Evening star., 1949-03-13
HouseG COP 10 Renew
Efforts for 90.Day
Rent Curb Extension
By Chris Mothisen

House Republicans will make a
second try Tuesday to cut the
term of proposed national rent
control extension from Is months
to 3 months.
Administration leaders are
promising, however, that they will
be able to beat down any further
efforts to soften their bill.
! The new Republican attempt
will take the form of motion to
return the measure to the Bank
ing Committee with instructions
to provide for 90day extension.
Another amendment to be
offered would give local author
tiles full charge of decontrolling
procedures.
d. c. Bills Come Up Tomorrow.
The rent control issue will re-
main in allegiance tomorrow, while
the House takes up District legis-
! lation.
/ Republicans expect to get some
Democratic help in their final
efforts at trimming the bill. The
Democratic assistance was sub
stantial Friday, when administra-
ton leaders could command only
a 15-vote majority in beating the
first effort to make it 3-month
extension.
Majority Leader Mccormack
thereupon Cancelled plans to wind
up action on the bill yesterday.
Mr.. Mccormack was Joined BY
Chairman Spence of the Banking
Committee and Representative
Priest of Tennessee, the Demo-
cratic whip, in predicting the
measure can be protected from
further attacks. Speaker Ray
burn also indicated he feels the
issue no longer is in serious doubt.
Representative Halleck Of In
diana, one of the Republican floor
chiefs, said the vote on the re-
committal move will be very
close He pointed out the bill
already is much less stringent
measure than President Truman
had asked.
Senate Action in Doubt.
1t does contain means of deal
ing with mass evictionS, however,
and permits the Government to
sue for triple damages in over
charge cases if the tenant fails
to do so.
Mr.. Truman had wanted con-
trolls kept in effect % months from
their present March 81 expira-
ton date.
Senate action in advance of the
deadline still is in doubt.
Due to come up in the House
after disposition of rent control
is an Armed Services Committee
bill to establish the permanent
peacetime strength of the Army
and Air Force and to re-state
Congress position in favor of
air striking power of 10 groups.
Then. the House will plunge
again into the fundamental ques-
ton of public versus private enter
prise in the utility field. This will
occur in consideration of a bill to
permit the Rural Electrifcation
Administration to extend tele-
phone facilities in farm areas.
The measures has the approval
of the Agriculture Committee.
Other Measures Pending.
On Friday, if the schedule is
maintained. Mr.. Mccormack plans
to call up the Army Department
civil functions appropriation bill
for the 1850 fiscal year. This will
be the occasion for numerous
speeches on the need for various
river and harbor projects through
out the Nation.
! Committee activity during the
week will include further testi-
mony on measures to establish
uniform code of military justice,
replace the Taft-Hartley Act and
amend the Economic Cooperation
Administration Act.
DR.. Francis E. Townsend,
founder of the Townsend old-age
pension plan. will testify tomorrow
before the Ways and Means Com
mittee in connection with the ad-
ministration bill for social security
extension
Elisha Hanson, general counsel
of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association, will be heard
| by the Post Office and Civil Serv-
ice Committee on the proposed in
crea ses in poStal rates.