Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-05-27 | Page 1 | President Asks Housing Money

PRESIDENT ASKS ASIS HOUSING Sought To Expand Program WASHINGTON May 27 UP President Roosevelt Wednesday I asked congress to appropriate an additional for housing an estimated an-estimated war workers workers workers work work- ers who are expected to migrate to centers of war activity in the next fiscal year beginning July 1 The president said that the need for additional housing is urgent because war production now is increasing sing in geometric ratio and plant capacities are expanding faster and faster He said that while congress al already already already al- al ready has made in appropriations available for war housing the expansion of American American Ameri Amen can industry warrants a substantial substantial substantial increase of f that amount Asks Speedy Action Because of of the time lag between authorization of funds and completion com corn of living quarters Mr Roosevelt requested speedy action on on- his request This war involves a total national national national na na- na- na effort and industrial mobilization mobilization he said Industry cannot cannot cannot can can- not effectively mobilize and plants cannot expand with sufficient rapidity rapidity rapidity ra ra- ra- ra unless there are enough houses to bring the worker to the job keep him on the job and maintain main main- tam tain his efficiency and morale The need for housing he said is running so far ahe ahEad ahad ad of the supply all all' allover over the country that there is a serious threat that the effective use of exp expanding plants will be reduced unless the housing situation is remedied Further Increases The president declared that employment employment employment em em- will Increase by several million workers during the next fiscal year and pointed out that the already appropriated appropriated appropriated for housing is less than 1 per cent of the funds made available available available avail avail- able for war purposes Existing structures he said are being counted upon to absorb a large portion of the estimated migratory workers while private enterprise is being relied upon to care for a large portion of the remaining need in war centers But even with these measures he said there remains an Irreducible requirement for a volume of new pu public lIc construction largely temporary in nature and d designed to serve erve the lower Income in income income in- in come brackets of war wa worK workers rs