Evening star., 1948-04-13
Senate Action
Slated To-day on
D. {. Rent Bill
Measure to Extend
Controls Put Over on
Request by Morse

The bill to extend District rent
control to March 81, l949, was to
be called up again for Senate action
some time this afternoon, after 1t
was blocked yesterday on the Sem
ate floor.
Senator Morse, Republican, Of
Oregon, who asked that the bill
60 over for further study, said he
would be prepared to discuss the
measure today.
He said he wants to compare the
District bill with the recently en-
acted law extending national rent
controls to March 81 next year.
Protection of tenants" is his chief
concern, he said.
ate District leaders was scheduled
for early today to go over the prob
lem. Chairman Buck of the SEN
ate District Committee said he will
be ready to defend the city meas
ure, when it Is called up.
The measure was given preferred
position for Senate action late yes
terday. Republican leaders decided
to place the rent bill on the slate
for debate and action Immediately
after the pending reclamation bill,
which will be the first to come up
after the chamber convenes at
noon.
O'Hara to Study Similar Bill.
On the House side of the Capitol,
Representative O'Hara, Republican,
of Minnesota was said to be PLAN
ming study, probably today, of the
somewhat similar District rent con-
troll extension bill. pending before
the O'Hara subcommittee Of the
House District Committee. 1t would
extend the present District law for
one year.
The objection of Senator Morse
came as something of surprise.
He began questioning Senator Buck
about the District measure, about
the differences, If any, between the
District bill and the new National
Rent Extension Act.
THE national bill is much better
than this" replied Senator Buck.
He explained that in the District
bill there is no provision for a Is
per cent voluntary increase in rent
such as that carried in the National
Act.
The national bill decontrols all
transient quarters and transient
hotels. This does not" he asserted.
This bill contains the controls on
permanent guests of transient hotels.
Those are the only differences I
think Of"
Il think the bill should be studied"
replied Senator Morse. Il ask that
it may go over"
With that, debate stopped on the
rent bill, and the Senate passed to
consideration of other measures on
the calendar.
Earlier Senator Buck had ex-
planned that the measure was SINH
lar to the local rent extension bill
passed last year, except for some
amendments.
Outlines Provisions.
He pointed out the pending bill
would decontrol transient accommo-
dations in hotels, new construction
completed after March 81, accom-
modations created by conversion
after March 81, and nonhousekeep-
ing, furnished housing in single
dwelling units, If they contain not
more than two paying tenants who
are not members of the landlords
family.
Another amendment, he said
would require that judicial review
of the rent administrator decisions
be transferred from Municipal
Court to the Municipal Court of APP
peals.
Senator Lodge, Republican, Of
Massachusetts,, asked: What does
the Senator think will happen so
far as transients coming to Wash
ington are concerned, and the
amount they will have to pay for
hotel rooms, after this bill is enact
ed, if it is?"
1--WE do not think they will be un-
duly assessed" Senator Buck re-
piled, because the transient hotels
of all other parts Of the country
are decontrolled"
Have the hotels in Washington
entered into any understanding
that they will not unduly increase
their charges?" Senator Lodge
asked.
They have not with the COM
mittee," said Senator Buck.