Evening star., 1950-01-10
Wants Spokesman for Poor
Who Ride Buses and Streetcars

To me it is passing strange that whenever
it is proposed to increase the cost Of things
the poor must have, no one urges the fact
that it will be hardest on the very ones that
will have to have the article
wonder whether either the press or the
Public Utilities Commission realizes that an
increase in bus and streetcar fares neces-
sarily will be borne by the very people who
cannot afford it. Poor people ride the street.
cars and buses.
It seems to me that someone should speak
up for those who cannot afford to pay more
to reach the work that they must do. HI
Housing Expediter Explains Paint Jobs
Are Paid for by Renters
To the Editor of The Star:
have just read the editorial entitled
"Two-Year Paint Jobs" in the January
issue of The Star in which you criticize the
recent action of our New York regional Office
requiring landlords in New York City to
revert to their prewar practice of painting
and redecorating their apartments every
two years.
The editorial correctly pointed out that
prior to the war it was customary in New
York for landlords to redecorate apartments
every two years but that during and since
the war, because of the shortage of labor
and materials rent control authorities ac-
cepted redecoratng job every three years
as being satisfactory.
The editorial also stated, correctly, that
"the shift back to the two-year basis is at
tributed to an easing Of wartime shortages"
AS matter Of fact both materials and labor
are in surplus supply in New York City at
present. But that wasn't the only reason
for the change back. Another was that the
Rent Act itself requires a landlord to pro-
vide the same services as he did when rent
control went into effect. 1t seemed to us
that the time had come to terminate the
wartime waiver that had been granted New
York landlords.
Your editorial then went on to say that:
The landlords say. however, that the added
cost may well prove to be the straw which
will break the camels back" It is that
statement with which wish to take issue
and to point out the true facts.
In the first place, In view of the existing
adjustment provisions, there is no such
thing as a straw to break the camel's back"
since. generally speaking. for each addi-
tlonal straw" the landlord may obtain an
additional rent increase. Let me explain,
Congress provided in the present act that
in acting on petitions for rent increases my
agency must fix maximum rentals at level
that will yield to the landlord fair net
operating income. You probably are familiar
with the fair net operating formula my office
worked out and the regulation I issued to
carry out the mandate of Congress Under
that formula. a small landlord who is not
getting a fair net operating income may
get rent increase that will net him 80
per cent Of his rental income, while the
large landlord is entitled to rs per cent.
therefore, when an expense is added-such
as decorating every two years instead of
every three-Which brings a landlords net
operating income below that which is fair
under the formula, rent increase will be
granted to, bring the landlords fair net
operating income up to the rs or 80 per cent
OF gross income authorized under the fair
net regulation.
Nor is that all. Even if the added ex-
pense (such as is caused by painting every
two years instead Of three) fails to bring
the landlords net operating income below
what is considered fair under the formula.
ne nevertheless can apply for rent increase
under another of our adjustment provisions,
l refer to the adjustment provision which
allows landlord rent increase to COM
penSate him for the increased cost of ma
terlals, labor or services since rent control
went into effect. Specifically. II paint cost
landlord can get an increase for the increase
OF 81 gallon on paint. Similarly, If a
painter was paid 81 an hour in 1912 and 81
an hour now, the landlord can get an in
crease on the $1-an-hour increase in wages.
True. this does not compensate for the
entire cost Of new paint Job. But, as
previously pointed out. this adjustment is
IN addition to the fair net operating adjust
ment provision under which landlords are
assured fair net operating income.
Finally. this change does not force every
VNylpk
years. 1t merely requires the landlord to
restore his customary decorating service in
enect on the date his rents were frozen
Under the new ruling. If the Landlord can
prove that his practice contemplated deco
rating every three or four years, the agency
Will not require him to do more than he
did on the freeze date.
T1GHE E. WOODS.
Housing Expediter.
Spokesman for Historic Buildings Group
Urges saving Washington Square Houses
To the Editor Of The Star:
From New York City comes news that the
race OF that city will once more be changed.
syndicate has purchased group of build
lngs covering $4,000 square feet facing the
northwest corner Of WASHINGTON Square n
tne present plans are conSummated, by July.
lS5i. there will be 12-story apartment
building towering over the famous old
washington Arch. Washington Square, which
mas been undergoing minor change for some
years, will be permanently changed and
NeW forkers ana all Americans will have
lost another part of their heritage.
1t should not seem strange that Washing
ton should view with alarm this proposed
development. Now that the National Trust
Tor Historic Preservation in the United
States has received its charter, the Nation
at large feels stronger right than ever to be
interested in any locality where the destruc-
ton of the American heritage is threatened.
Included in the proposed razing are four
nne old houses. known as the Rhinelander
houses. which face the square itself. Across
Fifth avenue facing the <os,f1, co~,,.r - -.