Evening star., 1924-12-31
PRESIDENT TELLS
CONGRESS RENTAL
ACTION IS URGENT
Letter DiscIoses New Bill
Was Drawn at His Order by
Commission Head.
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE
TO RUSH CONSIDERATION
National Issue Raised by Real Es-
tate Men Who Criticize
Executives Stand.

President Coolidge over his own
eia-nature today notified Congress
shat the bill introduced in both House
and Senate to establish a perma-
nent Rent Commission in the Ma
tfonaI Capital, with extraordinary
powers, was prepared at his request
by Chairman Whaley of the Rent
Commission The President asked
that this legislation be considered
as very important"
After the Presidents letter, ad-
dressed to Chairman Reed of the
House District committee, had been
read at meeting of the committee
today, the rent bill was referred to
the same subcommittee, headed by
Representative Florian Lampert of
Wisconsin. which had previously held
extensive hearings on the proposal to
extend the life of the District Rent
Commission.
SoIicitude for Employees.
The Presidents letter was as fol-
lows:
Il inclose a copy of the bill that
] have had prepared by the Rent
Commission, or. more especially, by
Mr.. Whaley, undertaking to provide
p law that would deal with the pres
ent difficulty in the District of CO.
1umbia. | wish that you would sub
m5 this the ts committee know for thSe
matter is very important and has
81 very direct effect upon the en-
ployes of the Government resident in
Washington"
The subcommittee to which this bill
has been referred is composed of
Representatives Lampert of Wiscon-
sin, Mcleod, Michigan, and Stalker,
New York, all Republicans. and Rep
rese natives Blanton, Texas; Hammer,
North Carolina, Democrats.
Promises to Aid Bill.
Following the meeting, Chairman
Iampert of this subcommittee, said
he would call the members together
for consideration of the rent bill as
soon as possible. probably this week.
81 am for this bill and will do all
can to get it favorably reported as
soon as possible" said Mr.. Lampert.
Representative Lampert said that
this bill is practically the. same as
one that he had previously introduced
and on which extensive hearings were
held. He did not see any necessity
for further hearings, as the committee
had all the essential facts before it.
Representative Blanton declare ed
legislation he has seen in his eight
years service in Congress. and it's ef-
feet will touch practically every COM
munity throughout the country. He
did not oppose sending the bill to the
subcommittee, but wanted to be sure
that adequate hearings were permit
ted
BIantOn Has Letter Read.
1t was in response to Mr. Blanton's
request that the Presidents letter
was read. Mr.. Blanton expressed the
opinion that perhaps the Presidents
attitude in support of this legislation
had been too strongly presented
through the daily newspapers.
Representative Iampert explained
that there are many publicity seek
ers who would like to appear before
the committee and air their views
He was opposed to let down the bars
and thus piling UP lot of testimony
when the committee already had all
the essential facts.
Representative Blanton replied that
the whole question to be considered
in the subcommittee would be on
legal phases and that the committee
should carefully consider the legal
rights of property owners.
The suggestion by Representative
I1ldHlOH lUdl lA6 subcommittee De en-
larged on account of the Importance
of this legislation to include Repre-
sentative Underhill of Ma ssachussets,
Republican, formerly opposed to the
rent legislation, and Representative
Gilbert, Democrat of Kentucky, who
previously supported the legislation
was not acted upon.
Takes On National Aspect.
simultaneously with the introduce
tion of the rent control legislation
into Congress the entire matter has
changed from a local question to
one that may become a nation-w
issue. The local Association of Build
ing Owners and Managers announced
today that it will fight the bill on
every possible ground and has re-
ceived the support of the National
Association representing several
thousand property owners and an
aggregate investment of more than
$1,000, 100000.
According to a letter received to-
day by the local association from
Lee Thompson Smith of New York
City. president of the National As
sociation, prominent members of the
association who have been active in
their support of the Presidents re-
election and business men in large
pleased with the Presidents advo-
cacy of the bill, which they feel will
be the probable basis for the nation
wide enactment of State property
hontrol.
Criticizcs COOlidge's Stand.
The letter which refers to the Pres
idents action reads, in part, as fol-
lows:
Our idea is that at the present
time. with the bill where it is and
with the nation wide publicity which
1t has received and will receive on
account of the Presidents reported
attitude on the subject, the first
thing to do is to set President Cool
idge right. He ought to realize and
his advisers ought to realize that he
cannot afford, preliminary to the be-
ginning of his own administration, to
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