Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-17
Housing Bill Passage
Seen Despite Protests
Over Compromise
BY The Associated Pres.

Senate House conference COM
mittee surgery on President
EiSenhower's public housing pro-
gram stirred scattered biparti-
san outcrieS in the Senate to-
day.
But Senator Knowland, Re-
publican, of California, Senate
majority leader, predicted quick
Senate approval of an overall
housing measure. And Chair
man Wolcott., of the House Bank
ing Committee. indicated con-
f1dence of final passage on the
other side of Capitol Hill.
A majority Of the conference,
group, after two weeks of daily
sessions, agreed late yesterday on
a compromise bill that in most
respects would carry out major
elements of Gen. EiSenhower's
program.
One Year Plan Only.
However, instead of recon-
mending Gen. Eisenhower's pro-
posal for a four-year housing
program of $4,000 new units a
year, the majority called for only
a one-year progfam-and that
restricted to families actually
forced out Of their homes by
slum clearance projects in which
the Federal Government takes
a hand. There was some ques-
ton just how many families
might be eligible. The confer
ence group fixed a 35,OO0-unit
ceiling for the one year.
Senators Ives. Republican, of
New York, and Sparkman, Dem
ocrat, of Alabama, together with
all three House Democrats on
the conference committee, with
held their signatures from the
report in protest against the
majority's refusal to adopt the
Presidents public housing rec
concentrations.
Senator Ives termed the linn
tied one-year program "virtu-
ally useless in my State"
He said he would support
move-if one Is lmade-tO send
the compromise bill back to con-
ference.
Action Called Terrible"
Senator Lehman, Democrat
Liberal, Of New York, called the
Senate House group action ter
rible" and Senator Humphrey,
Democrat, of Minnesota said the
conference committee "emascu-
lated" what he called Gen. Eli
senhower's fac-simile of a pub
lie housing program"
In earlier consideration of the
housing bill, the House rejected
all public housing. The. Senate
adopted Gen. Eisenhower's pro-
gram.
Despite signs of a possible last
ditch attack on the whole hous-
ing bill, Senator Knowland said
he expected neither long debate
nor a successful recommittal
motion when the Senate takes
final look at the bill. He did
not say when this would come.
MFR. Wolcott said the House
would take up the legislation
Tuesday and he predicted defeat
Of an anticipated effort there to
send the measure back to con-
ference.
Other Provisions.
Sections of the bill other than
the one dealing with public
housing would:
/. Make house buying easier
by lowering own-payment re-
quirements on both old and new
homes financed with mortgages
insured by the Federal Housing
Administration. Minimum down
payment on a $4,000 new house
would drop from the present
$3.50 to $3.50, with correspond
ingly greater decreases in more
expensive homes. Minimum
down payments on old homes
would also drop. but not by as
much as on new houses and not
as far as Gen. Eisenhower asked.
2. Throw up major roadblocks
against prof1teers who in the
past allegedly have reaped mil
lions in "windfalls" by construct
ing apartment projects for less
than their Government-insured
loans.
8. Recharter the Federal Ma
tional Mortgage Association with
private capital to take over
gradually in this secondary mar
ket for home mortgages.
4. Make a start on a new linn
tied luw-cost sales housing pro-
gram in Slum- clearance areas.
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