Evening star., 1942-10-14
Drastic Steps Planned
To Halt Rent Gouqina
OF War Workers
Monpower Bourd Seeks
To Prevent Evictions
Aimed to Beot Price Low

Told by President Roosevelt that
voluntary manpower methods were
progressing unsa tisfactorily and
pressed to curb rising labor turn
over IN war industries, declared due
principally to rent gouging and bad
living conditions, the War Manpower
Commission said today it would re-
quest OPA to take action as drastic
as possible to prevent further evic-
= tions of war workers by profiteering
landlords.
Although the President said late
yesterday the necessity for legisla-
tion to put the manpower program
on a compulsory basis had not yet
been decided. he told newspapermen
he had discussed the manpower Sit
uation with Grenville Clark of New
York, White House caller. Mr..
Clark Is the author of a manpower
draft bill which has been submitted
by the President to the Manpower
Commission.
While living conditions were re-
ported bad" in Portland, Van
couver, Oakland, Jacksonville, Sa-
vannah, Charleston, Tampa and
other war plant areas, the COM
mission said it was setting its sights
particularly on Mobile, Ala, where
Federal investigators reported con-
ditions were generally unsatisfac-
tory.
May Ask Moratorium.
Fowler v. Harper, deputy man.
power chairman, said the Mobile
situation was glaring In its serious
ness, and that a conference would
be held with OPA officials. Asked
II 3 moratorium on rents in Mobile
would beTeQuested, Mr.. Harper said
It would be should a further study
of the investigators reports justify
such action.
An OPA spokesman declared that
his agency was aware Of the serious
situation In Mobile, and that i'm
mediate action could be expected.
He expressed doubt whether the
OPA has the power to declare 4
moratorium, but he added that was
a matter for its legal department to
decide.
The Manpower Commission has
been advised that rents for workers
who went to Mobile for shipyard
work have, risen exorbitantly. In
vestigators said there are widespread
allegations, in which civic leaders
concur, to the effect that transfers
of real estate are made simply for
the purpose of evicting tenants to
pave the way for an increase in
rents. thus defeating OPA freezing
orders.
500 In One Week.
One investigator reported that last
week end there were more than 500
eviction notices on the sheriff's desk
The word of this has spread like
''wildfire" and no war worker knows
when he may receive an eviction
notice on the theory that the prop
erty is being Sold" the report added.
War workers in Mobile went on
strike a month ago presumably be-
cause OF scent raise In municipal
ferry rates. Government investiga-
tors were sent to the Alabama city,
and in their reports they charged
that the ferry question was not the
real issue but became the focus for
an uprising against conditions in
general.
Price Administrator Henderson
said last week that the OPA was
prepared to amend its existing reg
ulations to curb eviction Of tenants.
"In areas in which rent control
Is now being administered there Is a
growing practice of owners forcing
tenants to purchase the premises
in many cases at exorbitant prices, "
Mr. Henderson declared, adding:
This practice must cease"
Orders Regulations Amended.
He said he had instructed the
OPA rent division to amend its
present regulations to give tenants
security of tenure for the duration
Paul R. Porter. chairman OF the
War Production Board Shipbuilding
Stabiliza ton Committee, has de-
scribed housing and sanitary con-
ditions around various shipyards as
shocking and said that they have
contributed largely to the rising
"auit rate"
In Mobile, one Investigator report
ed. the water supply was so made
uuate that wives of workers have
had to allow spigots in their homes
to flow full force all day to obtain
only a few pans of water.
Mr.. Harper told newspapermen
yesterday that the national service
bill now being drafted by the COM