To bring about a fair and effective conversion act establishing the principle of a two-way street and at the same time to protect any interest which the Secretary of the Treasury or the Home Owners' Loan Corporation may have in a Federal savings and loan association as well as to protect the rights of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, we suggest that section 502 be amended to read as follows: "Any Federal savings and loan association may convert itself into a savings and loan, building and loan, or homestead association, or cooperative bank, incorporated under the laws of the State, District, or Territory in which the principal office of such association is located (hereinafter referred to as the State institution), upon the vote, cast at a legal meeting specified by the law of such State, District, or Territory as required for such a conversion, but in no event less than 51 per centum of all the votes cast at such meeting, voting in person or by proxy: Provided further, That legal titles are protected by such conversion or provided that conveyances of legal titles are made. If none of the outstanding shares of the converting Federal association are held by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, and if such conversion is to a State institution, which is mutual in character and of a type which has been insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, no approval of such conversion by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board or the Federal Home Loan Bank Administration shall be required and such converted institution shall continue to be an insured institution and bound under all of the agreements contained in the original application for insurance of accounts, and by such conversion shall accept and be bound by all agreements required by section 403 of title IV of the National Housing Act and such insured institution shall upon such conversion and thereafter be authorized to issue securities in the form theretofore approved by Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation for issuance by similar insured institutions in such State, District, or Territory. Such conversion shall be effective upon approval by the duly constituted authorities of the State, District, or Territory which have supervision over such institutions where such institution is located, and the filing of a certified copy of the resolution authorizing such conversion and the approval of such State, District, or Territory authority with the Federal Home Loan Bank Administration or the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. "In addition to the foregoing provision for conversion upon a vote of the members only any association chartered as a Federal Savings and Loan association, including any having outstanding shares held by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, may convert itself into a State institution upon an equitable basis, subject to approval by regulations or otherwise, by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board or the Federal Home Loan Bank Administration and by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation: Provided, That if the insurance of accounts is terminated in connection with such conversion, the notice and other action shall be taken as provided by law and regulations for the termination of insurance of accounts." Very truly yours, Hon. C. DOUGLASS BUCK, Senate Building, Washington, D. C. E .H. LEETE, Chairman, Executive Committee. ROBT. DVORAK, BUILDERS, Cleveland 22, Ohio, March 19, 1947. DEAR SIR: The Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill is a blow to private enterprise and the democratic way of life. Free enterprise-free of Government control-this made America the most productive nation of the world. This is the American way. Let us leave European ideologies to the Europeans. We strongly urge you to oppose the W-E-T bill. Yours very truly, ROBT. DVORAK, BUILDERS, Hon. C. DOUGLASS BUCK, H. DLUGACH & CO., Memphis, Tenn., March 19, 1947. United States Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BUCK: We understand that the Senate Banking and Currency Committee is to start hearings on the revised Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill. We wish to reiterate our stand against any such legislation which tends to bring about the socialization of the housing industry in this country. We feel that this bill is not at all the solution for our present housing problem, and we also feel that this housing problem will be solved through the cooperation of private enterprise with the groups which are really interested in providing the necessary housing for this country. Any bill which might start this Nation on the road to a social housing program should be considered very carefully and not be passed in the hysteria of emergency. We realize that letters of this kind are read in the light of the fact that the writer has a vital financial interest in the pursuit of his own business free from Government competition. However, we are only trying to exercise our natural rights to preserve our independent enterprises, because we feel that to preserve independent enterprises in this country is our only safeguard against the type of government that a great many people would like to set up, and which in time would wipe out our entire present economic system and substitute socialism or communism for our way of life. We hope you will give our views consideration, and we thank you for any effort which you can put forth toward having this bill defeated. Very truly yours, H. DLUGACH & Co. BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA, Hon. C. DOUGLASS BUCK, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR BUCK: The Builders Association of South Florida, representing 275 members of the construction industry, is unalterably opposed to the Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill as being inimical to the best interests of the United States, the housing problem, and the building industry. Socialized housing is not the American solution to the problem. The challenge of housing the greatest number of our people at the lowest possible cost will be taken up within our free enterprise system with the tools of a free economy and an industry sense of responsibility. Very truly yours, EMIL GOULD, Chairman, Legislative Committee. CORD MEYER DEVELOPMENT CO., Hon. C. DOUGLASS BUCK, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BUCK: We would like to take this opportunity to express to you as a member of the Senate Banking and Currency Committee, our opposition to the revised Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill. For the past 40 years, we have been builders of single-family houses and apartments in Queens County, New York City, and Nassau County, Long Island. We do not believe that the revised Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill is any more desirable than the first version, its fundamental purpose being the same, to socialize housing. We think that Government participation in the home-building industry should be limited to the original function of the Federal Housing Administration, to provide insurance of mortgages for the protection of investors. Very truly yours, CORD MEYER DEVELOPMENT CO., Hon. CHARLES W. TOBEY, Chairman, Senate Building, PRECISION HOUSING CORP., Parma Heights 9, Ohio, March 20, 1947. Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: The following are my views on the Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill as a private citizen and a builder of homes. As a private citizen, I am opposed to any type of socialization, especially that of housing for home ownership is the cornerstone of democracy and our American way of life. Furthermore, in the face of a large Government debt and the need for lowering taxes, I am opposed to a bill the passage of which will result in more spending and overwhelming taxes. As a builder, I know that private enterprise can and will do th etotal housing job. Government should assist and aid but should never be in direct competition with private enterprise. Oppose the unneeded, un-American and unwanted Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill which promotes public housing. Sincerely yours, MAURICE J. FISHMAN, President. Senator CHARLES W. TOBEY, FORT WORTH 2, TEX., March 20, 1947. Capitol Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR TOBEY: The Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill means to me just per'petuating Federal control of the building industry, and consequently, socialization, the rottening disease which has attacked and killed freedom in England and France. This bill isn't the type of legislation that a thinking, freedom-loving man wants -even under the guise of building houses for veterans, of which group I am a member. Sincerely, J. C. LLEWELLYN. Senator CHARLES W. TOBEY, LOS ANGELES CITIZENS HOUSING COUNCIL, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR TOBEY: The Los Angeles Citizens Housing Council, a permanent body consisting of delegates from more than 200 veteran, labor, church, and civic organizations, wishes to place itself on record as unqualifiedly endorsing the principle underlying the newly reintroduced Taft-Ellender-Wagner housing bill. The council also endorses the greater part of the specific provisions of the said bill. In those few instances where the collective thought of the membership differs from the bill as presently being considered, we urge that: 1. It be made mandatory that prevailing wages be paid on all construction undertaken under the terms of the bill; and 2. That in the case of financial aid to both mutual home ownership and private construction, the provisions be liberalized to allow interest charges of not more than 3 percent, a 50-year amortization period, and 100 percent guaranteed loans. The council feels that only in this way will private enterprise be enabled to assume its full share of the huge building program that must be immediately inaugurated. Also, in the interest of safeguarding the homeowner, it is the sentiment of the council that the contractor be required to guarantee his construction against structural defects or violation of contract provisions for a term of at least 1 year from date of completion. Sincerely yours, Rt. Rev. Msgr. THOMAS J. O'DWYER, President. Hon. CHARLES W. TOBEY, CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Chairman, Banking and Currency Committee, United States Sente, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR TOBEY: The California Conference of Social Welfare is composed of approximately 2,500 lay and professional members within the State of California and concerned with a sound State and national program of social well-being for all persons. The legislative committee of the conference have considered Senate bill 866 (Taft-Ellender-Wagner bill setting up a comprehensive Federal housing program supplemental to State operations and including continuance of rental control until taken over by State enactment). We have secured official conference support for this measure and ask favorable consideration by your committee in the hearings now being held and a report in endorsement of the measure with adequate appropriation and without crippling amendment. From New Hampshire to California we are sure the need is vitally urgent in all States therefor. Respectfully yours, Hon. CHARLES W. TOBEY, GARDNER BULLIS, Chairman, Lgislative Committee, C. C. S. W. MILLBRAE HIGHLANDS, MILLBRAE, CALIF., March 22, 1947. Chairman, Senate Banking and Currency Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We respectfully ask that you use your best influence in defeating the Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill now before your committee, not only because of the many objectionable features contained therein but it is also felt that the Government should not be encouraged to go into the housing business, which has proven so disastrous in Great Britain. Thanking you in advance for anything you may do, I am, NIELS SCHULTZ. GILBERT CO., Senator CHARLES W. TOBEY, Washington, D. C. Savannah, Ga., March 22, 1947. DEAR SENATOR: I wish to request that you very carefully consider the socialistic Taft-Ellender-Wagner bill on which you are now holding hearings before you put your stamp of approval on it. Just now, when it looks like the pendulum is swinging in the direction of representative government, it occurs to me that to take this step toward public housing is just that much nearer socialism. If we wish to abolish private ownership of real property in the United States, we are rapidly succeeding. With present rent control, we are already placed in an unfair position; and with the growth of public housing, the private-property owner might as well give up. The solution may be to have the Government buy or condemn all private property, and then they would own everything; which appears to be what the liberal movement in America wants. If some of the Senators could go home and talk to property owners, who, after all, support the Government through local property taxes and income taxes, they would get the right answer. The housing problem is rapidly solving itself in a natural way; and if you folks in Washington would simply do nothing about it, the natural laws of supply and demand would prevail much sooner. With kind regards, I am, Yours very truly, WILLIAM C. GILBERT. Hon. CHARLES W. TOBEY, BETTER HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR TOBEY: The Better Housing Association of Cleveland urges you to support S. 866, the Taft-Ellender-Wagner housing bill. It is hoped that with your aid the bill will receive prompt approval in your committee and on the Senate floor. We believe this bill should be passed because of the following provisions: 1. Direct action for low-income families now in substandard housing, through resumption of the public housing problem so well begun before the war. Lowincome families must not be ignored. A large proportion of them are doomed to live in slums if they must wait for the "filtering down" process to provide them with homes. The Federal aid-local authority plan has proven its merit for lowrent housing, and it must be continued on a substantial scale. 2. Increased aids to private enterprise, through broadening of exisiting machinery of FHA and the Home Loan Bank System. The proposed improvements will stimulate an increased supply of privately financed houses and apartments for owners and renters in income brackets which private enterprise can profitably serve. This increased supply is of indirect benefit, of course, in easing the situation for families in the lower-income brackets. 3. A start on Federal aid to cities for urban redevelopment. As soon as the housing shortage will permit in any area, cities must begin clearing their slums and blighted areas, for reuse by private enterprise and the public, in accordance with sound city planning. Without Federal aid, localities cannot solve this problem. 4. A permanent National Housing Commission, to coordinate the otherwise scattered housing activities of the Government and to foster research and marketanalysis necessary to reduce the cost of housing and to enable communities to measure and solve their housing problems. This bill, S. 866, is the first comprehensive attack on America's tremendous and complicated housing problem. We urge you to use your influence toward the speedly passage of this bill. Yours very truly, WALLACE G. TEARE, Secretary. ARTHUR BROS., Senator CHARLES W. TOBEY, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. San Mateo, Calif., March 18, 1947. DEAR SIR: We would like to register our opposition to the Wagner-Ellender-Taft or W.-E.-T. bill. This country's industry is based on free enterprise. The home builders have shown during the past year that we can produce homes despite Government regulations. The W.-E.-T. bill will not produce the needed housing-it must be done through private enterprise. We appreciate your interest on our behalf. CHARLES W. TOBEY, ARTHUR BROS. BELLMAWR PARK, N. J., March 19, 1947. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Referring to pressure on Dillon S. Myer, Director of the Federal Public Housing Authority, resulting in Mr. Myer's decision to hold up disposition of war surplus housing except on a cash basis, we remind you of prior commitments to mutual housing corporations and consider Mr. Myer's decision a breach of faith. We request an appearance before your committee or the joint committee to state our position. DANIEL A. BASKIN, Secretary, Board of Trustees, Bellmawr Park Mutual Housing Corp. |