Evening star., 1951-06-05
DC. Heads End
Rent Hearing,
Weigh Controls
Hope to Decide
Recommendation on
Law Next Week


decide their stand on rent contro,
at the Board of Commissioners
meeting next Tuesday.
He and his fellow Commission
ers, John Russell Young and Col
Bernard Robinson. sat for three
and one-half hours yesterday list
ening to 26 witnesses at the hear.
ing, called to get the opinions OF
the public on the need for further
rent control.
The Commissioners have been
asked to report their views on rent
control to a House District SUBJ
committee, headed by Representa-
tive Harris, Democrat, of Ar
kansas. The subcommittee last
week completed two-day hearing
on the matter itself but wanted
further expressions of local
opinion.
Pending before the subcommit-
tee is a bill that would make
sweeping changes in the District
rent control law, due to expire
on June 80. The new law was
proposed by District Rent Admin
istrator Robert F. Cogswell.
Would Recontrol Hotels.
It would extend District rent
control until June 30, 1858, but
would grant landlords a 20 per
cent increase over rents of Janu-
ary !. 1941. Hotels would be put
back under controls, and new con-
struction, exempt under the pres
ent act since 1948. would also be
included.
Mr.. Donohue said the Commits
sioners must decide first if there
is need for further rent control.
If they decide there is, he con-
tinued. they must then decide in
what respects they agree with Mr..
Cogswell's recommendations or
whether a simple extension Of the
present law would be best.
Many of the witnesses who
appeared at the District Building
yesterday previously had appeared
at the subcommittee hearing last
week. The hearing started with
Mr.. Cogswell explaining his pro-
posed legislation.
The witnesses included:
F.. Moran McConihe, Washing
ton Real Estate Board-Opposed
to rent control but asked that, if
the Commissioners favored con-
troll, they grant a 80 per cent in
crease in rents. Said there was
no housing shortage.
20 Pet. Held Too High.
Leon A. Thompson, Federation
Of Civic Associations-Favors ex-
tension of rent control but be-
lieves a 20 per cent increase for
landlords too high. Said 5 or 6
per cent would be fair. Contended
there is extreme "tightness" in
vacancies.
Thornton w. Owen, president
of the Washington Board of
Trade-Said Board of Trade feels
there Is no further necessity for
rent control, but that If it is ex-
tended it should be for one year
only and with a reasonable in
crease for landlords.
Bourbon G. Dawes, Washington
Hotel Association-Said placing
hotels under rent control is un-
necessary and unwarranted. De-
clared there is no emergency in
hotel room situation and that the
influx Of business is the result of
the hotels competing with other
cities for tourists and conventions.
Rufus j. Lusk, Washington Tax
payers Association-Said there is
no excuse for rent control in Dis
trict; that housing has increased
rs per cent since 1910, and the
population, only 81 per cent in
the Washington Area.
Frank j. Luchs, Home Builders
Of Metropolitan Washington-Said
that if an extension is deemed
necesSary-which he does not IA
vor-an increase of 80 per cent
should be allowed. Said rent con-
troll is driving rental property off
the market.
Bauer Supports Bill.
Charles j. Bauer, Building Own
ers and Managers Association
Called for support of Mr.. Cogs-
wells bill, although does not agree
with every provision.
Mrs. Helen Duey Hoffman,
American Association of Univer-
sity Women-Said she has long
supported rent control but object
ed to 20 per cent across-the-board
increase, unless landlord can justi-
fy it. Said hotels should be back
on control
Mrs. Gertrude Evans, Progress
sive Party-Supported rent con-
troll extension but was shocked"
at MIR. Cogswell's recommends
ton for a 20 per cent increase.
Leonard S. Hayes, representing
a group of cooperative apartment
tenants; Stuart Robson, attorney
for the Home Realty Co., and Ed
mund j. Flynn and A. M. Drais-
ner, real estate dealers, who spe-
cializes in cooperative housing.
All suggested changes in the regu-
lations governing cooperative
apartments in the new bill, with
Mr.. Flynn and Mr.. Robson de-
claring the proposals would be too
restrictive.
Leon L. Sclawy and C. E. Sim
mons of the District chapter Of
the Property Owners Association
OF America-Oppose rent control
in principle, with Sclawy advocat-
ing Is to 80 per cent rent in
crease for apartments and dwell
ings, if 1t is extended.
Reidar D. Claffy, District Af-
fairs Committee of the Young
Democratic Club of the District
Supports Mr.. Cogswell's bill, de-
claring there is mo shortage of
housing for those with roonev