Evening star., 1943-05-29
Administration
Of Rent Control
Called Unfair
Bankers Head Assoi|s
Brown; Charges
Injustice to Owners

Declaring that the administra ton
OF rent control has not only been
unreasonable. inequitable and, at
times, even vicious. Charles A. Null
lenix. president. Mortgage Bankers
Association of America, said at the
st. Louis meeting this week. that an
outstanding example of patriotism
of those on the home front has been
the fortitude and compliance on the
part of real estate owners.
He vigorously criticized the refusal
OF Price Administrator Prentiss M
Brown to do anything to correct
what he termed great injustices in
= the administration of the rent con-
troll section of the Price Control Act.
Mr.. Mullenix spoke before mem
bers OF the Mortgage Bankers As
sociation OF st. Louis.
The seriousness of rent control,
particularly if extended beyond the
emergency period and as it has been
administered and is being admin
istered now. requires the thoughtful
consideration of all Americans.
Administration Unreasonable.
The administration of rent con-
troll has been not only unreasonable
and inequitable, but at times vicious.
Statements have been attributed to
certain rent control officials to the
effect that all rental housing should
be Government owned. The out
standing example Of patriotism dur
Ing the war aside from the sacrifice
of those in the service) has been the
fortitude and compliance on the
part OF real estate owners" he
declared.
The Price Control Act specifically
states that nothing in it shall re-
quire landlord to rent his facil-
ltles-and yet, in spite of all the
unfair things that have been done
to him, he has continued to rent
those facilities because Of the serious
requirement of housing in the prose-
futlon OF the war. understand that
Senators and Representatives have
been flooded with kilograms from
certain classes of labor, urging that
the present inequitable and unfair
administration of rent control be not
disturbed. That same class of labor
has benefited more as a result of
increased wages than any other por-
ton of our population.
To emphasize further the patri-
ohc stand taken by real estate
owners. many strikes have occurred
which have delayed war production
and vitally hurt the war effort at
time when everything should be full
speed ahead Our men in the armed
forces who are risking their lives
and careers for $50 per month are
fighting mad at two things: First,
the enemy, and. second, the un-
patriotic acts of labor in letting
them down on the home front. Those
boys-10, 100000 or IL 900 900 of them
are going to even up the score
when they return and begin voting
again
Backbone of War Effort.
Then there are the activities of
those engaged in the production,
processing and sale of food which
becomes very scarce when these
people consider the price too low.
Compare these experiences with the
attitude of property owners-and we
find that as usual both tax-wise and
IN patriotism. they are the backbone
OF our economy and war effort
The War Damage Corp has been
urged to announce soon some policy
NrhJNI, would f,t
tlons in rates in line with losses as
established and the return to policy
holders of any existing surplus at
the end of the war The proposal
was made by the association which
declared such action now would help
stimulate renewals of policies for
the year beginning July l and en-
courage writing Of new ones as we'll.
Return of surplus would require
legislation such as the bill of Sem
ator Brooks. Republican, Of Illinois.
The corporation has announced
that the rates inaugurated when
war damage insurance was set up
would remain in effect for the COM
ing year So far 4.700 900 insurance
policies totaling 1922 900 900, 900 have
been written and premiums of $780,
100000 collected
Opposes Government Profit.
protection of property in time
OF war is national responsibility,
and the Federal agency to carry
out this duty ought not be a profit
making enterprise Mr. Mullenix
said. He criticized the opinion held
by some that the Government has
the right to show profit on this
undertaking because it embarks on
lSee MIIIIENIX PAGE R-2l