The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-11-30
SR0 AT Hearings
On Rent Control
I'm New York

New York (LPA) - The first
public hearing on new state rent
control regulations played to stand
ing-room-only here. Thousands of
tenants and landlords milled in and
out during the nine-hour session
and listened to all or part Of 1876
one-to-five minute speeches.
Joseph d. McGoldrick, State
Rent Administrator, is holding the
hearings to gather material to
draft new state-w wide controls by
January Is. Cheers and boos, and
the election of three would-be
speakers, marked the stormy open
ing of the hearing in Central Com
mercial High School, Nov. %.
Among liberal groups at the
meeting was the Liberal Party of
New York State. Harold Baer,
chairman of the party's municipal
affairs committee, took the posi-
tion that, since the projected con-
troll plan is subject to legislative
action, the plan can contain recon-
mendations for amendments to the
existing law.
Recommendations suggested by
Baer included one that the Rent
Commission should not ask for com
parability rent increases because
they are inequitable. He also asked
for extension of control coverage,
the elimination of a gradual de-
control provision, and stopping of
evictions of those without homes
to go to.
James Lipsig, assistant execu-
tive secretary of the International
Ladies' Garment Workers -AFL,
speaking for 100000 ILGWU mem
bers and their families in New
York, demanded that the commiss-
ion "hold the line on rents as they
are now"
He cited the commissions own
survey to show that in many de-
controlled areas the bulk of rent
increases-62 percent under $50 a
month-were in low rent categor-
les.
Lipsig said there is still an acute
housing shortage and it seems like
ly to be around a long time. He said
present levels are too high and
should be rolled back, that land
lords have done more than well de-
spite controls, and that decontrol
now would result in chaos.
Walter l.. Kirschenbaum, repre-
senting the legislative committee
of the Workmen's Circle, worlds
largest Jewish labor fraternal or
der, said that "a rent control law
should not be for the benefit of
the real estate interests, but should
protect the tenant"
Proposals made by Kirschenbaum
asked that rent control area offices
be kept open at least two evenings
week to accommodate working
people and that former members of
the state rent commission of the
Federal housing expediter, be bar
red from processing eviction cases.
Meanwhile, in Washington, AFL
President William Green said the|
Lame Duck" Congress should eX-I
tend federal rent controls "at least
until March 81"
In kilograms to Sen. Burnet r.
Maybank Cd. S. c., chairman of
the Senate Banking Committee and
to Rep. Brent Spence Cd. KyO,|
chairman of the House Banking
Committee, Green said, "Curtailed
residential construction caused byl
drastic controls will accentuate theI
housing shortage and make strongl
rent controls even more essential
than heretofore"
at is imperative" the AFL lead
er declared, "that this session of
Congress extend the present pro-
gram at least until March 81 SO
that the S2nd Congress will bel
able to adopt strengthened remit
control program to meet emergency