Evening star., 1946-07-09
0'Conor Studies
Special Session
On Rent Control
Names Submitted
For Committee
In Montgomery
BY the As,cciofed Press

ANNAPOLIS, July 9.-Gov. O'Conor
today was considering the possibility
of calling a special session of the
Maryland General Assembly to en-
act rent-control legislation, which
he said had been deemed constitu-
tional by his legal advisers.
Gov. O'Conor said the State law
department definitely inclined to
the view that it would be constitu-
tional to have a statute or amend
ment Of existing laws, if necessary,
for rent control"
He refused to state specifically
what powers such legislation would
give the proposed new fair rent COM
mittees.
The Governor said he was holding
up appointment of the committees
until he received detailed reports
on the functioning of similar
commission during 1912 and rec
concentrations from various organi-
cations on whom he should appoint
to the committees.
Names Sent to Governor.
The names of three men to serve
on a fair rent committee in Mont
gomery County were sent to the
governor yesterday.
Those nominated by the board of
directors of the County Real Estate
Board are James R. Miller, Bethesda
attorney; Paul M. Coughlan, Silver
Spring, an insurance broker, and
Ralph P. Ripley, Silver Spring real
estate man.
The action was taken in response
to request by the Governor for
community representatives to serve
on fair rent committees through
out the state, j. Ingram Medley,
president of the real estate board
said.
Other Recommendations.
The Prince Georges County Inde-
pendent Trade Association last week
recommended the appointment of
Harry A. Boswell, Hyattsville build
er and businessman; Mayor Harry
A L. Barker of Riverdale and Einar
Mortenson, Hyattsville building con-
tractor, on a committee to serve
that area.
Mr.. Miller, a farmer Marine Corps
captain, is graduate of Southeast
ern University and heads Montgom-
cry County Post No. 1858, Veterans
of Foreign Wars. His law Office is
In Rockville.
Mr.. Coughlan is a former post
master of Silver Spring and has
served as a member of the Board
of County Commissioners. He is
graduate of Georgetown University.
Mr.. Ripley lives near Rockville,
but has his real estate Office at 8403
Georgia avenue, Silver Spring. He
is a graduate of Cornell University.
OPA Action Awaited.
The Governor said he also was
awaiting Federal action on OPA
legislation.
Hans Foehlicher, jr., president of
the Baltimore Citizens Planning
and Housing Association, wrote to
the Governor today, calling for a
system of State rent control which
will make use of the OPA Rent
Division which is already in exist
ence."
Mr. Foehlicher said the association
was IAN organization of over 500
leading citizens which owes no obli-
cations to race, creed or party" de-
voting its time to the study of hous-
ing improvements in Baltimore.
Baltimore landlords sent out IS
30-day eviction notices yesterday
the Peoples Court reported, adding
that the total was exceeded by only
two other days since price control
ended. On Tuesday and Wednesday
OF last week, 107 and l29 notices
we're issued, respectively.
Richmond Rents Rise.
Meanwhile, the Richmond (Va)
area rent control Office reported
rent increases ranging from IS tc
81 per cent in the State during the
first week in which landlords op-
Grated without OPA ceilings.
A spokesman for the OPA said the
most drastic single rise was reported
In the Petersburg -Hopewell area
where one landlord adjusted" his
rent from $50 a month to $50 .
week.
In Richmond, rent increases aver.
aged 49 per cent above former OPA
ceilings. Charlottesville reported 6
42 per cent rise and a So per cent
increase was reported in the Hamp.
m n