Evening star., 1941-04-25
D. {. Rents Top
9LargeCities,
Hearing Is Told
Union Council Backs
Control Measure at
House Inquiry
BY JAMES f. CHINN.

Although their construction and
operating costs are higher, nine large
American cities have lower rents
than Washington, the special De-
fenSe Subcommittee of the House
District Committee was told today
by representatives of the Industrial
Union Council &C. I. o..
The councils representatives ap-
peared before the subcommittee TO
indorse the Randolph rent control
bill.
H. Seymour Howard, member of
the councils Housing Committee,
said rents in New York are 88 per
cent of what they are here, in De-
troit 81 per cent and in Baltimore
II per cent. The rents here. he said,
coupled with the lack of housing,
might impede the national defense
program because workers might be
discouraged from coming here or else
might go home if unable to find de-
cent housing accommodations at
reasonable rentals.
Hunter Morrison, consultant to the
councils Housing Committee, said
construction and operating costs are
higher in Philadelphia, Detroit, ST.
Louis. Pittsburgh, San Francisco,
Seattle. Boston, Chicago and CleVe-
land than in Washington, but the
rents are higher here.
Higher Profits Suggested.
Chairman Randolph of the Dis
trict committee, who sponsored the
proposed rent control legislation,
asked the reason.
1T suggests higher profits" the
witness replied.
Calling attention to the lower
rentals in Baltimore, Representa-
tive D'AleSandro, Democrat. of
Maryland. suggested an exodus of
Washington residents to that city.
"Over there" he said. we will
give you low rents, vote and no
rats"
Questioned by several spectators,
Mr.. Morrison said he was paying
an "atrocious" $50 a month rent
for a room in a house at least 10
years old. In 1887. in the State
of Washington from which he
came, he explained, he paid only
SIS a month rent for room in a
modern home.
FavOrs Legislation.
Charles S. Duke, chairman of
the councils housing committee,
said the present campaign for pas
sage of the rent-control bill is the
result of work started by the COM
mittee in June last year, and added:
The alarming facts that Wash
ington rents are already higher
than any other large city in the
country, that the defense program
is bringing new employees to the
District at the rate of 5000 month,
and that there is chronic lack OF
decent dwellings for less than $40
a month, convinced the commit
tee that some sort OF rent-control
legislation was necessary.
Cecil Owen, president OF the coun-
ell. said housing is in the nature OF
a public utility and should be con-
trolled like gas, electric and such
utilities. He also declared there Is
a serious lack of housing accommo-
dations here for people in the mo
mans land" group-those who earn
a little too much to occupy public
housing facilities and not enough
to buy their own homes or pay high
rentals in privately dwellings.
others IudorSe RilI
Others who indorsed the bill were
MILAN L. Egbert, who also repre-
sented the council, and Mrs. Eleanor
Fowler, president of C. I. o. Aux
iliaries. She declared: "A housing
emergency is not threatening, it is
here"
Alfred D. Calvert. president of the
Lincoln Park Citizens Association,
said his organization had approved
the bill but objected to the 100000
a-year salaries it provides for mem
bers of the proposed rent control
commission.
Those salaries he declared, ARE
way out of line"