can, right across the board.
1--WE have to do that to get the
defense job done and to keep oui
civilian economy strong" Mr.
Truman said in a letter to David
L. Krooth. president of the Ma
tional Housing Conference, Inc
The conference opened a two-day
meeting at the Statler Hotel.
The Presidents letter, made
public at the opening OF the
meeting. lauded the Senate for
approving "a substantial public
housing program" in a bill ii
passed recently, but which the
House refused to consider.
Hopes for House Approval.
1t added: II earnestly hope that
the members of the House will
back the recommendation Of thei,
own committee and join the Sem
ate in this action"
The President charged thai
some selfish interests have beer
urging action in the name OF
defense that would in effect de-
stroy the public housing pro-
gram"
And he suggested that the con-
ference. which represents COM
munity and State housing groups
help him counter such efforts by
focusing attention on "the hous-
ing needs and problems our COM
munities face In these difficult
times"
Across the Board Need
Our remaining resources, after
providing for defense. are still
large, and to the extent that we
can do so. we want to keep on
providing as many good homes as
we can, right across the board, y
MIR. Truman said.
Housing Administrator Ray
mond M. Foley, meantime, FORE
cast an early easing of the short
age Of private mortgage money for
home financing.
Mr.. Foley told the housing con-
ference that an improved supply
of real estate credit will be ''espe-
cially important" in getting the
defense housing program under
way.
Warns Against Errors.
In another address today John
Ihlder, director Of the National
Capital Housing Authority, warned
that public housing errors made In
1941 must not be repeated today.
Veterans Of World War II and
their families still are living in
mobile units and in temporary
dwelling units and in relnodeled
barracks that now are needed for
a new generation Of drafted men, "
Mr.. Ihlder said.
Mr.. Ihlder said NCHA works
with the conviction that the quail
ity of future workers, soldiers and
citizens will be conditioned by
the dwellings in which they are
bred.
Declaring that today's prospect
Is not Of short duration, he said
we must not again build temporary
shelters in our city parks and we
should not insure private builders
against hypothetical loss on eff
cheney apartments while families
with children vainly seek suitable
dwellings"
Can't Halt RedeveIopment.
Mr.. Ihlder said cease-fire In
Korea would merely ring down
the curtain on one act Of a tragedy
that begun in 1914.
Declaring that war has become
normal for this generation he
warned that a moratorium on re-
development means q preface to
defeat. He urged construction of
good" public housing, in face of
present world conditions, which
will outlast our lifetime"
Other speakers today were to in
clude Senators Sparkman, Dem
ocrat of Alabama, and Douglas,
Democrat of Illinois.