The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-03-16
Senote Compromises To Continue
Funds For Rent Control Agency

Funds For Rent G.
Washington (LPA) - Enough
funds to continue the federal rent
control agency on a sharply cur
tailed basis are contained in a bill
passed by the Senate March 8
which now goes to conference be-
tween spokesmen for the House
and Senate. Actually, $4,OOO,OOo
was approved, but only $1,4OO,OOO
can be spent for operating costs OF
the Office of the Housing Expedit-
er between now and June 30, when
the present law expires.
Originally, as it came from the
Senate Appropriations committee
the agency would have received
| So, 100000 to pay severance money
due its employees, withTno operat-
| ing funds at all when present
money runs out April 10. This ac-
ton had been urged on the com
mittee by Sen. Harry Cain (R
Wash.) who on the floor sponsored
the $4,000,000 formula which was
approved.
Sen. Joseph C. O'Mahoney ID
Wyo.) proposed that the $780,
| 600 be appropriated without strings
attached. He had the support OF
Senator's from Illinois and New
York, states which will be most
drastically hit by the breakdown
of federal controls. Later, however
they all reluctantly agreed to 9
compromise" proposed by Cain
chief spokesman for the real estate
lobby in Congress, which allow;
the agency 81 100000 for operating
costs, and $2,60O,0O0 for the sever.
ance pay. Senators O'Mahoney
Lehman Cd, N.Y., Ives OR, N.Y.
douglas ID, IllD, and Myers Cd
Pa.) all made it clear that the
Housing Expediter should come
hack for more money if he is un
able to operate effectively on the
100000.
Sen. Burnet Maybank Cd, sc,
told the Senate as debate opened
that his Banking committee vii
hold hearings the week of April 2
on a bill to extend federal rent con
trolls for another year beyond June
80, 1850. He expects the bill t
reach the floor by early May.
How close the rent contro
agency came to complete an'
abrupt liquidation was seen wheI
the votes were tailed. The Ia Re
publican votes which Gains pro
posal mustered were the balance
of power between the 80 Fair Dea
Democrats and the 2S southern
Democrats and GOPers, mostl!
from the western states.
Last-ditch objectors to any funds
for the rent control agency be
tween now and June 80 were Is
Republicans and 10 Democrats
They were: Republicans Brewster
(Maine), Bricker (Ohio), Bridges
(NH), Donnell (Mo), DworshaI
| (Idaho), Ecton (Mont), Ferguson
| (Mich.), Gurney (SD), Hickenloop
er Gowa), KEN MOI, KnowlanC
(Calif), Mundt (SD), Thyt
(Minn), Watkins (Neb), Wherry
(NebD, Wiley (Wis.), Williams
(Del) and Young (ND); Demo
Gratis Byrd (Va.), Eastland (MiSs.)
Ellender (La.), Frear (DelD
George (Ga), Mcclellan (SC)
O'Conor (Md.), Robertson (Va)
Stennis (Miss.), Tydings (Md.).
The seriousness of lifting fedora
controls at this time was pointed
out in debate. Ives said "a out of
80 cities with population over 100,-
coo were still under federal con
trolls, and two-thirds of the cities
over 50,CC0 still protected their
tenants. This condition exists de-
spite the fact that for the past
year it has been possible for states
or local governments to voluntarily
vote to lift controls. Their reluct-
ance to take this action, Myers
added, is proof of the need to con
tinue the federal law another year.
Senators Chan Burney OR, SD,
Kenneth Wherry OR, Neb) and
Cain all maintained that the soon
er the federal agency was liquid
ated, the better it would be for the
country.