Evening star., 1949-03-18
Senate Due 10 Debate
Rent Control Monday;.
Bill Under 2-PartyFire.
BY the Associofed Press

ey me ASSoeiofeo presS
A Senate bill allowing rent in
creases up to 10 per cent and let
ting the States scrap rent con-
trolls drew both Democratic and
Republican fire today-for differ
ent reasons.
The bill provides for continuing
Federal rent controls II to Is
months except where the States
either remove them or take over
the control program. 1t was ap-
proved late yesterday by the Sen
ate Banking Committee and the
Senate agreed last night to start
debate on it Monday.
The present rent control law ex-
pires March 81. The House al
ready has passed a 15-month ex-
tender which also provides for
home rule" decontrol.
Senator McGrath of Rhode
Island, the Democratic national
chairman, said the Senate meas
ure ought to be given it's proper
name-it's not a rent control bill
it's decontrol bill"
Bricker Wants All Lids Off.
On the Republican side, Senator
Bricker of Ohio said the bill does
not go far enough toward de-
control.
Its time we get out of rent
control altogether instead of get
ting deeper into it. Senator Brick
er commented.
Senator McGrath was directing
his remarks to a prediction by
Senator Sparkman. Democrat. OF
Alabama that the Truman ad4
ministration will be we'll pleased
with the Senate bill.
Senator Sparkman. chairman
Of subcommittee which drafted
the bill, made the statement in de-
nying published reports that the
measure was the product of a CO.
alition of Republicans and South
ern Democrats out to scuttle
President Truman's legislative
program.
Senator McGrath said: From
the administrations standpoint.
don't think the bill measures up
to what was expected of U.S."
Myers Sees LoophOIes.
Mr.. Truman asked for a two
year extension of the rent con-
troll program and a general tight
ening of controls.
Senator Myers, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania. the assistant ma
jority leader. called the Senate
bill much better than the one
passed by the House" But he
added 1T still has some loopholes
and is not as strong as I would
like to see.'
The bill calls for a fiat 12-
month extension of controls and
provides for continuance of rent
ceilings and eviction controls for
still another three months if in
dividual tenants wanted that pro-
lection. But during the latter
three months tenants could nego-
tiate new leases at any rent they
wanted. And any dwellings be-
coming vacant during that time
would be decontrolled immedi-
ately.
Senator Sparkman said the net
effect is a 15-month extension
But Senator Cain. Republican, OF
washington, took exception to
that. He, called it only a 12-
month extension with provision
for q decontrol speedup during
the following three months.
Top Is Is Per cent Over June. al.
The increase provision allows
rents to be boosted per cent
October l, 1949, and another 5
per cent April /, 1850. but in no
case could the cumulative in
crease push the rent more than
IS per cent above the level Of
June 80. 1947.
For example, if a tenants rent
already had been raised IS per
cent since June, 1947, he could be
charged neither Of the S per cent
increases provided for in the Sen
ate bill.
But if his rent has been raised
only per cent since that time.
1t could be boosted 10 per cent
in the two 5-per cent steps au-
thorized in the bill. If his rent
already had been increased 10
per cent, then the October
5-per cent increase would apply
but not the April /. 1850. raise.
Third Increase Junked.
The full committee junked a
subcommittee provision which
would have allowed a third 5-per
cent increase after another six
month interval.
The provision to let individual
States remove rent controls when-
ever the Legislature passes a law
calling for such step was ap-
proved, 9 to 4, by the committee.
The State law could provide for
decontrolling the whole State OF
Just certain areas.
A provision in the House bill
would let any State. county or
municipal unit lift rent controls
whenever they chose to do so.
y Senator Douglas, Democrat. of
Illinois. said he voted against the
Senate provision because, as he
= put it. many legislatures are dom
: mated by rural lawmakers who
would not take into account the
situation in urban areas.
:, Another section of. the Senate
bill would let States take over
rent control from the Federal
Government whenever the Gov
ernor certified that his State hac
- L. l.