Evening star., 1948-01-11
Study Of Rent Control!
By Congress Groups
Will Start This Week
By Harold B. Rogers


Problems involved In proposed
extension Of rent control for both
the Nation and the District will
come up before congressional COM
mittees this week.
The national legislation, which
might or might not include the Dis
trict, will be considered by a Sen
ate Banking and Currency subcom-
mittee, according to its new chair
man, Senator Cain, Republican, Of
Washington. He also Is member
Of the Senate District Committee.
Senator Cain said he hoped to
hold hearings as soon as possible,
perhaps this week. to get testimony
from responsible spokesmen for the
Government, landlords and tenants.
No Formula Offered.
Both Congress and the admins
ira ton have indicated Senator Cain
said, desire for some kind OF
rent control, but no definite formula
has been offered as to how 1t shall
be effected. First witnesses are
expected to be from the Govern
Inent.
Senator Cain, who is known to
be a dissenter from the theory and
practice of rent control, was ap-
pointed rent subcommittee chair
man last week to succeed Senator
Buck, Republican, of Delaware, be-
cause Of the latter's heavy respon-
sibilities.
National rent control expires Feb
ruary 20, but District rent control,
under a separate law will continue
until March 81.
On the House side, bill by Rep
resentative OHara, Republican, OF
Minnesota to extend rent control
here will be considered this week
by the House District Judiciary Sub
committee, OF which he is chair
man. The measure would extend
District controls, under the present
law, until March 81, 1949.
Murdock To Testify.
The disputed proposal to con-
struct Arizona avenue through
Glover -Archbold Park, from Canal
road to Tenley Circle NV, will
come up before a House District
subcommittee on streets, at 10 am.
Tuesday. Testimony is expected to
drag the fight out into the open.
Representative Beall, Republican,
of Maryland, committee chairman,
will preside.
Representative Murdock, Demo-
crat, Of Arizona, plans to testify
in behalf of his bill for the Arizona
"Freeway." It was introduced by
him on request of Senator Hayden,
Democrat, of Arizona, whose iden-
tical bill has been introduced in the
Senate.
Indication that opposition will
develop came yesterday, when Maj
Gen. U. S. Grant III, chairman OF
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, was reported
to have gone to Capitol Hill on
behalf of his groups opposition to
the project. Certain officials Of the
National Park Service are known
to be strongly opposed to cutting
the Arizona Freeway through the
park, which they claim should be
retained as a recreation area for
the neighborhood.
Highway Termed Necessary.
Mr.. Murdock told the press yes
terday that the plan to change
Arizona avenue from a mere name
on the map, to a two-lane divided
boulevard had been developed by
HIGHWAY experts" and was neces-
sary to help move trafnE That sec-
ton of the city, he emphasized,
needs an additional boulevard to
relieve motor vehicle congestion"
Meantime a meeting Of the House
District Committee, previously
scheduled for January 21, was post
poned indefinitely because of the
absence from the city Of its chair
man. Representative Dirksen, Re-
publican, of Illinois.
Mr.. Dirksen has announced he
will not run for reelection this
year because doctors have insisted
he get complete rest for an eye
infiction which threatens his gen.
eral health. He has gone to the
South for a rest and is expected
to be absent about two weeks.