Evening star., 1945-05-17
Business Federation
Told Of Reprisa| Fear
In Rent Control Plans

Renters fear of reprisalS by prop
erty owners was cited as the prin-
cipal reason there has been no wide
spread demand in the District for
commercial rent control during a
meeting of the Federation of Busi-
nessmen's Associations last night.
Although many organizations
have supported the rent ceiling pro-
posal since its inception, there was
lack of testimony before the ma
tional defense subcommittee of the
House District Committee and the
comercial rent control bill has been
laid aside, it was brought out at the
meeting. The hearing may be re-
opened If sufficient examples of ex-
horbitant rent increases can be Sc
cured
The federation undertook an in
tensive drive at the March meet
ing to secure written testimony of
all undue commercial rent increases.
Letters requesting information about
the increases were sent to each
member association.
Dangerous" Person.
DR.. Herman A. Blohm of the
American Business Association
charged that he had found it almost
impossible to rent any available
business location after he testified
before the committee because he
was then classified as dangerous"
person to rent to.
Arthur Clarendon Smith, founder
of the federation, said he was pre-
pared to furnish evidence where
rentals had been increased 1913 per
cent.
Houston McCeney of the Connec-
ticut Avenue Association countered,
saying he felt we should not have
any more controls of any kind. He
then pointed out that business
profits have in most cases increased
in proportion with rents.
Comdr. Alan H Hunt, a veteran
submarine commander of Pacific
service. called on every business
man to support the commercial rent
drive. He recalled the war factory
in Northeast Washington that was
almost forced to close due to a 933
L
was widely publicized.
The federation closed the rent
discussion by reaff1rming it's stand
favoring commercial rent ceilings.
Dunno Voted Confidence.
designations of the three top Off
GERS OF the federation were read at
the meeting. Ray G. Dunno, pres
ident, had written a letter explain
ing he had rendered his resignation
due to i'll health. At last nights
meeting he explained he felt his
resignation was in the best interest
of the federation after a situation
that had arisen at closed meeting
of the board. A large part of the
minutes of that closed meeting were
stricken from the record. Mr..
DUNES resignation was refused
unanimously by the group and he
agreed to continue in Office. He
was given a rising vote of conf
dence.
First Vice President Kenneth M.
MacKenzie's resignation was &C
cepted after he explained that it
was impossible for him to attend
meetings due to business commit
ments. The resignation, due to ill
health, of Second Vice President
Frederick Levy was accepted.
Max Schwartz, chairman of the
Outing Committee, announced that
contract had been made with the
Potomac River Lines, leasing boat
for the federation's annual outing
Monday, June IL. Tickets were
distributed to each member as
sociation and are priced at IS cents
per person.
Last nights meeting, which was
held in the board room of the Amer
ican Security & Trust Building, was
conducted by Secretary Arthur j.
| Carroll