Evening star., 1925-02-09
Legislation Now Expected to
Go Through, Though Pre-
else Form Not Outlined.
BLANTON ASSAILS PLAN
TO EXTEND COMMISSION
Unconstitutional, Socialistic and
Vicious, He Charges-Begg for
Curb of Some Kind.

4 NoOIluSer INtpl
sentative Begg of Ohio, member of
the Republican steering committee of
the House, notified House leaders to-
day that he desired enactment before
adjournment of Congress of legisla-
tion to regulate rentals in the Dis
trict of Columbia
Mr.. Coolidge did not specify the
form he believed the legislation
should take. but took the position
that mounting rentals in the Capital
had created conditions that Congress
should endeavor to correct.
Representative Begg said after this
conference that the President gave
him to understand during their talk
that he is anxious to see some form
of a rent law passed at once that will
adequately meet the local situation,
and inasmuch that the leaders of Con-
gress have been waiting for some def
mite word of this nature from the En-
ecutive, there is no reason, in his
opinion. why this legislation should
not now be put through without diff
Guilty.
Form of Law Not Decided.
The Ohio Representative, however,
was unable to predict just what form
finally acted upon. He did say that
he personally, and many others of the
House. were opposed to the so-called
Whaley rent control bill, which had
the Endorsement of the President. He
stated, also, that he has not studied
the rent bill favorably reported last
week by the Senate and House joint
District committee, but that he was
inclined to think it would answer the
purpose.
In the opinion of Representative
Begg. there is need for some form
of stringent rent control in Wash
ington. He said he so expressed
himself to the President today and
that the latter agreed with him.
Representative Begg believes that
rentals should be fixed by some au-
thorized body. This, he said, could be
vested in the present Rent Commits
sion, but he thinks that some of the
powers proposed to be given to the
latter body should not be extended.
For instance, after the commission
has fixed rentals, he thinks, the land
lord should have some say about re-
moving tenants in the event the lat
ter are found to be objectionable or
undesirable.
Representative Begg said that now
that he knows what the President
wants, he would take the mat
ter up with those in charge of the
legislative program in the House, and
that this much-needed legislation
probably would be given clear
track.
Declaring that the proposal to ex-
tend the life of the Rent Commission Is
unconstitutional socialistic and vicious
and should be eliminated from the pend
oil hn
situation, Representative Thomas L.
Blanton. Democrat, of Texas, today
filed his minority report.
He strongly supports provisions OF
the bill to prevent fraudulent trans
actions respecting real estate.
Representative Blantcn in his re-
port states that members out of
the 90 on the committee voted to re-
port this bill extending The life of
the present Rent Commission for two
more years. This bill, he explains,
has three titles. The first is ridicu-
lous. he said. but titles two and three
are salutary, constructive and neces-
sary and should be passed.
First Title Substitute.
He points out that title one is a
substitute for the bill sent to the
District committee by President Cool
idge and carries out the idea of his
bill. but instead of making the Rent
Commission a permanent institution
of the Government, merely extends
its life for two years.
He emphasizes that title two is
word for word the bill which he in
troduced in the House on January IA,
to prevent fraudulent transactions re-
specting real estate in the District. 1t
was approved by every member of the
Joint committee of the Senate and
House with not one vote against il.
Representative Blanton says. 1t was
incorporated in the committee bill
which the full Senate committee on
the District reported favorably and
which was then reported to the Sen
ate by Senator Copeland. Not one
member of the House District COM
mittee opposed this provision, Repre-
sentative Blanton points out, but ap-
proved it and incorporated 1t in its
bill favora bly, to the House by Repre-
sentative Lampert of Wisconsin on
January 6.
In discussing title three of the bill
favorably reported, Representative
Blanton calls attention that it is word
for word the bill which he introduced
in the House on January II 70 create
trict. to define, regulate and license
real estate brokers and real estate
statesmen and to provide penalty for
violations.
Approved by Committee.
Representative Blanton emphasizes
that this was unanimously approved
by the members of the joint commit
tee of the Senate and House and 1t
was made title 3 in the bill favor
ably reported to the Senate by Sen
ator Copeland and in the House by
Represe ntative Lampert-
Representative Blanton asserts that
under the Presidents bill the five
Commissioners have their salarie 3
raised from $4,000 to $4,000 and that
in addition to an attorney at $4,000.
they are given two assistant atta5.
news at $500 each and secretary
treasurer Ca new officer) at S3.50O,
and another new ,officer, a field engi-
neer at $4,000.
He warns his colleagues that in the
Presidents bill this commission has
power to appoint stenographers with
out limit, and it may also appoint
officers, employees and agents without
restriction.
Representative Blapton adds that
the bill absolutely destroys" right OF
private contract, fixes rents, disrupts
- g.