Evening star., 1941-11-18
NewStepsT Taken
To Get Action
On Rent Bill
Committee Members
To Talk to Potmon;
Fl Cox Shifts Stond
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


Two new moves were made today
10 break the impasse delaying final
legislative action on the District rent
control bill.
First, three ranking members OF
the House District Committee ar
ranged to meet at $50 m. tomor-
row with Representative Patman,
Democrat, of Texas. in an effort to
get him to withdraw his objection to
sending the measure to joint con-
ference of the House and Senate.
Second, Acting Chairman Cox of
the Rules Committee suddenly re-
versed a former opinion that his
group is not interested" in the rent
control legislation and indicated con-
sideration would be given to an ap-
plication for rule designed to expe-
dite final action if the conference
between Mr.. Patman and members
OF the District Committee fails.
Patman Hopeful.
Representative Patman, who yes
terday baked House consideration
of amendments made to the bill in
the Senate, said he is willing to al
low the measure to 60 to conference
If he is given assurance that changes
will be made to protect tenants
whose rents were too high January
/. the date on which rents would
be frozen.
Appearing before the Rules Com
n1ittee this morning, Representative
Patman revealed plans for his con-
ference with the three members of
the District Committee and declared
he was hopeful something would be
worked out" The three members,
all of whom will serve as House
conferees if the bill goes to confer
ence, are Chairman Randolph and
Representative Schultz of Indiana
and Dirksen of Illinois, ranking ma
jority and minority members, re-
spectively.
Mr. Patman told the Rules Com
mittee his ill-fated amendment was
''crudely gotten up and explained
that his purpose in hurridly offering
II when the House had the bill under
consideration November 4 was to
protect tenants.
Won't Insist on Valuation Plan.
? Acting Chairman Cox said num-
ber of House members had made
inquiries about rule designed to
circumvent Mr.. Patman's objection
But since steps have been taken to
make a rule necessary. Representa-
tive Cox said to Mr.. Patman:
You 30 ahead and see what you
can do.1 -.
Later, Representative Patman told
newspapermen he would not insist
on his plan to Ak rents on the basis
of valuation
There are other factors on which
4 fair rental can be determined he
said. Il never intended that a val
uation or cost accounting system be
used in fixing rentals. My objection
Is that the bill in its present form
does not protect the tenant who
was paying twice as much as he
should January l. The bill provides
an escalator for the landlord going
up, but none for the tenant going
down"
Randolph Sees Time Saved.
While Mr. Patman was appearing
before the Rules Committee, Rep
resentative Randolph issued state
ment explaining he had conferred
this morning with Representatives
Patman. Schultz and Dirksen as we'll
as the House parliamentarian, Lewis
Deshler. AS result of these con-
ferences, he expressed the belief the
meeting tomorrow with Mr.. Patman
would bring about "a satisfactory
understanding"
If not, he said, the Rules Com
mittee would be asked for a rule.
There must be no delay" he de-
clared. by the procedure We have
mapped out there is strong
probability we may save time"
When the House passed the bill,
November a. it added an amendment
sponsored by Mr.. Patman which
provided that investment value of
a property should be a factor in fix
ing a fair rental. The Senate elm
mated this amendment.