Evening star., 1941-10-09
Fair Rent Base Date
SET al Sept. |, 1910,
In Arlington
Plan Is to Let Tenants
Appeal Increases Made
After That Dote

Rents in effect September /, 1910,
were selected as bases on which un-
justified increases may be claimed,
at the organization meeting Of the
Arlington County Fair Rent Com
mittee of the Northern Virginia Re-
gional Defense Council last night.
The date was chosen, Chairman
I. Chance Buchanan explained, be-
cause OF proposed rent-control leg
islation for the District of Column
bia, which uses that date as a
base. 1t is said to have been in
aorsed by organized landlords.
The Arlington committee was CT
the opinion that because of the
proximity of the county to Wash
lngton, similar problems prevail and
the same conditions exist in the
metropolitan area of Virginia as in
Washington.
Activities Elsewhere Cited.
The committee met with Karl
Borders, chief of the Rent Division
OF the Office of Price Administra-
ton, who outlined the activities of
similar rent groups in 50 communi-
ties throughout the United States.
Mrs. Alma Ramsey, executive sec
retary of the Northern Virginia Re-
gional Defense Council, also attend
ed the conference.
Mr.. Buchanan announced the
Rent Committee is not inviting
complaints from tenants whose
rents have been raised since Sep
tember l, 1910, but will accept all
rent complaints where the tenant
thinks an unjustified increase has
been made.
Forms supplied from the office of
Leon Henderson, Federal price ad-
mlnistrator, will be given to the
complaining tenants and the af-
fected landlords.
Hearings on the tenants charges
Will be conducted in executive ses-
sion by the Rent Committee. Mr.
Buchanan emphasized that the COM
mlttee intends to hear charges OF
individual tenants, only, and not
complaints by organizations.
Protected by Closed Hearings.
The executive sessions were de-
cided upon, Mr.. Buchanan ex-
planned, as protection to both ten
ant and landlord. Mr.. Borders told
| the committee last night that where
the complaints were made publicly
tenants sometimes were evicted
He said closed hearings would pro-
tect landlords from unjustified
! charges of profiteering.
The committee is seeking to es-
tablish headquarters in the court
house where Mrs. Spencer Pitts, Sec
retaly, will receive complaints
Until headquarters established
complaints may be made at Mr.
Buchanan's home, 1921 North Fill.
more street.
Lacking legal authority to en-
force it's findings at the present
time, Mr.. Buchanan said the COM
mittee will make public its conclu-
sions and depend on the pressure
of public opinion to remedy any in.
equitable situation.
Project Occupants to Be Heard.
| While no organization may file
complaints, the chairman explained
petitions from tenants in any large
housing project may be filed ano
the committee will then determine
whether to hear the entire group
or a smaller number delegated a.
spokesmen.
Among the first complaints ex-
pected to be heard are charges re-
Gently made by tenants of Westovel
Apartments, where increases of from
Sc to $3.50 for each apartment are
to become effective the first of next
month, and in Buckingham Com
munity, were rent increases have
been made in the last two years.