Evening star., 1953-04-26
Rent Controls
Dying as Bill
LeaVesD.C.O Out
LocuI Amendment
Isn't Considered
During Senote Action
By Don S. Worren

BY Don ). WoFTen
District rent controls last night
were dying on the vine with little
chance there could be any revival
before Thursday night, the pres
ent terminal date.
The Senate yesterday passed
and sent to the White House for
signature into law the House bill
extending Federal rent controls
for critical areas until July 81.
But by mishap or intent, no
consideration was given to a
proposed amendment to grant
the same extension to the Dis
trict. which operates under a
separate law.
Chairman Case of the Senate
District Committee was taken by
surprise by the sudden Senate
action and was not on the floor
when Majority Leader Taft,
shortly before noon yesterday,
interrupted the tidelands oil de-
bate to bring up the House.
passed rent control bill. It was
swept to enactment in about a
half hour, with no roll call vote
taken.
Amendments By-PaSSed.
Since adoption was by voice
vote, there was no ringing of
bells in the Capitol and in the
Senate Office Building, the Gus
tomary warning that a formal
vote was being taken. Chair
man Case said he thereby was
unaware that action was about
to be taken. At the time he was
engaged in a conference in his
Office in the Senate Office Build
ing.
Senator Case had offered Fri
day night proposed amendments
to both the House and Senate
bills on extension of Federal rent
controls, not sure which one
might be called up for final SEN
ate action, or just when.
One Of his amendments would
have extended District rent con-
trolls to September 80, in keep
ing with the Senate bill. The
other would have carried on the
District program of July 81, in
tune with the Federal bill already
passed by the House.
But in his absence from the
Senate floor, neither amendment
was even considered. Instead
the Senate heard brief discussion
of the House-passed bill, adopted
it by voice vote and sent it to
President Eisenhower.
May Offer Separate Bill.
Had Senator Case been there,
adoption of his proposed amend
ment would have required the
bill to go back to the House for
action on the District amend
ment. Observers said this prob
ably was q reason why efforts
were not made to delay Senate
action until the Case amendment
could be argued. AS a result,
the District was left out in the
cold.
The first reaction of Chairman
Case was that he probably would
offer a separate District bill to
give the same three-month ex-
tension to the District that Con-
gress had granted for other de-
fense areas on rent control.
He said, however, that he
would consult with other men,
bers of the Senate District Com
mittee to get their advice. Later,
after talking with at least two
members of his committee. he
said he was holding up any &C
tion until he could ascertain
what chances there might be for
approval by the House District
Committee.
d. C. Bill PigeOnhOled.
He said he wanted to talk with
Chairman Simpson Of the House
District Committee. That COM
mittee last Thursday voted to
pigeonhole a bill extending Dis
trict rent controls for three
months.
Senator Case said he wanted
to talk with Mr.. Simpson because
there wouldn't be much point
in introducing and seeking SEN
ate action on a District rent bill
unless there was some chance
that 1t might come up for action
in the House."
Earlier, Senate Majority Lead
er Taft told reporters he was
willing to let a separate District
rent control extension bill come
up for action in the Senate, prior
to the Thursday deadline, even
though the tidelands oil issue
might still be the pending Sen
ate businesSs. Senator Taft took
this position since time had been
granted to act on the Federal
rant controls Uyhilo tho fidn1a rdc
oil issue was still the Senate
business.
Shrine Cirrus Ie Aoef