Evening star., 1942-04-29
0.P.A. Rent Plan
Rescinds MANY
Boosts Nearby
Thousands in Suburbs
To Benefit by Dote
Of Jan. !, 1941

With suburban areas of Virgins
and Maryland included in o. P. A.,
sweeping defense Area rent control
plan, speculation centered today on
ways Of administration and en-
fofcement Of control in nearby
communities.
The order of Price Administrator
Leon Henderson freezes rents and
services at the level of January l.
1941, In Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties in nearby Mary
land, and in Arlington and Fairfax
Counties and Alexandria City in
suburban Virginia. The freezing
date for rents is the same which
has been In force in the District
since the first Of this year.
Mr.. Henderson's order grants the
individual communities 60 days in
which to adjust rents to the desired
level. If control is not made ef-
fective within the time limit Federal
authorities are empowered to en-
force the order.
The problem in nearby Virginia,
It was pointed out, would appear
sinpler than Maryland's, since the
Virginia Legislature recently en-
powered Gov. Darden to set up rent
control boards in designated defense
areas.
District Control Suggested.
Another solution suggested for the
problem Is that the suburban areas
be placed under the District Rent
Administration, which has been
working for four months under a
law which Mr.. Henderson used as
q model for national rent control.
This plan would present many prob
esns. Property owners in Virginia
and Maryland would object to en-
forcement from the District and
opportionment of administration eX.
pense would be complicated ques-
ton.
Several thousand apartment and
home renters in nearby Virginia
probably will be affected by the
o. p. A. order because Of rent raises
made at many Of the larger housing
units since January !, 194l.
Af1ected also will be the initial
rents to be charged by such large
developments now under construc-
ton Is the 17,500-unit project in
Alexandria Of the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. Of New York and the
nearly 3O00-unit apartment project
- u~NnAg rnprA IN
southern Arlington County.
The o. p. A. explained that for
projects completed since January /,
1912, or after today, the initial
rental will be accepted as the frozen
ceiling, subject to the approval Of
the rent administrators who are
to be designated in each area.
Homes Rented Since Date Escape.
Many Government employees in
decentralized departments, such as
the Census Bureau, transferred to
Richmond, have rented their houses
this year, and consequently their
rates cannot be frozen at the Janu-
airy /. 194l, level. In such cases the
firyt rent charged will apply. sub
ject to the approval of the local rent
administrator.
Tho 1912 Virginia General As
sembly passed bill by Delegate
Charles r. Fenwick Of Arlington
County and Delegate Maurice D.
Rosenberg OF Alexandria giving the
Governor authority to appoint
emergency rent control boards for
areas previously designated by the
Federal Government as emergency
rent areas.
The once Of Price Administra-
toms decision to put ceilings on
rents along with other prices ON
cially wrote finis TO these projected
State boards.
The Governor had set up areas
IN Norfolk, Princess Anne, Norfolk
County, Portsmouth, Newport News
and Hampton and Elizabeth City,
but, having been advised Of the
action contemplated by the Federal
Government, did not name the per-
sonnel Of the control boards.
The Federal Government under
the o. P. A. will administer the new
setup. The o. P. A. said there
Is no conflict between its regula-
tions and the Virginia law.
Landlords Plead Hardship.
Varying reaction to the control
order was voiced by apartment
owners and real estate operators in
the nearby sections. The plan, &C
cording to M. A. Mace Of Westover
Apartments in Arlington, presents
an impossible situation"
with an increased operating
cost, we'll probably be losing money
every week" Mr.. Mace said
Rents in Westover were raised last
November ranging from $4 to $l2 ar
apartment per month. Mr.. Mace
remarked: I'm afraid Mr.. Hender-
ton needs an education"
'Tt doesn't look exactly fair,
commented Gustave Ring, owner o.
Colonial and Arlington Village. &c,
really can't judge now exactly hov
much Of a hardship will be imposed
because Of the discrepancy between
rents and prices Of other commod
tiles"
There have been rent increases ir
both the Ring developments since
January 1. l941, ranging from 81 81
q month at Colonial Village to $3.7;
a month at Arlington Village
Arlington Village had a still earlier
increase IN 1910, which presumably
would not be rescinded, although
the second increase would be.
Mrs. Charles r. Hooh, Alexandra
Real estate operator, said the new
order would impose no restriction
on her business, since her once hai
not raised rents "for quite som'
time"
Silence ut Buckingham.
Allen Kanstra, vice president o
Buckingham Community, another
large development, refused to mak'
comment. Rents at Buckingham
have been raised in the last twt
years.
District Administrator Robert F
Cogswell reported that many com
plants Of exorbitant rents hav
been received from residents il
suburban sections outside his juris