Evening star., 1935-05-08
RENT ANDL|QU0R
BILLS APPROVED
House District Body Also
Acts on Four Minor
Measures.

Bills designed to tighten the Dis
trict liquor control act and providing
for the establishment Of a special
commission to fix and control rents
were favorably reported to the House
today by the District Committee.
The committee also reported favor
ably four other bills. two Of them
authorizing the construction of two
new bridges and an underpass across
New York avenue northeast. in the
area between Florida and West Vir-
glnia avenues. The other two meas
ures. minor in character, would
change the name Of the German Or
phan Asylum Association to the Ger
man Orphan Home, and provide sale
ary not to exceed $1,000 for the in
structor of military science and tao
tics in the Washington high schools.
Action was taken by the committee
in executive session. The doors were
closed at the request of Representa-
tive Patman, Democrat, of Texas.
Broader Powers Sought.
The liquor control bill, sponsored by
the Alcohol Beverage Control Board,
is intended primarily to prevent the
consumption of liquor in establish
ments having on sale licenses after the
legal dead line on the SALE It also
would give the Control Board authority
to suspend as well as revoke licenses
Of liquor dealers.
The committee, however, made sew
eral amendments in the bill. one of
which would reduce the local tax on
light wines from IS cents to 10 cents
a gallon. Another would limit the
value of advertising material given to
retailers by manufacturers or distribu-
tors to $40.
The bill creating rent commission
was introduced by Representative
Ellenbogen, Democrat. of Pennsyl-
vania, and it was reported without
public hearing. 1t declares an en-
ergency exists in housing conditions in
the District and sets up commission
similar to that which existed during
the war period to regulate rentals.
The commission would be composed
of three members appointed by the
President. The salary of each COM
lIllSolOilCl WOulo NC 3O,OOO q yCdAs AAiC
District tax assessor would serve ex-
oficio and as an advisory assistant to
the commission.
Action Came as Surprise.
The action of the committee in re-
porting this bill came somewhat as a
surprise and in the face of request
by Roger J. Whiteford, counsel for
the Real Estate Legislative Commit
tee for public hearings.
One of the two bridges to be con-
structed across Florida avenue will
carry the tracks Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad into a commercial area, where
q number of warehouses are to be
constructed. The other bridge and
the underpass are intended for the
use of pedestrians and vehicular
traffic.
Two Of the bills favorably reported
already have been passed by the
Senate. These are the ones providing
a salary for the instructor of military
science and tactics in the high schools
and the other changing the name OF
the German Orphan Asylum.
The committee in acting on the A.
B. C. liquor control bill did not amend
it to provide for abolition of the So
called hidden bars" It decided to
let the House vote on this question
when the Dirksen bill, designed Tor
that purpose, Is called up for cons1d-
Grafton. This measure has been on
the House calendar for nearly
month, but has not been called up
due to numerous protests.
Denies Emergency Exists.
Whiteford's appeal for hearings on
any proposed rent-control legislation
was sent to all members OF the Dis
trict Committee. He declared no
housing emergency exists, that general
rent increases have been small and
that returns on real estate invest
ments also are small. Whitefords let
ter said some statements made at the
Central Labor Unions mass meeting
last week had no foundation in fact.
In addition Whiteford said his COM
mittee had made a thorough study OF
the rent situation and desired to pre-
sent its findings to the House Com
mittee. The Ellenbogen bill, he said,
affects tens of thousands Of property
ovners who should have the right to