Evening star., 1949-03-24
Local Option Clause
Due 10 Remain in
Final Rent Measure
By J. A. OLeoN

" - ~ ~ 6Soty
Some degree Of local option will
remain in the final draft Of the
rent control bill, which was on
its way to conference between the
two houses today after passing
: the Senate last night, SO to 10.
The measure which goes to
President Truman next week also
is almost sure to pave the way for
some rent increases, although the
House and Senate managers still
must agree on the formula.
Democratic leaders called the
Senate version "a pretty good
job" but, like the House measure.
it is milder than the administra-
ton wanted.
The House went through the
.formalty today Of refusing to ac-
cept the Senate bill and appointed
its conferees. They will meet to-
morrow with a group Of Senators
to iron out differences.
The House conferees, all men,
bers of it's Banking Committee, are
Chairman Spence and Representa-
tive Brown. Democrat, Of Geor-
gia; Patman, Democrat, of Texas;
Monroney, Democrat, of Oklaho-
ma; Wolcott. Republican. of Mich
igan; Gamble, Republican. of New
York. and Kunkel, Republican, of
Pennsylvania.
Senate passage gives the con-
ferees a week to put the finish
ing touches on the measure
before the existing law dies
March 81.
Issues to Be Settled.
The main issues In conference
will be: 4
/. Local option the House
gives States, cities or even smaller
political subdivisions the option of
getting out from under Federal
control. The Senate bill requires |
action at the State level. State
legislatures may bring about local
control, or a municipality may do
so with the Governors consent.
2. Possible rent increases-theI
House bill calls for a reasonable
return on fair value for land
lords. The Senate. believing that
would be too difficult to admin
lister, voted for automatic in
creases where tenants have not
already had a IS per cent rent
raise since June 80, 1947. The
increases would amount to 5 per
cent on October l and another S
per cent next April. but in no
case would exceed IS per cent
of the June. 1947. rent. If q
tenant has been raised 10 pei
cent since that date. he would
have to take only he first per
cent increase.
After losing their figl : Tuesday
to prevent cities from apping
Federal rent control, if the Tov-
ernor agrees, administration lee -
ers were more successful yester-
day in preventing several other
weakening amendments.
Republican Move Beaten.
BY a vote of "a to %. the Demo-
Gratis defeated a Republican move
to cut the extension period to
six to IL months. BY an even
larger vote, however, the Senate
refused to keep Federal control
for two years. This vote was rs
to 10. In final form, the Senate
bill calls for a 12-month extern
sion, with an additional three
months for tenants who want it.
BY a 44-to-42 vote, the admin
istration beat a move by Senator
Bricker, Republican, Of Ohio to
prevent the granting of discre-
tionary power to Federal authori-
ties to make regulations govern
ing evictions. The Bricker amend
ment would have retained list
of specific grounds for eviction
which are in the present law.
Democratic leaders failed, how
ever, to keep in the bill criminal
penalties recommended by the
Banking Committee for "willful
violations" of Federal rent CELL
ings. These were knocked out.
So to 80.
Gradual Decontrol Beaten.
The Capehart plan to decon-
troll rents gradually, according to
the monthly rent level, failed, 81
to 18. It would have started with
the decontrol in September of
properties renting for $3.50 or
more a month. Lower-priced
housing units would have been de-
controlled at three-month inter-
walls.
Although the House bill calls
for a reasonable" return on value
for landlords, it makes 1t apply
only as far as practicable. Senate
Republicans tried to put in
stronger reasonable return amend
ment yesterday. but failed, Al to "a.
Senator Gordon. Republican, of