The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-14
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Federal Rent Control
To Be Greatly Expended
Some Defense Workers
Suffer From Home Lack
Sen. Morris Bslks AZ
Some Of F.D.R.'s Moves
NASHINGToN-M Mere than
200 towns ard cities with q popn-
lsfion Of 20 million viii soon be
brought under a system Of drss-
tic federal renacontrol. Chaotic
conditions in many war industry
areas are wreckine the health Of
Thousands Of workers and low
erinK their output Of arms
In some places toilers are
sleeping in parks. fields and In
sanitary shaoxs reminiscent Of
lp2p-le2s ..Hooservilles. Others
occupy hot beds" Greedy land
lords have cooked up several
neat tricks TO reap profits IN de-
fiance of the Law. Unable TO
hike charges under existing stat
utes, they notify tenants that
they plan TO sell.
Panioky occupants are fright
ened into buying al excessive
figures In order TO keep 4 roof
over their hesds. When they
cannot continue payments. they
are thrown out. Then the stunt
n repeated on the next group
Of purchasers.
A confidential survey by the
Office of Price Administration
disclosed that more man hours
of production have been lost
through operation Of this process
than by strikes. The father must
spend several days finding = new
dwelling for his family after
each exodus.
Washington officials are eager
10 crack down on perpetrators of
these hardships. They may rule
that defense employees homes
can be sold only after an APP
praisai by national authorities.
thereby protecting the buyers
against ruinous prices. Or they
may freeze the couniry's living
space by banning unwarranted
evictions for the duration.
President Rooseveit,s old friend
and admirer-Ceorge w. Norris
Of Nebraska --suffers some
panrs because of government sc-
tons since Pearl Hsrbor. After
months Of silence the veteran de-
liherstely uttered sharp warn
inrs against White House domi-
nation and "dictatorial trends"
His remarks amazed presidential
aides.
Although the senator voted
against the 1917 declaration OF
war. ne has been an ardent sup
porter Of FDR's foreign policies.
But he has entertained misgiv-
fngs regarding congressional
grants Of power and the chief
executives disposition TO stretch
them 10 the limit He worries
lest the legislative branch should
become completely subordinate
under the stress of the crisis. He
fears that certain civil and Geo.
nomic rights threatened with OBJ
solescence or extinction may
never be regained.
He may stimulate congress to
exercise its authority more Wig
orously. In fact, II In generally
believed that his timely protests
prevented the president from IL
naming an economic car" and
ca polishing the 10 per cent
parity price by immediate exec
utive decree rather than by legis-
lstion. For the moment. thanks
20 the elder Progressive. the
head man has not over-ridden
or hy-passed Capitol Hill.
Legislators returning 10 WASH
ington bring word Of alarming
popular discomfort with manage
ment of the war. For the first
time people are aware Of the
confusion. delays and inefficien-
ey which prevail in high places
They no longer label as fifth
columnists" reporters. radio COM
mentators and other critics of
national policies and person
alisies-
Voters cannot understand why
the United States is confronted
by sczrcitiex of steel. scrap. rub
Der. food. etc. while blocksded
Germany shows no signs Of SINH
lar weaknesses in her srmor.
They want 20 know the reason
for Production Chief Donald NJ.
Nelson's waiting nine months
after Pearl Harbor before an
nouncing he intended 10 get
tough They are excited about
recurring reports from acknowl-
edged experts Major Alexander
De seversky and MAJOR Al Will
isins among others that certain
bsilyhooed plane models are in
ferior To the enemy'x They ask
why the navy has not wiped oct
the submarine menace. They
wish FDR would enlist the serv-
ices Of capable men now on the
outside looking in Herbert
Hoover. Alfred T. Smith, James
Farley Jnnu i Rs&koh A W