Evening star., 1952-05-27
D.C.Unifbackinq
For Rent Control
Expected Soon
Subcommittee Hears
Extension Proposal
Argued 3 Hours
By Don S. Worren

Continuation Of WASHINGTON
rent controls for another year from
June 80 probably will be recon-
mended soon by the Judiciary
Subcommittee Of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
The issue was debated for more
than three hours late yesterday.
There was no immediate decision,
since only Chairman Johnston
heard the case.
He indicated his personal view
OF the need.
IT Federal controls are to be
extended" he said. District con-
trolls certainly should be con-
tinued." Extension Of Federal
controls now awaits Senate action
Call for 'Fluidity."
Real estate and business groups
registered opposition. They said
the law of supply and demand
Should be allowed to operate
They produced a new word in
argument: The need of "fluidity'
in the rental market here.
Robert F.. Cogswell, District
rent administrator. urged an
other year Of controls. He was
supported by Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Robert F. Kneipp,
who said merely that the Com
missioners favored extension.
Opposing any continuation of
city rent controls were Frank j.
Luchs for the Washington Real
Estate Board, Charles j. Bauer
for the Metropolitan Building
Owners and Managers Associa-
ton. and Ernest F. Henry for the
directors Of the Board Of Trade.
Opposition also was voiced by
Alvin L. Aubinoe for the Home
Builders Association and Leon
T.. Sclawy for the Property own
erS' Association.
COgswell Commended.
Mr.. Cogswell won prasie from
Chairman Johnston on the way
local controls have been admin
|istered. The Senator said Mr..
Cogswell has done a magnificent
job.
Mr.. Cogswell said controlled
rents here have increased over
|all by $2.7 million since last June
80, or 1873 per cent. But because
OF rent control, he said, the rate
of increase Is not as great as
elsewhere.
Even SO, he pointed out, rents
here are higher than in So other
cities.
Although many additional
housing accommodations have
been placed on the market durine
the past several years, they have
been occupied almost as fast as
completed" he said.
"The demand for luxury type
housing has diminished but that
for housing In the range of $6s
to $85 a month, excluding effi-
cheney units. is still heavy" he
added. (
In the opposition, Mr.. Bauer
said rent controls have destroyed
''f1uidity" in the choice of housine
by tenants. Controlled renta'
prices. he said, have held renters
from buying homes.
Purchases Slowed.
"You mean rents ought to 20 ur
to make people buy homes?" Sen.
ator Johnston asked. Mr.. Bauer
said he did not mean that, but
that controls have slowed home
purchases.
MIR. Luchs argued that the emer.
gency that created the need fol
controls has passed.
"The pressure is or" he said
citing newspaper ads Of available
apartments. The Civil Service
Commission, he said, reports there
are 5000 fewer Federal employe.
here than in July of last year.
Decontrol Of rents in nearby
Virginia. he said. shows no goug.
ing Of tenants. He said he be.
lieveS the District would have the
same experience. Also, he cited
reports to show that worker pay
averages have gone up far more
than District rental charges.
Speaking for the Board oj
Trade. Mr.. Henry said the District
has experienced a tremendou.
building program in recent years
He said the trade body is satisfied
the supply Of housing here "has
caught up with demand"