Evening star., 1951-10-18
Five Candidates
For Board Back
Rent Controls
Forum in Arlington ,
Hears Only One Who
Fovors Ceilings Now

dates Tor the Arlington County
Board favor return of rent con-
troll when @the housing shortage
becomes acute. but only one Of
them believes ceilings should be
reimposed now.
The candidates for the two
board seats In the November
election spoke at a forum of the
Arlington League of Women Vot-
ers. attended by more than 100
persons last night at Stratford
Junior High School, The forum
also heard the six candidates for
three vacancies on the school
board. -
At another session Of the forum
set for 8 o'clock tonight, the
league will present the candidates
for State Senator, House Of Dele
gates and county constitutional
Offices. 1,
County Board Member F. Free.
land Chew. independent Demo-t
crat, running without party in
dorsement. did not attend last
nights meeting.
Jacob Bechtel. independent Re-
publican. in his reply to the ques-
ton of whether he favors rent
control. termed many Of the
county's residents "fiy-by-nights"
and said. When they go back
home. We'll have empty apartment
buildings. and we won't need rent
control"
| Wright States Views.
One Of the Independent DEM
ocrats carrying the support of tht
County Democratic Committee,
Carroll Wright, a real estate man,
said he strongly opposes rent.
gouging and ''in time of crisis.
there should be controls" .
The two Republican candidates.
Robert A. Peck. an auto dealer.
and George M. Rowzee. jf., an
assistant bank cashier. said they
are opposed to the proposed re-
striction, but Mr.. Peck said he was
withholding a final decision pend
ing a study OF the facts.
Wade Pearson, manager of a
theater chain and an independent
Democrat with official party sup
port, said. Il am not in favor Of
controls now, but if it gets to
gouging, then would favor it."
/ The fourth Democrat, Fred
I Bach. who Is running as an inde-
Ipendent without party indorse-
iment. said he wants to give the
proposal, more study, but I sort
LOT lean@toWard it if there is q.
ishortfgep ! (
Es smith Works ON Study.
One of the. two non7partisan
candidates. T. Oscar Smith. JUS
tice Department attorney, referred
Ito a County Board study now
under way to determine whether
There is a shortage OF rental
units. If this study reveals a
! shortage. Mr.. Smith said, he would
flavor return of controls.
| Mr.. Smiths running mate.
Alan L. Dean, Budget Bureau
methods analyst. said. II support
the immediate reimposition of rent
controls" =. .., e.. g.. :.
In reply to a question from the
floor, Mr.. Dean said he is a men,
Der Of the Democratic Party al
although he is running as nom
partisan candidate, nominated by
the Town Meeting.
Mr.. Dean was also questioned
about his views on the present
business license ordinance.
He said he favors increasing the
business license tax rate to .
scale comparable to Alexandria's,
! increasing business revenue from
} about 100000 a year to about
Isl million. The present license
tax measure Is not a good ordin-
ance, he said, and should be
amended to prevent some of the
small businesses from paying more
than they should. .,.,
Questions Criticized.
Mr.. Bechtel's choice of a source
for new revenue is "a residence
tax to hit these apartment
, dwellers." = -:
I One of the School Board can
didates. Warren Cox. Federal
!, Housing Administration attorney.
took note of the organization of a
group of citizens. who plan to
Question the candidates. The tone
|of the questions. which have been
published. Mr.. Cox said, is critical
without being constructive.
Something like this doesn't
hurt me or any of the other can
didates. but it can injure our
$1,000 students or the $4,000 pre-
school children in the county"
tMr. Cox said. He said that the
group had had ample. opportunity
to question the candidates at pub
lie meetings. "
Formation of the Arlington
Forum on Public Schools was an
nounced last week.