The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-03
WATERBURY, GETS
ORDER ON RENTS
Continued from Page u

ed out, has had no authority to force
any rent reductions.
The mayor expressed the opinion
that after expiration of the 6o,day
period, the burden would rest on
the landlord to prove that any in
crease in rent was necessary. The
entire problem, he said, was a grave
one and raised many issues, such
as how the federal regulations will
affect the states summary process
and eviction statutes.
Similar Orders
Mr.. Henderson, in his order, said
that similar rental ceilings would
be fixed in many other defense
areas. More than 200 such areas
have been surveyed.
1--WE are not going to permit any
one to profiteer in rents at the eX-
pense of defense workers, families
of enlisted men, civilian personnel
of military establishments and
civilian residents of defense areas
so far as we can prevent it," Mr..
Henderson said.
There is no form of profteer-
ing that strikes more severely at
these groups than unWarranted inn
creases in rents.
I'm sections of the country where
large defense plants and Army
environments have sprung up with
resultant sharp increases in popu-
lation, rents have scared beyond
all reason, placing a distressing
burden upon men and women Civ
ing their best efforts to war pro-
duction."
Finding On Waterbury
Mr.. Henderson made the follow
ing findings in regard to housing in
the Waterbury defense area:
l. An acute shortage of housing
accommodations has resulted from
one or more of the following fac
tors: (a) increased employment re-
fecting expansion of war activi-
ties; Cb) influx of production work.
ers and their families; Co influx of
families OF military and naval per-
sonnet.
2. Substantial and widespread in
creaSes in rents have occurred, af-
fecting most of the rental housing
accommodations with result that
rents prevailing in the area are not
generally fair and equitable.
3. New construction in the area
by private industry and by the
Government has not been suiilcient
to restore a normal rental market
for housing accommodations.
Gov. Hurley To Confer
Hartford. Conn, March 3-(UP)
Gov. Hurley said he was leaving
tonight for Washington to confer
with Price Administrator Leon
Henderson and Office of Civilian
| Defense Director James M. Lands
concerning rent ceilings and de-
Tense precautions in the state.
Henderson has set up three rent
control and housing areas IN Con-
necticut, at Bridgeport, Waterbury
and Hartford New Britain, and an
nounced rents should not exceed
those of April /, 1910. He gave To-
cal fair rent committees go days to
bring them in line.
Gov. Hurley said he would try to
impress Henderson with the neces-
city of keeping our local fair rent
committees" and that he would ask
the administrator to "let me have
one of our Connecticut men as ad7
ministrator" in case the federal
agency moves in to take over the
rent problem.
AS for his conference with Lam
dis, the governor said Il am going
to try and find out where the urisy-
diction lies" as regards instructions
sent out for defense precautions,
At the present time, there have
been conflicts among OCD, Army
and stat Defense Council orders,
and the governor said he felt that
one agency should have the sole
say-So about precautions.