Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-06-13
Protection From Exorbitant Rent
Is Given Millions Of Americans
46 States Are
Included In New
0PA Restraint
Landlords Must
Revoke Increases
Of Recent Weeks

Of Recent Weeks
WASHINGTON, D. C.-(SNS)
More than million Negroes in
46 states live in areas where the
Office of Price Administration
has taken the first steps to re-
duce and stabilize rents, it was
reported this week.
Thus far, defense-rentaI areas
have been designated in every
state except North Dakota and
Idaho. The recommendations GOV.
er rents charged for everything
from a house to trailer-flats
apartments, tenements, single
houses, duplex houses, boarding
and tourist camps, whether own
ed or operated by individuals, cor
and rooming houses, hotel rooms
porations or the Government.
Specifically, the recommends.
ton asks that rents be held to
the charges which were in effect
on stated date. That date is the
''maximum-rent date" Special
regulations will apply to rents for
space which was not rented on the
maximum rent date.
INCREASES REMOVED
In four-fifths of the areas so
far announced, the maximum-rent
date is March /, 1912. but in the
remainder the date goes back to
July 1, April 1, or January 1, of
1941, depending upon local rent
ing conditions.
Landlords and local officials in
the defense-rental areas are given
60 days from the order of the
Office of Price Administration to
get rents in line. If this is not
done, the Office of Price Admin
istration can step in and order
rents reduced.
The first 20 areas were ANNOUNCE
ed early in March and in them
the 6G-day period for local action
has expired, permitting OPA to
move in at any time to control
rents and order reductions where
increases have been made above
the charges in effect on the maxi
mum-rent date.
ACTION EXPECTED
Seven areas with large Negro
populations, included IN the tirst
twenty where action IS expected
shortly are with maximum-rent
oates shown IN parenthesis):
Hampton koads, Va. april /,
1941); Birmingham and Mobile,
Ala. april l, 1941); Bridgeport,
Conn. (April /, 1941); Cleveland
duly /, bad; and Akron april
l, 194D, Ohio; Youngstown and
Warren. Ohio april l., 194D.
The action taken in these first
areas will serve as pattern for
other areas where OPA finds that
it's recommendations have not
peen met.
There are varying reports on
how much Negroes spend annual
ly for rent, but it is estimated at
well over $100,000,00O a year.
Bluntly declaring that 1--WE
cannot and will not tolerate
wholesale evictions of the war
workers." Price Administrator
Henderson has served notice that
Landlords who evict tenants in
the hope of evading maximum
rent regulations are engaging in
a futile and unpatriotic act"
These are official questions
and answers issued by the Office
of Price Administration:
@. ] live in one of the defense
rental areas designated by Mr..
Henderson and my rent has been
increased since March 1, 1912,
the maximum rent date which
Mr.. Henderson has just recon-
mended for my area. How soon
may l expect cut in rent?
A. Under the Emergency Price
Control Act, the Federal Govern
ment cannot order rents reduced
for 60 days. During this waiting
period. any reduction is up to
your landlord or to State and
local action.
O. What will happen at the end
of so days?
A. #. at the end of so DAYS,
Mr.. Henderson finds that his
recommendations for the area.
covering maximum rents and the
restraint of evictions. have not
heen met, he can step in at anv
time and regulate rents. If on
the other hand. his recommends
+icrs have been fully complied
with, there will be no need for
Federal regulation.
@. Does the Act protect the
tenant against eviction?
A. Yes. It is unlawful for any
"ersor 70 remove a tenant or re-
fnse to renew lease because the
tenant has taken or proposes to
take action under the rent-controT
r""'1lations. In me enforcement
IT rent ceilings, Mr.. Henderson,
has broadpowers REGULATING rent
re- r-acstiilc,.n ss irc,Yldg;ny the reccv-
erv Of ,HossessioIi = 81 If0hl housing as ID.
commodations. s