Evening star., 1942-04-29
0.p.A. Rent Plan
Rescinds Many
Boosts Nearby
Thousands in Suburbs
To Benefit by Dote
Of Jan. !, 194l

With suburban areas of Virginia
and Maryland included in o. P. IS
sweeping defense area rent control
plan, speculation centered today on
ways of administration and en-
forcement of control in nearby
communities.
The order of Price Administrator
Leon Henderson freezes rents and
services at the level of January /,
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 go 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
1t was pointed out, would appear
simpler than Marylands, 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
o model for national rent control.
This plan would present many prob
lens. 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
kllduC db uldily VI VIC 4o1 6CA AAcAoAAA6
units since January /, 1941.
Affected also will be the initial
rents to be charged by such large
developments now under construc-
ton as the large project in
Alexandria of the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. of New York and the
nearly 3000-unit apartment project
Of the Defense Homes Corp. in
southern Arlington County.
The o. p. A. explained that for
projects completed since January l,
1912. or after today, the initial
rental will be accepted rs 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
decentr allied departments. such as
the Census Bureau, transferred to
Richmond, have rented their houses
this year, and consequently theil
rates cannot be frozen at the Janu-
ary /, 194l. level. In such cases the
first rent charged will apply, sub
ject to the approval Of the local rent
administrator.
The 1912 Virginia General As
sembly passed a 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 FOL
areas previously designated by the
Federal Government as emergency
rent areas.
The Office of Price Administra-
tion's decision to put ceilings or
rents along with other prices Off
cially wrote finis to these projected
State boards.
The Governor had set up area'
IN Norfolk, Princess Anne, NorfolE
County, Portsmouth, Newport News
and Hampton and Elizabeth City
but, having been advised OF the
action contemplated by the Fedora
Government, did not name the per-
sonnel of the control boards.
The Federal Government undel
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 contro
order was voiced by apartment
owners and real estate operators II
the nearby sections. The plan. &C
cording to NJ A. Mace of Westove
Apartments in Arlington, present
an impossible situation"
with an increased operatin,
cost. we'll probably be losing none.
every week" Mr.. Mace said.
Rents In Westover were raised las
November ranging from s4 to sl2 al
apartment per month. Mr.. Mac
remarked: I'm afraid Mr.. Hender
son needs an education"
1T doesn't look exactly fair,
commented Gustave Ring, owner o
Colonial and Arlington Village. 50
really can't judge now exactly hoy
much OF hardship will be impose'
because of the discrepancy betweel
rents and prices of other commod
tiles"
There have been rent increases il
both the Ring developments sine
January i, 1941. ranging from $2.5
a month at Colonial Village to $3.7
. month at Arlington Village
Arlington Village had a still earle
increase IN 1910, which presumabl
would not be rescinded, although
the second increase would be.
Mrs. Charles r. Hooff, Alexandra
Real estate operator, said the neV
order would impose no restriction
on her business, since her once ha
not raised rents for quite som
time"
Silence at Buckingham.
Allen Kanstra, vice president {
Buckingham Community. anothe
large development, refused to max
comment. Rents at Buckingham
have been raised in the last tw
years.
District Administrator Robert !
Cogswell reported that many com
plants of exorbitant rents hay
been received from residents
suburban sections outside his juris