The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-11-16
Rent Lids Voted
By 313 Towns In
Nov. I Elections

Washington (LPA) Voter s
from Boston to Walla Walla gave
a rousing okay to continued rent
controls nearly everywhere they
got the chance in the Nov. z cleo
tions.
The question of continuance after
Federal controls expire Dec. 81
was on the ballot of 351 towns and
cities. Of these, 313, with a popu-
lation of 5,552,000, voted continu-
ance by votes ranging from FL to
81. The 3S towns voting down con-
trolls had only $4,000 population,
less than 1000 each.
OF the 300 places now under
Federal control, 800, with 12,5O0,-
coo people, have already asked con-
tinuance through resolutions by
their city councils. A grand total of
613 towns and cities with 18,000,-
600 population have asked for ex-
tensions, leaving almost $500 places
with a population of 100000
which will have controls only until
Dec. 81 unless they take action.
City councils in these $500 towns
can have controls extended to June
80 simply by passing a resolution,
but most of them are ducking the
responsibility hoping that the Fed
eral government will step in before
years end and get them off the
hook.
Tighe E. Woods, housing expe-
diter, holds out little hope if the
councils delay. He said they chad
better not bank on a new rent law
because there just isn't time for
Congress to act"
"There may be time for Congress
to squeeze through an extension"
Woods said, 'but don't figure on it.
These councils have the opportun-
ity, by single affirmative action,
to continue these controls. 1t is up
to them to take that action"
High spot in Tuesdays rent con-
troll continuance vote was Mass
achusetts. Bay State voters in 265
towns with 4,620,000 population
Gncluding Boston) okayed the
proposal, and 81, with $4,000 popu-
lation, turned it down.
In Rhode Island, where all but
eight cities balloted on the issue,
80 (including Providence) with
768,000 total population were for
continuance. In Vermont, four
towns with 10000 people voted in
the affirmative.
Eight New Jersey towns with
$4,000 voted for controls and rent
lids lost only in South Harrison by
a 40 to AT vote.
Shamokin, Pa, which tested de-
control before and didn't like it,,
voted 4558 for control and 1850
against. When the Shamokin city
council pushed through a decontrol
measure last year landlords jump
ed rents-particularly the rents of
people active in rent control con-
tinuance = and union and civic
groups went from door to door
getting petitions signed asking
recontrol. Woods recontrolled the
town then, but apparently the
voters have learned their lesson.
He won't be called on again.
A technicality finds Akron, Ohio
without rent controls even though
they were voted. The city council
previously passed a decontrol re-
solution. 1t was knocked down by
$4,000 to $4,000 in referendum
vote at Tuesdays election. But, as
the action was a reversal of the
city council, and did not specifical-
ly ask rent controls, Akronites will
either have to have another refer
endum or make members of city
council see the light and pass an
other resolution asking control con-
tinuance.
Walla Walla, Wash, was the
westernmost city voting controls.
No word has yet been reached from
a scattering of small towns in the