Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-08
Compromise Version
Old. T.. Rent Control
Backed by Conferees
Revision in Ceiling Rotes
Rejected in Measure Sen,
Beck TO Both Houses

House and Senate conferees to-
day agreed to compromise on two
different versions OF a bill to ex-
tend District rent control with
some changes TO June 30 next
year.
The conference report now goes
to both branches for fiat approval
or rejection.
The conferees rejected an
amendment sponsored by Senator
Mccarthy. Republican. OF Wiscon-
sin. and approved by the Senate
which would have changed the
basis OF establishing rent ceilings
in the District.
Regarded ~ "unfair."
The Mccarthy provision would
have written into the District law
provision already In the new
national rent act to Ak rent cell
ings on the basis OF a fair net
operating income" for landlords.
Chairman McGrath OF Senate
District Committee said the
conferees. In rejecting the net
Income provision. commended that
1t would have been unavoidable
and unfair" to impose 1t on the
District.
He explained that the District
Rent Control Act had been set up
originally on an entirely different
background OF procedure and ad-
ministration.
The conferees accepted the
House version OF the bill which
would continue rent control here
on the same basis which fixes rent
ceilings on Compatibility" mean
ing similar rents for similar hous-
ing accommodations.
Senator Mccarthy refused 10
sign the conference report. He
announced that he would raise the
issue on the floor. TO object TO hav-
Ing two different bases for rent
ceilings. one In the States and a
different one in the District OF
Columbia.
To have such q difference, ;"
Senator Mccarthy said. is I'M
considerable.
Agreements Approved.
The conferees approved pre-
vious tentative agreements on five
other differences between the
House and Senate versions OF the
measure.
As sent TO the floors OF both
chambers for action. the confer
ence report on these agreements
would:
Prohibit the eviction after
March /. Ie4e. of tenants who
refuse 10 buy into a co. operative
apartment house unless SIS per
cent Of the tenants were owners
Provide that housing accommo-
dations resulting from conversion
after April / this year shall con-
ttnue to be under control unless
the rent administrator here issues
an order decontrolling them after
finding that the conversion result
ed In additional selft-eontained
family units.
Strike from the present District
law the criminal penalties for yio-
lation Of the act and regulations.
Permit decontroi Of rooms for
transients In hotels and establish
u,ents OF less than so rooms.
Prohibit the recontroi OF any
housing accommodations which
have been heretofore decontroiied.
Senator Mccarthy issued a
formal statement after the con-
ference declaring he would fight
70 make the District rent control
bill conform TO the natsonal con-
troll bill.
The conference took the posi-
ton. he declared. that the ma
tional bill was FOOD enough for
the res. of the country but that
IL might result In rent increases tn
Il think II Is cosnol~ssly dis
honest for this Congress 10 weak
en- rent controls Tor every city IN
the Nation except Washington. |
D. c.. where the congressman and j
their once help are renters"