Evening star., 1948-02-17
Congress Due 10 Vote
Some Form Of Control
Over Rents by Feb. 29.

VvtI ktIlN Dy yTeD. ~
Members of both the Senate
and House Banking Committees
agreed today that Congress will
vote to continue rent control in
some form before the present
law expires February 20.
The Senate banking group voted
unanimously late yesterday to ex-
tend controls IA months with some
changes. The vote was 13 to o.
Ths House committee earlier in
the day voted, 18 to S, to continue
the existing law "as is" for one
month. 1t would decide later about
a longer extension and any changes.
Will Get Together on Plan.
Members of both committees told
reporters, however, that the Senate
and House would get together on
one plan or the other-or on a COM
promise-before the present law
expires.
The District rent control law does
A1OU CAP1l U4lbh xf4c1NA S4s
Congressional committee action
came a few hours after a Supreme
Court decision upholding the con-
stitutionality Of rent controls. The
court said the law was o valid use
of the war powers of Congress.
The Senate bill would permit rent
increases up to Is per cent where
tenants and landlords agreed on a
lease running through 1949. The
present law, up to the start of this
year, allowed increases on the same
amount in return for lease good
through 1913.
Second Increase Barred.
Tenants who alraedy have agreed
to a Is per cent increase could not
be charged another one, said Sena-
tor Cain, Republican, of Washing
ton, chairman of a Banking Sub
committee on Rents.
Here is Senator Gains explana-
ton Of how the new law would work
on those points:
In the case of tenants who &C
cepted rent increases for leases run
ming through 1948, their present
rents would be frozen" when those
leases expire December 81. This
freeze" would remain in effect
through April 30, 1949-the expira-
ton date of the proposed new law.
Rent control then would end for
all tenants who signed leases under
the expiring law.
For those who signed leases under
the new law, that is, after February
20, 1948, there could be no further
increase until January l, 1850. y
Provision in Case of Loss.
What of tenants who have not
already signed voluntary" in
crease lease-and would not under
the proposed extension? Senator
Cain says their rents would remain
unchanged until April 80, 1949.
They would have no protection
after that.
The Senate committee bill would
require the Federal rent admin
istrator to permit higher rents
where q landlord could prove he
was operating at a loss. The ad-
ministrator would decide how much
, of an increase.
Chairman Wolcott of the House
Banking Committee said the door
will be kept open" for possible
House action this month on a
longer extension than the one
month plan his group voted yes
terday.
IF Senate bill for a 14-month
extension comes over to us in time,
we will take a look at it, Mr.. VOL
colt told reporter. \
He predicted that in any event
controls will be continued eventually
for "at least year in some form.
Cain Willing to Compromise.
Senator Cain also indicated will
ingness to compromise. He said the
Senate committee could vote one
month extension on short notice if
it became apparent that the IA
month bill could not clear both
houses by the end of this month.
The plan is to start debate in both
the Senate and House next Mon-
day-seven days before the present
law expires.
Besides the rent increase provi-
sions, the Senate committee bill also
would:
/. Impose a penalty up to one
year in Jail and a $1,000 fine on any
wilful violator. This would apply,
for example, If landlord were
found guilty of raising the rent be-
fore May, 1949, of any tenant who
signed q lease originally intended
to run only through 1948.
z. Remove controls on all dwell
ings which rent for $225 or more.
3. Permit the rent administrator
to remove controls on rooming or
boarding houses If he saw fit.
4. End controls on nonhousekeep-
ing rooms in private homes.
S. Require landlords to give 60
day notice for eviction on any
grounds except Ca nonpayment of
rent or CD where the tenant has
become a nuisance. In these two
cases, local law would apply. All
eviction cases were made subject to
local rather than Federal law in the
expiring control law.
6. Permit eviction, with a 60-day
notice, where extensive remodeling
or alteration to provide more
dwellings is planned.
7. Remove bans on use of scarce
building materials for recreation
places, such as bowling alleys.
Proposals Are Defeated.
The Senate committee defeated
proposals which would have:
Permitted rent increases of any
size in exchange for a lease run
ing through 1949.
Authorized automatic rent in
creases Of up to Is per cent to off,
set landlords higher costs.
Removed rent controls in any
area where l per cent or more of
the dwellings for sale or rent were
vacant.
Required the rent administrator
to remove controls in any area
where the local rent advisory board
so recommended. The bill con-
tip,,os tho odyoiri Stro for,x r,ouyor m