A BILL TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE STATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE STIM- TO CREATE A UNITED STATES FOR OTHER PURPOSES AmP17507 19877 5613 Hon. Fiorello H. LaGuardia, mayor of the city of New York, N. Y Hon. Stewart McDonald, Administrator, Federal Housing Adminis- Dr. Ernest M. Fisher, Director of Economics and Statistics, Federal Samuel F. Clabaugh, president, Protective Life Insurance Co. and director of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States_____ Hon. Alfred F. Beiter, Representative in Congress from the State of J. C. deHoll, chairman of the Housing Authority, Birmingham, Ala__ Frank Carnahan, secretary, National Retail Lumber Dealers Associa- Miss Josephine Goman, secretary, Detroit Housing Commission, Mrs. R. C. Bruce, New York, N. Y. Ernest J. Bohn, National Association of Housing Officials, Cleveland, TO CREATE A UNITED STATES HOUSING AUTHORITY TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1937 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10:30 a. m., to consider H. R. 5033, Hon. Henry B. Steagall (chairman) presiding. Present: Messrs. Steagall, Goldsborough, Reilly, Hancock, Williams, Spence, Meeks, Kennedy, Ford, Brown, Patman, McKeough, Evans, Transue, McGranary, Wolcott, Fish, Luce, Crawford. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen we have with us this morning Mr. LaGuardia, who, of course, needs no introduction to those of us in this end of the House, or to anybody else. He is mayor of the city of New York, and he represents the housing organizations of the country. He is here by invitation to discuss H. R. 5033. Mr. LaGuardia, we will be very glad to hear you. You may proceed. STATEMENT OF HON. FIORELLO H. LaGUARDIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS Mr. LAGUARDIA. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity of appearing before you and presenting the views of the larger cities of this country. I represent the United States Conference of Mayors, which is composed of practically all cities of over 50,000 population. It is supported entirely by public funds, each city making an annual appropriation for the maintenance of the national headquarters in Washington and other current expenses. I say that in order to avoid any misunderstanding that this organization is subsidized or receives any assistance from any private sources. Only the cities are eligible to membership. In our annual conference of November 18, 1936, held in Washington, a resolution was unanimously adopted asking Congress to enact housing legislation which would give the cities aid in meeting their housing problem. I will file the resolution with you, with your permission. The CHAIRMAN. That may be made a part of the record. (The resolution referred to is as follows:) Whereas at the last session of the Congress the so-called Wagner housing bill was passed by the Senate but failed to come to a vote in the House; and Whereas the principles embodied in the Wagner bill represent, in our judgment, the proper approach to meeting the needs for public housing for persons with low incomes; and 1 |