Evening star., 1941-11-06
SenateGroup
Approves Rent
Control Bill
Putmon Amendment
Killed; Three Other
Changes Made
Earlier Story on Page BID
Ry JAMES r. CHINN.

The Senate District Committee
this afternoon gave its quick in =
dorsement 10 the House approved
rent control bill, subject to four
tentatively adopted changes which
included elimination Of the Patman
amendment 10 allow rents 10 be fixed =
on the basis of the investment value
of the property.
The other tentatively accepted
changes would
l. Require that the rent admin. .
istrator nominated by the Commls-
sioners be confirmed by the Senate,
Just as presidential appointments ,
are handled
2 Make appointments on the stan
of the administrator conditioned on =
approval by the Commissioners.
3. Require hotels TO post rates and
give the administrator authority IN :
making adjustments to take into
consideration increased operating
expenses.
TwO-HOur Public Hearing.
Action of the committee was taken
at a brief executive session, follow
ing a tWo-hour public hearing DUR
ing which vigorous protests were
made against the Patman amend
ment, added to the bill in the House.
Chairman McCarran announced
that final action would be taken
on the measure as soon as the COM
mittee receives a clean print con-
tanning the tentatively approved
amends. A meeting for this pur-
pose probably will be held Monday.
Indications are the tentatively
approved amendment requiring
Senate confirmation of the rent
administrator may be rejected be-
fore the committee finally approves
the bill Chairman McCarran, 1t
was learned. is to be advised that
there is no legal precedent giving
the Senate control over appoint
ments of the Commissioners.
In addition TO the four major
changes, the committee decided to
write into the bill provision re-
quiring the rent administrator to
file semi-annual reports to Congress.
Under this plan. it was pointed out,
Congress will be advised periodically
as to developments in the rent sit.
uation in the District.
The committee rejeAed an
amendment suggested at the hear
ing by Representative Dewey, Re-
publican, of Illinois which would
allow 10 per cent increase in the
January 1.level of rents for houses
or multiple apartments renting for
$50 or less per month. Mr.. Dewey
explained such provision would
protect landlords against losses
from possible vacancies.
Affects Low Income Group.
The suggested change was opposed
by Karl Borders. chief Of the rent
section of o. P. M. and Mrs. Helen
Duey Hoffman of the Washington
Housing Association. both of whom
pointed out that people in the low
est salary groups live in houses and
apartments renting for $50 or less,
and any increase in rentals would
constitute a decided hardship on
them
The amendment to require hotels
to post standard rates and author
izing an adjustment on the basis
of a showing of increased overhead
resulting from pay roll increments
and other operating expenses was
agreed on tentatively to meet OBJ
jections of hotel owners.
Mr.. Borders opposed any change
in the provision relating to hotels.
He argued that an amendment pro-
posed by the hotel interests would
inject special language and consid-
Grafton which are already con-
tanned in the general provisions of
the bill.
The administrator, he declared,
nov has the power under the bill
to do what the hotel men want
done"
Joseph c. McGarraghy, repre-
senting the Washington Hotel As
sociation at the hearing, proposed
an amendment to exclude hotels
from the January l level and per-
NIT the administrator to fix rates
after a review
Would Freeze Rooms Use.
In freezing hotel rates. he ex-
planned, the legislation also would
freeze the use of a room. Thus, he
tSee RENTS, Page 2-XJ