Evening star., 1952-09-17
County Council
Votes Extension
OF Rent Control
Unincorporoted Area.
Affected by Narrow
Margin Of 3 to 2


Extension of rent control in the
uniHeofporated areas Of Montgom-
cry County to next April 80 was
voted yesterday by the County
Council.
The council voted, 3 to 2, to ask
that Federal controls be extended
past the September 30 deadline.
The councils resolution declared
q substantial shortage of housing
exists In the unincorporated areas.
Leading the fight to kill controls
was Harold Hammond, council
member from the Silver Spring
area. He was supported by Mrs.
Kathryn j. Lawlor.
Council President Lathrop Smith
Joined Mrs. Stella B.. Werner and
j. Louis Monarch in the vote.
Councilman George Nesbitt paired
his vote with that of Grover
Walker, who had indicated he fav-
ored extension.
Deadlock Avoided.
Mr.. Nesbitt's vote would have
deadlocked the count causing the
resolution to fail.
Mr.. Hammond said there was a
shortage Of housing. but he baked
at calling it substantial" He
said there would be a shortage as
long as controls were In effect.
Mr.. Hammond said there are
only 2.735 apartments under con-
troll. compared with 5,152 uncon-
trolled units. He said extending
controls would be to set up "class
discrimination" against the con-
trolled units.
Mr.. Hammond challenged the
survey made by the Area Rent
Office. which showed only 49 va
cancies in $3.50 units checked.
That outfit is in business" he
said. Every employe there would
like to see rent control continued"
Efforts to Thwart Law.
Mrs. Lawlor charged that some
landlords have been forced into
attempts to "thwart the law in
devious fashion" She said when
they cannot get rent increases for
their controlled units, they turn
unfinished apartments into fur
nished apartments by the addi-
ton Of a "sofa, o bed and q few
chairs"
Mrs. Werner, however, said the
only criteron on which they should
act on the extension was whether
q substantial shortage existed. She
said she accepted the figures Of
the rent Office.
Mr.. Smith said he had to agree
with those who felt there was a.
substantial shortage especially In
certain areas"
Councilman Nesbitt, during the
discussion. objected to "imputa-
tions that groups had presented
loaded figures to the council"
Mr.. Hammond submitted a sur
vey to the council made by the
county real estate board which
asserted there would be 81 va
cancfeS in the controlled apart
ments by October /. Other coun-
Gil members said the boards fig
ureS indicated turnover and not
vacancies.
Mr.. Hammond cited a 80 per
cent turnover in apartment occu-
pancy during the last year as an
indication there was no shortage.
Hearings Last Week.
Council members held a lengthy
public hearing on the rent con-
troll issue just eight days before
yesterdays ballot. Numerous let
tiers, resolutions and petitions were
filed in the record.
The real estate board and vari-
Gus commerce associations had led
the fight against controls.
Councilman Nesbitt yesterday
noted that while apartment de-
velopments now have nearly 100
per cent occupancy. so to 70 per
cent occupancy was considered
operational in prewar days.
The areas affected by the coun-
cil's action include the Bethesda
and Silver Spring sections. Rock
vile, Glen Echo and Gaithersburg
already have acted to maintain
controls. Takoma Park has made