Evening star., 1943-05-15
Realtors Urge
Speedy Action
On Pay-Go Tax
Relief for Owners
To Meet Rising
Costs Advocated

The recent meeting in Chicago
of the Board of Directors of the
National Association of Real Estate
Boards resolved in favor of state
ment of policy, 1t was revealed here
today, which includes the following
points:
"Pay as you 60 taxation-With
constantly changing Federal taxes
and regulations and in view of the
increasing costs which make busi-
ness operations more and more un-
certain, it becomes increasingly diff
ficult for businessmen to lay aside
reserves for payment of taxes upon
operations of the previous year.
We therefore strongly urge that the
Senate take immediate action to
place the payments of Federal taxes
on current or pay as you go
basis.
Rent control-We note that OPA
Administrator Prentiss Brown has
rejected the recommendations OF
this associations washington Com :
mittee. We believe these recon-
mendations represent fair and just
demands for alterations in the ad-
ministration of rent control. We
pledge that this association will con-
tinue to press these demands both
on the administration, OPA and on
the Congress.
I'VE know that millions of small
property owners whom We represent
feel deep sense of injustice due to
the fact that rents have been held
regidly to prewar levels, while other
prices have been permitted to ad-
vance. Property owners are thus
caught between the upper millstone
of OPA's fixed rentals and the
neither milestone of constantly rising
costs. This can only lead to ruin
for hundreds of thousands of own
ers. There is no warrant in law for
such action. We can only conclude
that if this situation is not recti-
fed the administration does not de-
sire to deal with all segments Of
our population with even-handed
Justice. We request that the admin
istration of OPA be altered in the
following repects:
Wants Rule Rescinded.
eve ask the rule requiring a one
third down payment and a 90-day
stay to obtain possession of property
be rescinded. We feel there is no
warrant in the Price Control Act
for this regulation. The Rent Con-
troll Act for the District of Colum-
bia contains no such provision and
we have not been able to learn
that any abuses have resulted. The
Banking and Currency Committee
of the Congress on October IA
specifically rejected proviso which
would have given OPA control over
sales of residential property. We
ask. therefore, that OPA conform
to the intent of Congress and cease
interference with established trade
practices protected by Congress.
1--WE ask for local participation in
the administration of rent control.
The appointment of thousands of
Federal employees who are placed
in local offices but who take all of
their orders from Washington does
not constitute local participation.
We believe that OPA should invoke
the aid and advice of local appeal
boards of citizens, as has been done
in the case of the draft boards, thus
drawing on the resources of local
self government which have created
this Nation.
I'VE ask that changing costs be
recognized by the rent control sys-
tenn. OPA should alter a statistical
and accounting system which as
sumes that overall community fig
ures on occupancy and rental re-
turns are related to the situation
of the great majority of property
owners whose accommodations were
fully used when the rent ceiling
was established, but whose costs OF
operation and maintenance have
continued to rise. We ask for the
correction of anomalies and diff
ferences within the same buildings
which create i'll feeling We believe
It to be fair that there should be a
recognized relationship between in
comes permitted to small property
owners from their businesses and
the rising costs of living.
Calls Ownership Broad.
'We ask for a fair administrative
attitude to property owners on the
no rt Of OpA Tho IN mn O00 ,o,,t n