Evening star., 1941-04-06
Citizens Oppose
Rent Control
Commission.
Federation Report
Denies Shortage
Of Housing

Virtually unanimous opposition to
control commission for the District
was voted last night by the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations on
recommendation of its Committee
on Law and Legislation.
Only Delegate A. D. Calvert Of
Lincoln Park was recorded in the
negative on the report, which called
undesirable legislation.
The group also opposed any change
in the use of natural gas in the Dis
trict until further investigation re-
veals the change would be in the
public interest. This recommended
ton, advanced by the body'S Public
Utilities Committee, provoked the
sharpest debate of the evening.
In another move the delegates
agreed to seek the cooperation of
member associations in canvassing
the housing vacancies in their re-
spectiVe territories for the Housing
Committee of the District Defense
Council.
Housing Shortage Denied.
While opposing the proposed rent
control measure, the committee re-
port made it clear that it did not
disapprove the principle of rent con-
troll under proper safeguards and
where emergency conditions exist.
But the report denied the existence
of any shortage at present and cited
nearly dozen defects in the bill.
Delegates applauded the compre-
henslveness of the study which was
made for them by Ernest F.. Henry,
delegate of the Petworth Associa-
ton
Harry S. Wender, chairman of the
Law Committee, told the delegates
the present bill was introduced by
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee at the request
OF the Washington Industrial Union
Council &c. I. o. which prepared it.
The committee held the only real
remedy for housing shortage lies in
provision of adequate supply rather
than IN regulation of rent of exist
ing dwellings. Rent control should
be resorted to only in the event that
new construction is not rapid
enough to take care of the need, it
added
More Efficient Use Urged.
1t was also suggested that more
efhclent use of present housing
might be developed through such
means as improving Transportation
10 extend the committing area.
Admitting that before the ade-
ouate housing can be obtained.
steps to maintain fair rent levels
might be necessary, the commit
tee said that before rent control
legislation should be enacted. pre-
llminary machinery should be set
up to find out factually the va
cancy ratios of each class and
level OF housing Regulation, it
added, should apply only to the
class or level where shortage was
shown after public hearings.
Administration of rent control
should be by residents fairly rep
resentlng the community at large
and once emergency ceases, control
should cease. the report said.
Mr.. Calvert asked that the re-
port be filed rather than approved.
He said he thought some protec-
tion might be needed for the
transientS coming here against ex-
orbitant rent charges.
mo Reliable Data"
The committee insisted no "re-
liable data has been gathered by
any authorized or recognized
agency establishing the existence
Of a housing shortage emergency
in any class or level of dwellings
In the District of Columbia at the !
present time"
Among the defects cited were that |
the present bill provides no termi-
nation for the control commission, |
and no provision is made for Dis
trict personnel on the commission
or in the administration of the |
control.
Principal attacks on the natural
gas recommendation came from
(See FEDERATION, Page B-30