Federql Housing Plcrns Agreed Upon ln Wcrshington Meeting

President Eisenhower's 23-man advisory housing committee met for three busy days in Washington early in December, and finally drafted a new federal housing program. Result. the housing industry got a new program that is reported to have fairly pleased the various groups represented on the committee, bankers, public-housing fans, unions etc. Federal Housing Chie{ Albert Cole presided at the three clay session, and seems to have done a good job of combining the elements.

Earll' last summer, he started a series of "shirtsleeve" conferences u,ith various housing interests around the countrr.. When Eisenhower named the advisory housing committee last September, Cole split the committee into five lvorking bodies and, in less than three months, gathered testimor.rv from more than 200 groups and individuals.

Virtually er.ery point raised at the meeting was shot through 'r,r'ith controversy. For example, the builders, tt'ho .\\-ant lon' interest rates, easy credit and long-term mortgages, battled rvith the banks and insurance companles, n'ho u'ant higher rates and shorter-term mortgages. But dilTerences n.ere. ironed out, and the committee finally agreed on a set of recommendations to send to the President.

Here are some of the reported recommendations, not official until the President says so: dh lt's good business to deal in fast movJD ing merchandise, nationally and locally -tr advertised. Vestern Pine Supply Company maintains complete stocks, makes weekly deliveries, helps you keep your inventory down and profits up.

To provide more housing for low-income families, FHA would be allowed to insure mortgages up to 40 years (v. 30 years now) on houses priced up to $7,600 (or $8,60O in some high-cost areas). At cr-rrrent interest rates, monthly carrying charges would be cheaper than rent, i.e., $33.76 on a $7,000, 5/o mortgage..

To put lorv-cost older l.rouses on a par rvith new houses, FHA lrould be permitted to insure mortgages on owneroccnpied older houses up to 95/o ol the FHA appraised value, the same as on ne\\' houses (compared to the present 80/o limit).

The present lou. ler-el of public-housing construction (about $40 million a vear, enough to build 20,000 housing units) rvould be continued.

As a compromise in the interest-rate squabble, a maximum rate for FHA-insured loans rvould lte set al 2/2% above the going yield for long-term Government bonds (at present rates, roughly 5%%).

The limit on FHA insttred home-repair loans would be increased from the present $2,500 ceiling to $3,000 or $3,500, and the term of tl-re loans extended from tl-rree Years to ten.

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Here's a New Year's thought for every man: keep that boy in you alive ! That boy, with his animation, his enthusiasm, his optimism; with his sweet temper, his cheerful grin, and his love of fun; I say keep him alive! For, if HE ever dies. you're d-e-a-d dead, and don't you doubt it. They may postpone the burial for a while, but when he goes, all that's best in you, all that's worth while in you.-is gone.

* .* *

Youth is not a matter of vears. It's a state of mind. **t<

It isn't a question of ripe cheeks and supple knees ! It's a freshness from the deep springs of life.

\Morry, doubt, ..lf-dir.:".; tl"r, airp"ir-these are the things that kill that boy in you. '

Friendliness, tolerance, ,.*r""rrr, interest in others, a firm determination to be joyful regardless of immediate affairs and conditions and events-these are the things that keep him alive.

Keeping that boy ," ,t" "r;";. your big job; in fact, it's the foundation of all your jobs. ***

Don't leave it to chance ! Don't take it for granted that he will always be alive, even though you neglect him ! He won't!

You've got to ,r,.r.. nir]r ,l."lo.rt",pal business. Make him part of your daily program of thinking.

Study how you ',., o. : +:r and grinning.

Keep your chin up-your grin ready-your smile working-your kindest words well exercised.

THAT will help O".n t- .rr"", )k*r<

He-this boy inside of you-he'll keep you young. When you forget him, you grow old.

You keep uIu "rirr"j""U *'u keep you alive. He'll keep you youthful, and useful and loveable-regardless of the year count.

So, in the coming ,."r, l,"r]. t:ro,r, everyday businessyour never-ending and deliberate effort to***

KEEP THAT BOY IN YOU ALIVE !