Rent supplement
The Rent Supplement Program was introduced again last month by President Johnson in a special message to Congress. Last year it passed in the House by six votes, but was later killed when, by amendment, Congress cut off the program's $150 million appropriation.
This year it will hopefully meet with more success in receiving funds, as it fills a large gap in existing federal housing programs by providing incentive to private enterprise to build decent housing for low income families.
THE PROGRAM would help mainly the estimated four million families whose income is too high to qualify them for public housing, but who are limited to sub-standard private housing.
Under the plan the government would make up the difference between 25 per cent of a family's income and its rent, provided that the family could qualify for public housing, has been displaced by government action, is 62 years of age or older, is handicapped, now lives in substandard housing, or lives in a unit heavily damaged by natural disaster.
UNLIKE SOME current government programs the rent supplement plan is highly flexible. the government payments fluctuating with the family's income, and unlike public housing. the family would not be evicted if its income became too high.
The housing project would have to be sponsored by private non-profit, limited dividend or cooperative organizations and each must be approved by the FHA. Tenant selection would be made by the project owners, and the owners would be paid directly by the government.
Further, the plan would provide real incentive to private enterprise. Robert Weaver, Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, estimated last year that within five years the program would enable private enterprise to finance more than 500,000 low income housing units at a cost to the government of only $50 million for each of the next four years.
While opponents of the bill cry that government help in paying rents is "socialism," and that government action of this type would remove private incentives to earn better housings, and express fear that qualifications for the plan are too loosely set, the fact remains that despite years of government housing programs, millions of Americans are still living in substandard housing.
The administration has modified the plan to meet objections of Congressmen, and has kept the cost well within reason. The Rent Supplement Program fits within the framework of existing federal housing programs, and is badly needed, particularly in urban areas which contain a large number of substandard housing units. Congress should support the administration's proposal.
IN JOHNSON'S message to Congress, the President indicated that some of the House objections to the program have been eliminated, that middle-income groups would not be able to qualify for the supplement, and housing which qualified for the supplement would not be too costly. Johnson estimated the cost for the first year of operation to be $30 million.
—Justin Beck
"One Thing You May Have Overlooked—"
the people say...
Misquote,union,rules meet draw comment
AWS freedom
As every student at the University of Kansas must know by now, on March 12 the AWS will hold its quadrennial Rules Convention. The University is to be congratulated for delegating to the students the responsibility of establishing a framework within which they can make the regulations, if any, under which they choose to live. The AWS is a very effective student organization, and I am confident that the Rules Convention will be a model which many could emulate. Kansas women have acted in a mature and responsible manner in the past, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so in the future.
From my point of view, the question of one or more specific rules is not as important as the freedom exercised by the women in formulating these rules.
The respect for individual rights and duties, as well as the spirit of cooperation, which exists on this campus is, it seems to me, one of the most attractive features of student life at the University of Kansas.
- Marilyn Stokstad
Director, Museum of Art
Misquoted he says
On February 17, the University of Kansas was privileged to have an opportunity to hear Arthur Schlesinger, noted historian and political advisor, speak on campus.
The following day there was
Daily Kansan editorial page Wednesday, March 2, 1966
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The opinions expressed in the editorial column are those of the students whose names are signed to them. Guest editorial views are not necessarily the editor's. Any opinions expressed in the Daily Kansan are not necessarily those of The University of Kansas Administration or the State Board of Regents.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Managing Editor Fred Frailey
Business Manager Dale Reinecker
Editorial Editors Jacke Thayer, Justin Beck
Assistant Managing Editors ... E. C. Ballweg, Rosalie Jenkins,
Karen Lambert, Nancy Scott and Robert Stevens
City Editor ... Tom Rosenbaum  Advertising Manager ... John Hons
Feature Editor ... Barbara Phillips  Classified Manager ... Bruce Brownning
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FACULTY ADVISERS: Business, Prof. Mel Adams; news, Marvin Arth;
an article run in the Kansan titled "Students Review Schlesinger Talk." I was quoted, or rather misquoted, in this article as saying I felt the best solution of the war in Viet Nam was a settlement at the 17th parallel and that Schlesinger agreed.
FACULTY ADVISERS: Business, Prof. Mel Adams; news. Marvin Arth; editorial, Prof. Calder Pickett
—Drawing by John Boyer
I feel, and said at the time, that the only settlement I would be in favor of would be at the 17th parallel. Because I feel that the communists would not accept this, we should try
to win the war. To win, we must send more troops, ground, and air support. We must do more than we are doing now or continue to lose lives, equipment, money, and world prestige.
The only way to end the war is to either win or withdraw. I have chosen the former, Schlesinger chose the latter.
Scott Campbell
Overland Park freshman
'Emergence from red' causes service loss
Fellow academia, a deplorable situation has been developing on our campus which, although conceivably gone unnoticed by some, concerns each and every one of us.
The calamity I write of plagues an institution that has served us faithfully and humbly throughout many a year. It is up to us our duty——to come to its aid.
CORRECTIVE STEPS should have been taken before things reached such a pitable state, however the establishment's virtuous guardians elected to spare us the burden of their plight—financial plight—attempting instead to "go it alone."
The following economic measures were initiated in its hopeful "emergence from the red" drive:
- Prices on its stores and services were raised once, twice, thrice.
- Available stock was kept below minimum levels.
- Seconds, mutilates, and spoils were mingled and vended with the new.
- Sales, discounts, and rebates formerly offered, were diverted or abolished.
- Its staff was kept at a minimum, restricted to high schoolers and incompetents, and below standard wages were paid.
- Facilities, hitherto reserved for university functions, were rented to town business and social clubs.
All in all, it was a valiant, admirable effort, but, despite these seemingly last ditch tactics, word has it that even higher prices, more fraud, less convenience, and less service are in store.
Readers, let us write. Let us show our gratitude. Let us do, and give, what we can. We must save our beloved, bankrupt Student Union.
Wayne Macura Milford, Conn., junior