Evening star., 1951-06-17
Board
|ndorses Local
Rent Control
Option Amendment in
Federal Measure
Backed Unanimously

Possibility Of a return of rent
control to Arlington was seen last
night as result of the county
boards support of proposed local
Ioption amendment to new Fed
|eral control bill.
The proposal has been approved
by the Senate Banking Committee
and will be offered in an extension
Iof the present rent-control meas
ure which expires June 80.
Virginia decontrolled all rents
about a year ago after action of
the General Assembly. More than
10000 rental units in Arlington
land Fairfax Counties, Falls Church
and Alexandria were taken off the
regulated list.
Unanimous Endorsement of the
local option proposal was voiced
by the Arlington County Board at
its meeting yesterday.
Ask Support of Legislation.
Board members urged Repre-
sentative Smith and Senators
Byrd and Robertson, Democrats.
OF Virginia, to support the legisla-
ton.
Daniel A. Dugan, who made the
motion, said there is no doubt
that Arlington is a critical area.
Mr.. Dugan initiated a plea to the
State to retain controls just be-
fore they were permitted to ex-
pire last June 25.
Mayor Franklin P. Backus of
Alexandria expressed doubt, how
ever. over the willingness of the
|city's officials to seek reinstate-
ment of rent controls.
II don't think it would be justi-
fed here because I don't believe
there is an emergency" he said.
G. Wallace Carper, chairman
of the Fairfax County Board Of
Supervisors, could not be reached
for comment.
Maryland Renewed Law.
In Maryland, the 1851 General
Assembly has renewed legislation
to permit the State to impose rent
controls on counties and cities,
at their request. in case Federal
controls are dropped. The legisla-
ton includes Montgomery County.
but exempts Prince Georges
County.
Under the amendment before
the Senate, local areas could bring
themselves under Federal rent
control by action of their gov
Ierning bodies. provided they are
declared critical defense areas.
This formula would follow q
pattern set by the Defense Pro-
duction Administration in relax
ling curbS on credit for construc-
tion Of necessary housing.
Under this program, governing
officials Of communities may ask
the Critical Areas Committee Of
IDPA to be recognized as critical
areas" because of defense impact
on living conditions.
Investigation Provided.
This involves thorough in
Ivestigation by the Defense De-
partment. to see if the local pro-
gram is essential; by the Labor
Department, to see if the local
labor market will meet demands
|of any defense project. and the
FHA and FSA to determine if
available housing is adequate
should labor be imported.
1t is questionable whether
nearby Virginia would qualify
under the critical area" terms
for rent control. DPA officials
said.
Only is such areas have now
been classified, out of more than
SO community requests.
The rent controls would be adj
ministered by the Economic Sta
bilization Administration in CO.
ordination with other controls.
The bill also provides for winding
up the Office of the Housing Expe-
otter, in which case it is expected
that Tighe E. Woods, the expe-
diter, would continue handling
rent controls under ESA.
While the rent amendment is
considered broad enough to bring
the District under the Federal
controls, it is the intent of the
committee to allow Washington to
continue under its own separate
controls.