The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-01

OUT permitting uOStdillld1 M
creases in the general rent level.
Since federal rent control is be-
ing ~irreparably weakened, I ap
peal to the governors of the states
particularly those populous states
where rental housing is more prev
alent-to exert every effort to pro-
tect tenants from hardship, evic-
ton or exploitation. They can soft
en-, although not avoid completely,
the blow to rent control dealt by
H. r. 1908.
The housing and rent act of 1947
also marks a step backward in or
efforts to solve the critical prob
lem of providing sufficient addi-
tional housing for our citizens. It
repeats almost all the emergency
aids to housing provided in the
veterans emergency ho,fsing act
of 1916.
If 1 had vetoed H. R. 1908, rent
controls would end, and the pros
poets of another bill being sent
to me would be negligible. I had no
choice but to sign.
It is clear that this legislation
marks a step backward in our eff
forts to protect tenants against un-
justified rent increases arising out
of war conditions. For millions
of families, it will result in SUBJ
stantial increases in rents which
until now have been held at rea-
sonable levels. The cost Of living
is already too high without this
additional burden.
It is evident that the present
nigh cost of living should not be in
creased further by a sharp in
crease in rents. We must get
prices down, not devise means of
getting the price Of shelter up.
Since the end of price control,
the consume price index has ris-
en- il percent. Food has gone up
20 percent. During the second
quarter of 1947, we have made real
progress in checking these sharp
price increases. On the whole.
prices and the cost Of living have
leveled off. This progress-and the
further progress we must make
would be nullified for millions of
fa,Nlies by higher rents. Rents
amount to Is percent to IS percent
of many family budgets. Rent
increases could revive the infla-
tionary dangers which we have
greatly reduced.
In January 1916, l recommended
the enactment of legislation to
meet an immediate emergency in
housing. l recommended that the
housing expediter be given the
necessary powers to expedite the
production of building materials
and the construction of houses.
The Congress responded to my
recommendations by passing the
Veterans Emergency Housing Act
of 1916. With the emergency mea-
sures provided by that act. the
supply of building materials has
increased tremendously and the
number of new homes built has in
creased at a rate surprising ou-
best pre-war achievements.
The Veterans Emergency Hous-
ing program was announced in
February 1916. By the close OF
that year $40, 500 permanent fam
lily housing units, in addition to
over 300, 600 units of other types,
had been started. In the first five
months of this year $50, 300 new
permanent family dwelling units
were begun, and 800, 900 were COM
pleted. Although this accomplish
ment is h%eartening, it is not e
nough.
H. R. 1903 will weaken rather
than strengthen our means TOR
greater achievement.
The most serious loss in hous-
ing aids under this act is the viz
tual elimination of controls which
have prevented the diversion OF
building materials from homes to
n-onessential ard deferable con-
struction. AS the supply Of build