Evening star., 1941-09-23
Representative Dewey
Fears Rent Law Nav
Cause Tax Strike
Warns Subcommittee
September, 1910, Rates
Were Too Low
Continued From First Page)

control bill before the subcommittee
one sponsored by his off1ce-did
not set a specific date for fixing a
ceiling on rents, and disagreed with
Mr.. Dewey that September last year
was low rental period. In fact, he
said, at that time, rents in Wash
ington had reached "a generally rea-
sonable rate,
Although Mr.. Borders said he
found himself in full accord" with
many of the provisions contained in
the bill that would freeze rentals at
the rate of year ago-a measure
sponsored by organizations claiming
to represent SIS per cent of apart
ment house oWners-he devoted
much of his testimony to support the
bill drafted in his Office. This meas
ure would make the President
virtual rent car in the District and
authorize him to empower some Fed
eral official to be q rent control
administrator here.
He said the Office of Price Admin
istration still feels that the bill
which originated in his Office makes
ample provision for setting up a rent
administration which would deal
satisfactorily with the present emer-
gency rent situation in the District
of Columbia"
Cites Two Deficiencies.
Mr.. Borders declared the measure
backed by apartment house owners
is deficient" in two basic respects.
First, he explained, it does not
accord with the general principles
for rent control legislation embodied
in the Federal Emergency Price
Control Act of 194l now pending be-
fore the House Banking Committee.
Second, he declared, the bill I'm
vites litigation"
In general" he added. this bill
does not give sufficient weight to
determination by the admins
traitor, and, in the last anlysis, COM
pels the Municipal Court and the
District Commissioners themselves
to serve as rent administrators"
Mrs, Helen Duey Hoffman, rep
resenting the Washington Housing
Association, Endorsed in principle
the bill introduced at the request OF
real estate interests. She said, how
ever, the rent administrator pro-
vided for in the measure should be
appointed by the President rather
than the Commissioners. The ad-
ministrator, she explained, might
feel freer" if selected by the Presi-
dent.
In general, Mrs. Hoffman declared
the bill would set up machinery for
"expedient, inexpensive rent con-
troll"
Mrs. Myrtle De Months, 1346 Fair
mont street NV, told the subcom-
mittee landlords in Washington face
unusual problems. One of the prob
lens which affects rooming house
operators. she pointed out, is the
high cost of rooming house electric
ity, which Is 38 per cent greater
than rates paid by nom commercial
householders.
Hit Low Income Groups.
Mrs. Cynthia Hannum of the Con-
sumers' Committee of the District
Defense Council, said in the first two
weeks of operation of the organiza-
tion's rent complaint Office it re-
ceived 100 reports of rent increases
The rising rents, she declared, are
hitting chiefly the low income groups
Most of the persons reporting
rent increases" she said, indicated
a decided fear of the landlord. Over
one-half asked that their names not
be used for fear the landlord would
hear of it and they would be asked
to leave their homes with no place
to go. In one known case, a tenant
was actually asked to leave when the
landlord discovered she had reported
| her rent increase"
Although Chairman Randolph OF
the subcommittee had planned tc
end hearings today so many other
witnesses asked to be heard that
he arranged to hold another hear
Ing Thursday at 10 am.