Evening star., 1951-06-12
Year Extension
Of Rent Control
For D. {. Voted
House Subcommittee
To Present Bill to
Committee Thursday
By Harold B. Rooers

A House District subcommittee
today approved extension of Dis
trict rent control for one year to
June 80. 1852.
Chairman Harris said a bill in
cooperating the extension and
other provisions will be prepared
for possible action at a meeting of
the full District Committee Thurs
day morning.
The subcommittee was divided
on some of the provisions. Mr..
Harris explained, and there may
be discussion of some of the more
controversial sections when the
bill reaches the full committee.
20% Increase Provided.
The bill would:
Control new construction built
since 1948 at the rent level in
effect on January /. 1851.
Authorize an automatic 20 per
cent increase to landlords over
the freeze date Of 1941, including
any increases granted since that
time.
Restore criminal penalties for
violations up to $1,000 fine, one
year in Jail or both.
The subcommittee refused the
District Commissioners recon-
mendation to recontrol hotel
rooms and to provide standby
authority for curbs over boarding
and rooming houses.
Also rejected was a proposal by
District Rent Administrator Rob-
ert Cogswell to repeal the pro-
viSo that IS per cent of the ten
ants OF an-apartment must sub.
scribe to cooperative agreement
before the building could be taken
over by a cooperative.
ROoming House Ban Favored,
The subcommittee agreed with
the Commissioners that no room
ing or boarding houses should be
permitted in Residential A re-
stricted zoning areas.
Mr.. Cogswell originally had rec
commended that such rooming
houses be permitted as they were
during World War II.
Meantime, on the other, side Of
the Capitol, Senate District sub.
committee was to resume public
hearings this afternoon on extern
sion of rent control.
The subcommittee, headed by
Senator Johnson, Democrat, of
South Carolina, had before it the
original proposals of Mr.. Cogswell
and amended recommendations by
the Commissioners.
Questions Hotel Controls.
At yesterdays session, Senator
Welker. Republican, of Idaho.
sharply questioned several wit
nesses on the necessity of bring
ing transient hotels back under
control.
Commissioners F. Joseph Dono-
hue and Col. Bernard Robinson
explained the city heads entire
program of revised and extended
controls, including recontrol Of
hotels.
But, under cross-examination
by Senator Welker, Ernest F.
Williams, counsel, and Ruffin
Brantley, assistant counsel to the
Rent Administration, testified they
feel transient hotel rates are reas-
enable. The latter thought there
was no need to recontrol transient
rooms.
Senator Welker said that with
such testimony in the record he
would not vote for recontrol of
hotels.
Wanted 80 Per Cent Increase.
Spokesman for real estate
groups reiterated previous testi-
mony that they want 30 per
cent increase in rents over those
prevailing in 1941.
Among these were Frank J.
1uchS, of the Home Builders of
Metropolitan Washington, and j.
Garrett Beitzell. president of the
Washington Real Estate Board.
Senator Johnston asked Mr..
Luchs if the various groups had
gotten together in a meeting to
agree on the 80 per cent. MIR.
Luchs said he had been at meet
1ngs OF both the Real Estate
Board and the Home Builders, but
he denied Indignantly that there
had been any colluSion.
Senator Welker was indignant
at the 5000 month rent paid by
members of his staff for two
bedroom furnished homes. The
lawmaker drew Mr.. Luchs into an
estimate that such a home prob
ably should rent for SIPS a month
unfurnished, with $40 to $50 a
month additional for furnishings.
II such homes as these were
put on a free market" Mr.. Luchs
countered." the law of supply and
demand wouldn't let the price go