Evening star., 1924-04-19
RENT BILL DEBATE
NEXT DISTRICT DAY
Rules Committee viii Not Allow
Measure Precedence as
Emergency Matter.

The fight made by opponents Of the
District rent legislation to secure time
for debate in the House and to have the
legislation taken up on a regular Dis
trict day, instead of being jammed
through AZ privileged business demand
ing emergency action was partially sue
cessful today.
Following a hearing the rules oomRit-
tee decided that the rent bill should
come up on the next regular District day
a week from Monday, and that a special
rule will be issued TO guard against a
filibustsr.
The special rule wfir require a
vote before adjournment on that
District day. but will allow probably
two hours for debate.
Calendar Crowded.
Chairman Smell of the rules com
rnittee explained that, as the pro-
gram of the House was crowded the
rules committee did not feel justified
in ordering that the Rent CommiSsio
bill be taken up as privileged over
many other important matters.
Representative James T. Begg of
Ohio, who Is not a. member of the
District committee, acting at the re-
quest of Representative Florian Lam
pert CT Wisconsin, sponsor of the
Rent Commissions bill to extend its
life until August, 1926, asked the
rules committee for a special rule
nroviding for only one hours debate,
allowing the rent measure TO come
up in the House next Tuesday.
Guard Against FiIb.ster.
I He argued that the House should
be given an opportunity to express
it's wish in regard TO extension OF
the Rent Commission and said he had
heen advised by pariiamentarians
TO guard against a filibuster such as
was worked in opposition to the bill
last Monday.
Asked by Representative Burton Of
Ohio what assurance there was that
l4 the Begg amendment to extend the
life of the commission for one year
as II now operates should be voted
that the original Lampert bill would
not be taken up, Representative Begg
assured him that If such attempt was
made he would help to defeat
the Lampert bill.
Question by Blantoa-
Represe rtative Thomas l. BlaG. ton,
Democrat, of Texas asked Mr.. Begg
IL tie fact that he, not being a MEM
her of the committee, was asked 10
press this matter indicated that the
entire District committee was i'm
potent.
! Representative Charles L. Under
Till, Republican, OF Massach chusetts
Emphasized that the Begg resolution
IL not party measure and that the
rent question is not such funda-
mental measure as calls for action
% the rules committee. He advised
The committee. not to Interfere in
(. fight within the House District
committee.
Representative UnderhiEl said he
was not in favor of defeating the
legislation "by indirect methods
Holds Law should Expire.
. Representative Stanley H. Kunz,
Democrat, of Illinois told the rules
committee that he believes this Iegis-
lation should expire now and that
the real estate men should be put on
trial. e..
o. + After reviewing the history of rent
legislation, Representative Blanton
Representative Begg, five years ago,
made a bitter fight when the rent bill
was under consideration, forcing a
special rule by his demand that this
legislation was so important as to re-
uuire abundant debate.
Representative Blanton laid before
The committee specific instances"
where rents had been increased up to
a standard established by the rent
commission.
Representative Jost, Democrat, of
Missouri, who was introduced as hav-
frg had extensive experience in
posed to the Lampert bill, opposed to
the extension, and opposed to the
whole principle of the legislation.
He warned that legislation of such
Ear-reaching consequences ought at
least to receive the fullest possible
consideration by Congress, and plead
ed for liberal discussion.