Evening star., 1952-09-07
Rent Control
Faces Test in
Outcome Nay Hinge
On Meaning Of
Federal Low


unincorporated area of Mont
yomery County may hinge on what
Congress meant by housing"
A public hearing on the extern
sion Of controls at 8 o'clock to-
morrow night is expected to draw
a crowd to the the courthouse in
A stormy opening is anticipated
With the County Real Estate Board
primed to challenge the county
attorneys Interpretation of the
Federal law which provides for
extension Of rent controls.
The council, following the ad-
vice of its attorneys, has said de-
bate tomorrow night will be
limited to the availability of
rental housing"
The real estate board contends,
however, that the law does not
limit the availability of housing
to the availability of of rental
units"
Strictly Buyers Market.
c. r. Graham, board president,
said I'VE know of 1000 to $500
homes up for sale in Montgomery.
It's strictly buyers market to-
day and there is no shortage"
Mr.. Graham said the real estate
board sought special meeting
with the council prior to the public
session. but was turned down cold.
The board, he said, merely
wanted ito enlighten" the council
with few facts. and to prevent a
clash at the hearing.
The decision on rent control
rests entirely with the council.
II 1t decides there Is a critical
housing shortage it will ask that
Federal controls be extended after
the September 80 deadline to next
April 80. Its request will affect
only the unincorporated areas.
Majority Favor Extension.
The council has received more
than SO letters on the rent control
issue. OF As individuals who have
written the council, SO favor ex.
tension of controls.
Joining with proponents of ex-
tension are district and local Of
f1ces Of the Communication Work.
ers Of America.
Lined up with the real estate
board are the Silver Spring Board
OF Trade. the Wheaton Chamber
OF Commerce, and the County
Commerce Association.
Control advocates will get a
boost from the results of a survey
made by the Federal Area Rent
Office in Silver Spring.
The survey disclosed that of
$3.50 rental units checked, 40 were
vacant. Only five of these rented
Tor less than $l25 a month. Seven
teen others were in the $l25-to-
$l74-a-month bracket.
Few Apartment Vacancies.
The survey also revealed no
vacant one and two-room apart
mentS and only one three-room
unit renting at $125 a month.
Only one apartment DEVELOPMENT.
exclusive Pooks Hill, reported any
vacancies.
The surveys findings will be
supported tomorrow night by the
introduction Of two affidavits from
area residents who contacted the
major apartment Developments in
the down county area. They also
found no vacancies.
The County Housing Authority
also has gone on record for re-
tention of controls.
John H. Pratt. chairman of the
authority. said a rent increase
would put a premium on low-cost
subnormal housing and make it
difficult to abolish undesirable
housing units.
The council has not said when
1t will announce its decision on
the extension. If an extension is
TO be requested, the council must
act before the end of the month.
Rockville and Glen Echo already
acted to extend controls. Cal
thersburg froze rents for 80 DAYS.
Washington Grove denied an ex-
tension on the ground there was
little or no rental housing in the
town.
Takoma Park officials are still
considering the question. The city
council already has held a public
hearing there.