Evening star., 1942-11-19
Equal Priority Plan
Indicates Further
War arHousing in D. {.
Porter Of OPA Rent
Office Tells Realtors
OF Division Policy
!: By FRED P. MORHART, Jr.,
Star Staff Corresnondsnt

BY FRED P. MORHART, Jr,
Star Staff Correspondent.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. l9.-Realtors
OF the Nation today had assurances
Of equal treatment with the Gov
e1 1nment on material priorities for
n4w construction and repair work
The statement of policy came from
Fl lul A. Porter, deputy administra-
t6 in charge of the rent depart
NJ jent of the Office of Price Admin
i$ration in the war conference" OF
t4 National Association of Real
Fl tate Boards.
This was interpreted today by
members of the Washington realty
g1bup attending the 35th national
meeting here as indicating a prob
al 1ility of increased private con-
s&uction in the National Capital
ID war housing.
In response to questions from the
flor, Mr.. Porter reviewed the first
six months of the Federal Rent Con-
t1bl Act and declared the task of
OPA is a thankless one as its essen
TIL job lis to prevent something
f1bm happening"
[ Seeks to Avert Collapse.
Mr. Porter said the OPA is seek
Ing to prevent the real estate market
flpm becoming chaotic. In this re-
81 ect the Government, through the
OPA, is attempting 10 prevent post
wSr deflationary collapse of values
IN the real estate field, he said.
Paul o. Drury of Washington yes
t&day was elected member OF the
BSard of the American Institute OF
Rxal Estate Appraisers. Other mem
b&rs of the Capital delegation to
tie conference ~re expected to re-
cGve nominations in the national
group.
Realtors expect an upset in the
election of national officials of the
beard. Late today the Nominating
Committee is expected to give its re-
p6rt of candidates to the confer
ence. Though straight ticket had
been expected it appeared probable
this morning that nominations and
voting from the floor will upset the
procedure.
with the primary element affect
i4g real estate and the real estate
market the conference today re-
ceved the report of its Washington
c0mmitte on the Mobilization of
Peal Estate Resources for the War
Effort and the intimidation of post
war disruption among major cities
OF the Nation as we'll as smaller
communities being enlarged through
war housing.
Action on the Washington COM
n1ittee report is expected before the
national conference the last of this
week. The committees report and
its 10-point statement follow:
/, More workaL regulations in a
number Of respects as to regulations
for residential rent control. The
association urges that the regula-
tion as to sales of properties that
involve dispossession of tenant be
liberalized to reduce thc present 1913
per cent down payment required to
something more IN accordance with
ordinary sound f1na. cling practice
and more in harmony with the gen.
eral Federal policy of encouraging
home ownership.
Cite Need of Homes.
2. The continuance of private
home building for urgently needed
family dwellings during the war
period. This is of the utmost i'm
portance both to stabilize our hous-
ing situation and to keep alive the
machinery of private housing pro-
duction for the postwar period.
st3) Aid to the Governments new
program for leasing structures from
private owners for conversion to war
housing. with the provision that the
property be returned to the owner
"as is" at the end of the war emer-
gency. 1t is expected that this lease
conversion plan will be extended
eventually to all defense areas.
"a Help to the appraisal and land
accumulation work Of the Army and
Navy and of other Government
agencies and to their real estate
sales and management problems as
they may arise.
,(5) Proposed congressional action
10 set up commission to study ma
tional-State-local tax relationships
to provide for such national COM
mission to study the problem of tax
tltegration and chart course
which can be presented to the leg
islative bodies of States, cities and
the Federal Government. Huge calls
for war taxes mean efforts to elm
mate conflicts and competition In
taxation between the three levels Of
government.
6. Study Of the gas rationing and
fuel situation as that affects real
estate.
CD Aid to the Federal Govern
ment in the decentralization of Fed
eral bureaus now being moved from
Washington to make room for war
expansion.
Would Protect Commissions.
co Amendment of H. r. 1904 so
that the measure. intended to pro-
hibit abuses in contingent fees for
war contracts, would not uninten-
tionsly prohibit payment of commits
sions on the sale of real estate to the
Federal Government.
90 Proposed congressional action
to authorize systematic inventory
of the space available for residential
and commercial uses. in defense
areas at least. by the Census Bureau
so that individuals and the public
may proceed intelligently in the
building of housing and the creation
of new industrial plant capacity.
, (lO) Safeguarding the rights o1
home ownership in any situation
that may arise calling for legisla-
ton to authorize billeting as ware.
housing measure.
1t is the duty Of realtors to make
American cities and towns better 10.
cations for fighting men to return
to after the war, Earl B. Teckemeyel
ADVERTISEMENT.