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Show DREW PEARSON Emergency Housing Aid Urged D IG, burly Sen. Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin has suddenly got U religion. He has revised his ideas on housing. While most congressional committees were diagnosing Europe's needs, one group, dominated by McCarthy, stayed at home to delve into America's No. 1 problem the housing shortage. Their findings will jolt some of the arch-conservatives who were in a hurry to turn wartime economy back to private enterprise. Without mincing words the joint committee on housing will report to congress that the housing problem has proved too big for private enterprise enter-prise alone. Basic causes for the housing shortage, the committee found, are: 1. The population Jumped 13 million during the war, and while the population increased, war priorities kept homebuilding almost m a standstill. 2. The real estate trade is not building for the rental market-where market-where the most critical need exists but in order to sell. Yet the average renter has more money to spend, and Is bidding for more space. 3. Construction costs are high, caused by shortages of materials mate-rials and skilled labor. The chief botUenecks are cast-iron soil pipe, nails and lumber. X |