Evening star., 1961-06-12
Byrd Attacks
Housing Plans
AsWorst Yet
Criticism Comes
With Senate Set
To Pass Measure
BY ]. A. O'LEARY
star Staff writer

l
pass President Kennedy's $4.9
billion housing bill today, DEM
ocratic Senator Harry F. Byrd
Of Virginia denounced it as the
worst in 25 years of housing
legislation.
But administration forces
demonstrated last week they
have the votes to send the
measure to the House by over
coming all major efforts to
curtail the program.
An attempt to knock out the
Presidents new 40-year-mort-
cages with no down payments
for moderate income families
succeeded for q few hours,
when some Democrats Joined
the Republicans.
Long Session Succeeds
But by holding the Senate
in session past midnight, Dem
ocratic Leader Mansfield sue
ceeded in restoring nearly all
of the plan. A small down pay
ment was approved as a con-
cession to the opposition.
The House version still con-
tains no down payment, how
ever, and the administration
may yet get the entire plan.
When the Senate votes to-
day it will have passed four of
the five big measures listed by
the President in January.
The others were: Federal aid
to areas Of chronic unemploy-
ment to build up new industry,
the increase in the minimum
wage law and Federal aid to
public schools. The first two
have become law, the school
bill is awaiting House action.
The fifth major biIl-medical
care for the aged under social
security-seems destined to 90
over until next year.
Social Security Changes
Some changes In the social
security law have passed the
House, however, and will be re-
ported from the Senate Finance
Committee this week. There
would be nothing to prevent
any Senator from offering q
medical care plan as an amend
ment to this bill, but those most
interested in the subject have
indicated they will not do so.
Chairman Mills Of the House
Ways and Means Committee
mas promised hearings on med
ical care as soon as his COM
mittee diSposes of the Presi-
dents tax program.
But with six months Of the
session nearly gone, there is
little chance of pushing medi-
cal care through both houses
this year.
Senate Democratic Leader
Mansfield now comedies Con-
gresS probably will be here
until Labor Day trying to finish
its remaining legislation.
In addition to social security
changes, the Senate has q
highway bill. foreign aid, an
other education bill involving
controversial aid to private
schools, farm relief, two tax
bills and a dozen appropriation
bills to keep it busy through
the summer.
Byrd Blasts Gears"
II reject the idea of Federal
czars over the housing industry
and allied activities in the
United States" said Senator
Byrd.
The Virginian said those who
are lured into 'the trap of
thinking Federal grants do not
come from their own pocket
books forget there is no other
source Of Federal income"
Senator Byrd said the hous-
ing bill includes "side-door"
spending as well as "back-door"
spending. Economy advocates
have always attacked 'back-
door" spending, the name they
have pinned on Treasury bor-
rowing. Senator Byrd said the
"side-door" spending has been
added in the form of contract
authorizations.
In addition to new aids for
moderate income families seek
ing homes, the bill covers the
Federal share of urban renewal
projects and loans for college
dormitories, war veterans, COM
munity facilities and special
housing for the elderly.