Evening star., 1925-01-01
SEEK WIDE FIGHT
ON RENT CONTROL
"a
Building Owners and Man.
ayers Launch Drive for Ma
tionaI Support in Battle.

Officially adopting the slogan ut
Shall Not Pass" the local and ma
tjpnal associations of building owners
and managers today set in motion the
first steps of what they say VIII DC
come Il nationwide campaign against
the proposed District rent control
bill, now before Congress. A counter
Suggestion that Congress appoint
Commissioners to control the various
necessary living commodities and re-
duce the price on all wares to under
paid" government clerks in lieu OF
the rent commission, is made by the
local association, which states that II
such bill is adopted it VIII Withdraw
its opposition to the rent control law.
Immediately after reading the Pres
fdent'S letter backing the rent bill, the
local association officials communt-
Gated by long g-distance telephone with
Lee Thompson Smith of New 1ork
CITY. president of the national asso-
citation. Mr. Smith in turn communi-
Gated by private telephone wire Win
Louis B. Ermeling of Chicago, ma
tional secretary. who Immediately
sent out several hundred kilograms to
ALI branches of the association re-
ouesting their united opposition TO
the District rent law. Each or the
local branches will urge their lndi-
Vidual chambers of commerce 10 urge
the United States active opposition TO
the proposed bill. Other organiza-
tfons, associations and prominent bus
mess men outside the association VIII
be communicated with in regard to
the bill.
officials Are Coming.
Announcement also was made today
that Mr.. Smith will arrive in Wash
ington from New York Saturday and
T. L Waugh, chairman OF the ma
tional associations legislative COM
mittee, will arrive Sunday. THESE
men will seek d conference with the
President.
Copies of Yesterdays star contain
ing the text of the proposed rent
bill has been sent 10 all the asso-
citation leaders throughout the coun-
try.
Much interest also has been at
taehcd to the coming convention OF
the National Association of Real
Estate Boards representing 500 cities
throughout the country. This con-
vention meets in Dallas January -
and it probably will take notice OF
the present fight against the rent
bill.
The suggestion made by the local
building owners and managers that
commission in place of the proposed
rent commissions be appointed, asks
that six commissioners be appointed,
one fo reach of the cost of living
subdivisions as set forth by the De
partment of Labor. Each commits
sioner would have control over one
of the six divisions, that consist of
housing, fHel, food. clothing, furnish
ing and miscellaneous costs.
The association suggests that re-
duced prices be given on all articles
to the "underpaid Government work
ers' so that the burden of providing
the money that Government has fall
ed to give its workers would not be
placed on the property owners en-
tirely, but would be evenly distrib-
uted.
The association urges the increase
in the pay of Government workers to
meet the cost of living upon the
ground that they are underpaid in
comparison with other workers, but
objects to being made the lone object
remedyinG the matter in part by hav-
ing to rent at reduced rentals"