AMENDMENTS OF 1939 TO THE UNITED STATES HOUSING ACT

HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS

A BILL TO AMEND THE UNITED STATES HOUSING
ACT OF 1937, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

ساسم

JUNE 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, JULY 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1939

Printed for the use of the Committee on Banking and Currency

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1939

UNITED STATES HOUSING ACT

HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

S. 591

A BILL TO AMEND THE UNITED STATES HOUSING
ACT OF 1937, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

JUNE 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, JULY 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1939

Printed for the use of the Committee on Banking and Currency

166743

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1939

76 367ST

09/92 53-005-00

XL3

3800

CONTENTS

Statement of—

Page

3, 23,

Nathan Straus, Administrator, United States Housing Authority.

56, 59, 113, 153, 179, 203, 302

Leon H. Keyserling, Deputy Administrator and Acting General Coun-

sel, United States Housing Authority-

William T. Reed, Jr., Assistant Counsel, National Association of In-
surance Agents.

Hon. Frederick C. Smith, Member of Congress from the State of Ohio-

Girard Lambert, Princeton, N. J..

Hon. Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture-

230

228

332

379, 411

Table of documents, memoranda, and exhibits submitted by the United

States Housing Authority:

Summary of facts and accomplishments under present U. S. H. A.

program as contrasted with additional program contemplated by

S. 591.

Report of Mr. Straus to the Senate Committee on Education and

Labor

Exhibits submitted by Mr. Straus in connection with his report to the

Senate Committee on Education and Labor:

Public housing legislation in the States, as of May 8, 1939, ex-

hibit I..

Estimated U. S. H. A. loan disbursements and employment

created under present and expanded authorization, exhibit II.

Explanation of annual contribution amounts proposed and

authorized, exhibit III..

Estimated average rent and income groups to be reached in

U. S. H. A.-aided projects covered by approved loan con-

tracts, exhibit IV...

Comparison of rents in U. S. H. A.-aided projects with average

of median rents for cities in which the first 181 projects will be

located, exhibit V...

407

Cost comparisons, 1. Comparison of costs with private industry,

exhibit VII..

Cost comparisons, 3. Comparison of costs with other Federal

agencies, exhibit VIII.

Cost comparisons, 2. Comparison of dwelling facilities costs

with U. S. H. A. statutory limitations, exhibit IX..

Cost trends of U. S. H. A.-assisted projects, exhibit X.

Housing program has reached both large and small communities,

exhibit XI..

Indexes of number of dwellings built, 1919-37; United States

compared with England and Wales, exhibit XII.

Cumulative number of dwellings built, 1919-37, by local authori-

ties with public assistance and by private builders without pub-
lic assistance in England and Wales, exhibit XIII.
Residential construction for families in the United States by in-
come groups, exhibit XIV.

The housing market:

Southern cities over 25,000 population, exhibit XV-

Northern cities over 25,000 population, exhibit XVI.

Letter from Secretary Wallace with respect to the proposed rural
housing amendment__

Variations in State laws relating to local housing authorities_

State laws making bonds of local housing authorities legal investments

for public bodies, banks, other financial institutions, and fiduci-

aries__