Evening star., 1947-06-16
District Witnesses
Clash al House Unit S
Rent Control Hearing

Rent control here should be eX-
tended no longer than the time
fixed by Congress for the end of
such controls throughout the coun-
try, members of House subcom-
mittee declared today as hearings
opened on a bill which would con-
tinue control here another year
beyond the present expiration date
at the end of this year.
This view was expressed by Rep
resentative OHara, Republican, OF
Minnesota, subcommittee chairman,
and Representative Abernethy,
Democrat, of Mississippi, author OF
the District extension bill.
Mr.. Abernethy pointed out the
conference report on a national rent
control bill soon to be submitted to
both houses ends national controls
February %, 1948.
Differ on Extension.
Difference of opinion as to when
District housing rent control should
end was expressed as the hearing
opened. District Commissioner Guy
Mason and Robert F. Cogswell, Dis
trict rent administrator, contended
that the shortage of housing here
justified controls for another year.
They also asked for approval of the
Abernethy bill. This measure
would extend the present act, which
expires this year, to the end of 1948.
Strong opposition to years ex-
tension was registered by spokesmen
FOR the Washington Board of Trade,
the Washington Real Estate Board
and the Building owners and Man
ayers Association. They agreed
that housing controls should ter
inmate with the time limit fixed ma
tionally.
After consideration of rent con-
trolls on housing the committee
planned to take up a bill to place
ceilings on commercial rents here.
Reilly Opposes Both Plans.
Both the continuance of housing
rent control and the regulation of
rents of business properties in the
District were opposed by John A.
Reilly, president of the washington
Board of Trade.
The Board of Trade head told
the committee he was expressing
officially adopted policies of the
$500 members of the organization
in asking that the termination
date of rent control in the District
be tied to the date selected for
Federal end to control. If the
Federal act does not specify def
mite date for the end of controls,
Mr.. Reilly asked that the committee
consider ending controls here March
Is, 1948.
All new homes completed after
July l, 1947, should be exempt from
rent controls to encourage con-
struction of new rental units, Mr..
Reilly said. He suggested that
many. homes now being held for
sale would be made available for
rental only if the law was amend
ed to exempt from controls houS-
ing which was not rented during
l945 or 1916.
Mr.. Reilly told the committee the
Board of Trade had already rec
commended to the Commissioners
that a general rent increase of 10
per cent above January l, 1941, be
given immediate consideration.
Protests Business Rent Curbs.
Asserting that the need for regu-
lation of business property rents
was even less than it was when it
was turned down a year ago, Mr.
Reilly said he was completely op-
posed to the bill setting up these
curbs.
I'VE believe there is unsoundness
in limiting the amount landlord
may receive in rent for business
property which a merchant may use
to derive unlimited profits, Mr.
Reilly said. THE supply of business
Offices is now in many instances
equaling the demand, and COM
plants about commercial rent
gouging have been greatly reduced
He also pointed out to the COM
mittee that maintenance costs were
up on all properties, that the Dis
trict assessor has recently levied an
increased assessment on all District
property and that the real estate
tax may be increased by 25 cents if
the Senate concurs in the action