Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-31

substantially the same bill. the
Democrats, headed by Senator
Sparkman of Alabama, may
decide to try to override the
veto if checkup indicates they
have the two-thirds to accom-
plish that.
Hear Taft Recording
A touch of drama was in,
jected into the closing session
with the playing of d tape re-
cording of the last housing
speech made in May, 1858, by
Senator Taft of Ohio, then the
Senate Republican leader,
few months before he died. BY
a coincidence. today was the
sixth anniversary of his death.
Democrats brought in the
recording because they felt Sem
ator Taft's views supported
their contention that public
housing is the only solution for
low-income families.
But Senator Bush, Republic
can of Connecticut. said both
sides in the controversy can
find in the Taft speech pas
sages to support their positions.
AS an example, Senator Bush
cited Senator Taft's concern
over the growing Federal bud
get and the need for balancing
it. which prompted President
Eisenhower to veto this years
housing bill.
The President opposed the
Democratic proposal to spend
5000 million over the next two
years on urban renewal. and to
authorize $4,000 additional
public housing units with
discretionary power for the
President to increase this
number.
Administration Stand
The administration is advo-
eating $500 million for urban
renewal and no additional pub
lie housing units at this time.
Commissioner Mason modi-
fed his earlier testimony on
the question of whether hous-
ing programs should from now
on be financed by appropria-
lions, or through back door"
Treasury borrowing as in the
past.
He admitted that early this
year the administration sup
ported bill based on continued
.back-door spending. but in view
of the need for tighter budget
control, has reconsidered and
now favors congressional APP
preparations.
Mr.. Mason also testified he
recommended the presidential
veto. He said he wanted to
clear up any doubt developed
in earlier hearings over the po-
Sition Of his agency on the veto.
Fundamental Difference
When Senator Taft deliv-
cred the recorded speech to the
National Housing Conference
at the Statler Hotel here in
May of 1858, the Eisenhower
administration had been in
Office only a few months.
Senator Taft pointed out that
the new administration was
setting up a commission to
study the whole problem Of
Federal aid to the States in
various fields because there
has been fundamental differ
ence in the Republican Party
particularly on housing"
Before the recording was
played at today's hearing Sen
ator Sparkman, Democrat OF
Alabama, chairman of the
housing SUBCOMMITTEE. said :
Unfortunately, the years
which have transpired since
Senator Taft expressed these
views have shown little evil
dence that the Eisenhower
administration sh ares his
views"
Active on Welfare Bills
Although Senator Taft was
regarded as the leader Of the
conservative wing Of the
G. o. P, he was activeo in
drafting housing and other
liberal legislation.
In the recording. he recalled
having headed a postwar eco
nomic subcommittee inc D44
which tried to find a substitute
for public housing. The record
ing continued as follows:
II think we felt very clearly
after those @ hearings that it
was field in which private in
dustry-no matter what they
said-could not successfully OPP
crate. There didn't seem to
be any alternative except to
subsidize low rent housing. so 1
came to be a believer in that and
one of the authors of various
illsowhich finally were enacted
in the form of the 1949 Housing
Act"
The current public housing
building began with that act.
Urges Overriding of Veto
Representative Rains, Demo-
crat of Alabama, in charge of
housing legislation in the
House, told that branch of
Congress, yesterday the only
way to provide better housing
and to fight slums is to over
ride the Presidents veto. Ad-
ministration spokesman do not
believe the votes to override
can be mustered in the House.
Three local witnesses went
before the Senate subcommit-
tee to ask that the District of
Columbia be excluded from a
section of the veto bill relating
to urban renewal projects in
volving colleges and UNIVERSE
ties.
One of the witnesses, Lester