Evening star., 1951-06-13
Senate Action
Due on Bethesda
Homes Project
County Groups Hit
Privute Fund Use,
Fear Zonine Upset

TO act on proposal to build hous-
ing units for the National Insti-
tutes OF Health at Bethesda with
private. rather than Federal funds.
i Offered as an amendment by
Senator Chavez, Democrat. of
New Mexico, the plan yesterday
drew the fire of Senator Butler,
Republican, of Maryland, in sup
port OF the protests of two citi-
zenS' associations In and near
Bethesda.
Senator Butler had read into
the record yesterday letters from
the Maplewood Citizens Associa-
ton. representing $500 Bethesda
families, and the Oakmont Citi-
zens' Association, urging construc-
ton with Federal funds as pro-
posed originally.
The Government proposes to
erect $50 units on the grounds
OF the new establishment as hous-
ing quarters for hospital person.
mel. Since the units will be on
Federal land. Montgomery Coun-
ty zoning laws do not apply.
Seek to Balk Precedent.
The Montgomery County Coun-
Gil, in recognition Of this, recently
requested that steps be taken to
prevent the construction from
setting a precedent in the care
fully planned area Of fine homes.
In letters to Senators Butler
and Chavez. the citizens associa-
tions expressed concern lest con-
struction by private interests
would open the way to other
builders putting up similar apart
ment buildings, exempt from zon-
ing laws, on privately owned land.
William ]. Barnhard, president
Iof the Maplewood group, wrote
that construction with private
funds would actually cost tax
payers more than the Federal
construction plan. He said the
added expense would come from
the TACT that many of the tenants
are Public Health Service person
mel entitled to rental allowances
Should the housing be built with
Government funds, the EMPLOYEES
would not be entitled to rental
allowance. and this saving could
apply to the amortized cost of
the buildings, and operating and
malntenance costs, Mr.. Barnhard
said.
Writing for the Oakmont asso-I
clation, Chairman William !
Daley said that the private con-
struction plan would make it q
practical impossibility longer toI
prevent the incursion of like de-
velopments in the adjacent single
family areas which are privately
owned"
Senator Chavez, chairman of a |
subcommittee handling the mat
ter. yesterday argued for the pri-I
Vate construction in asking an
amendment to the original pro-
posal. a rider on the Labor-Fed-
eral Security appropriation bill.
He said the new plan would not |
cost the Montgomery County tax
payers cent, and that it's provi-
slons was approved by those whoI
insisted the development be oc-
cupied only by persons connected
with the Medical Center. i
Butler Fears Higher Cost.
However. Senator Butler said he
thought the private-lease PLAN.
would cost the Government more,
in consideration of the rental al
lowances to tenants.
This brought a suggestion from
Senator Hill. Democrat, of Ala
bama. that many of the tenants
would be civil service employees on
the reservation. not entitled to
fees.
Senator Wflerry, Republican, Of
Nebraska, who wrote the act per-
mitting private enterprise to builds
ON Government reservations, in-I,
jected the contention that the :
act could not be legally applied
to the Bethesda project.
He questioned whether the
housing units could be put up !,
with Federal Housing Administra-
ton assistance because the long
est lease permitted under the I.
Act was IS years and the
hospital housing called for a a9-
year lease. II