Evening star., 1947-07-01
Taft Supports Demand
By Truman for Probe
OF Real Estate Lobby
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
President Truman's plea thai
Congress investigate what hi
called the "brazen operations
of real estate lobbyists today
generated a broadside of clash.
ing reaction with political over
tones.
The President made his appeal ir
assailing the rent control extension
bill which he signed reluctantly be.
cause of provisions permitting 1!
per cent rent increases and junkins
nearly all construction controls.
Senator Bricker, Republican, O.
Ohio denounced Mr.. Truman's lobby
inquiry proposal as "the cheapes
kind of political demagoguery."
But Senator Taft, Senator Brick.
er's Ohio colleague and-like Sen.
ator Bricker-widely mentioned a!
an aspirant for the Republican
presidential nomination, told re.
porters in commenting on the Pres.
ident's call for full investigation
Il wouldn't mind doing that my.
self"
Taft Author of Housing Plan.
Senator Taft is one of the au.
thors Of pending legislation to sci
up a long-range housing program
which Mr.. Truman commended anc
which Senator Bricker condemns.
Arthur w. Binns, head of the
National Home and Property own
ers Foundation, said his group woulo
welcome an investigation.
Nothing would please us more,
Mr.. Binns asserted, than to have
the truth spread upon the record
and the American people realize
the damage that has been done te
them by destructive legislation and
administration and false econom-
les"
However, Herbert U. Nelson, exec
utive vice president of the National
Association of Real Estate Boards
declared in another statement that
"It is nonsense to talk about in
vestigating U.s." because Congress
has the complete records of ouI
activities as required by law"
1--WE are just as legitimate group
as farm groups and labor groups
and just as representative of our
profession" MIR. Nelson said.
Probe of ALI Lobbying Urged.
In that connection Senator
6parkman, Democrat, of Alabama
said he thinks there should be "a
sweeping investigation of all lobby
ing for the good of the country,
Contending to reporters that it
is primarily the responsibility OF
the Republican leadership" to get
such an inquiry under way, since
the COP controls Congress, Sena-
tor Sparkman added:
This Congress has been the sub
ject Of the greatest pressure from
lobbyists since I have been a men,
ber. There is no reason for sin
Cling out the real estate lobby
Let's investigate them ALL"
In his rent message yesterday
Mr.. Truman said the real estate
LOBBY has constantly scught to
weaken rent control and tb do away
with necessary aids to housing" He
added
"It is intolerable that this lobby
should be permitted by Its brazen
operations to block programs so es
sential to the needs of our citizens
Nothing could be more clearly sub
versive of representative govern
ment. I urge the Congress to make
full investigation of this selfish
and short-sighted group"
This and his blast against the
rent bill brought sharp retort from
House Majority Leader Halleck, who
asserted:
President Truman's message is
shameful. He has reached new
low in his efforts to appease the
Wallace gang and hold their sup
port for the election in 194S."
This was reference to former
Vice President Henry A. Wallace
who has been talking of the posi-
bility OF third party.
Terming the Presidents message
unfair and reckless" Mr.. Halleck
added:
Il challenge Mr.. Truman to fur
nish evidence that members of Con-
gress are guilty of dishonesty OF
subservience to selfish interests in
connection with the passage of the
rent-control legislation"
Chairman Wolcott of the House
Banking Committee said that "If
any investigation Is to be made in
respect to lobbying on the rent bill
it should include those in agree
ment with the Presidents attitude
as well as those with whom he dis
agrees"
Creedon Promises to Be Fair.
In lashing out at the provision
which authorizes rent increases up
to Is per cent when tenant and
landlord agree to a lease running
through 1948. Mr. Truman contend
ed this is voluntary only so far
as the landlord is concerned"
The tenant, he added, naturally
will fear that unless he enters intc
such lease he will be subjected te
even more eXorbitant increases wher
rent control is ended" March l.
Housing EXpediter Frank r. Cree.
don, who will administer the new
rent control law, said in statement
that both tenants and landlords are
afforded protection under the terms
of the act" He added:
II will endeavor to administer the
law in manner that will be fail
to both groups"
Senator Hawkes., Republican, Of
New Jersey, author of the Is pei
cent increase provision, replied tt
Mr.. Trumans criticism with the
contention that the section carries
no coercive advantage for the prop.
erty owner" Senator Hawkes. sale
it simply provides relief long over
due" landlords.
Senator Taft agreed with the New
Jersey Senator that there is moth.
ing coercive" about the is per CEN
section.
IF tenants don't want to sigh
they don't have to-" Senator Taft
said. eff they do, they are protected