OCR Text |
Show u u Commission Voles 3-2 h To Lifi Curb City commissioners voted, I to X, Tuesday In favor of decontrollinf rents la Salt Lake City. Voting in favor of lifting rent eontrola were Mayor Earl J. Glade, Commissioner D. A. Affleck and Commissioner John B. Voting in favor of continuing rent control were Commissioners L. C. Romney and Ben E. Llngen-felter. Llngen-felter. Nearly 200 spectators crowded the commission chambers awaiting action on the measure, which has been the city's No. 1 problem for several month. A vast majority of the spects-tors spects-tors appeared to favor decontrol of rents. The group burst into applause ap-plause when results of the vota were announced. The resolution passed by the commission will be forwarded to Gov. J. Bracken Lee for approval Thereafter, It will be sent to Tighe Woods, federal housing expediter, for final decontrol action. At the conclusion of the meeting, meet-ing, the spectators swung into ths strains of "America.'' Commissioner Lingenfelter failed In an effort to postpone action on the question. He asked that action be delayed until a final report on a recent survey of rental properties proper-ties In the city by representatives of the federal housing expediter's office had been received. This was opposed by Commissioner Commis-sioner Affleck on the grounds that it had been publicly announced the commission would reach a decision Tuesday. 1 In offering his motion for sp I proval of decontrol. Mayor Glade I assured bis fellow commissioners that "he did sot wish to rush final action." However, the difference of opinion opin-ion between Commissioners Lingenfelter Ling-enfelter snd Affleck caused the mayor to sat for comments from spectators. B. A. Weight, field secretary, Apartment House Association of Utah, asked the commission "can rent control present one additional bousing unit?" Answering his own question, he said, "No, ws contend there will be much more housing available If controls are lifted. We only ask See Fsgs t, Column t Rent Decontrol VinsS.L0keh Coatiaoed fran Pag, Oee that you turn back oar freedom." Commissioner Matheeon, who had previously axpreesed no opinion opin-ion on the matter, aakad clartflca-Uon clartflca-Uon of tha Issue. Ha said, "If wa ara reetricted to voting on whether wheth-er or not a bousing ahortare exists, I will vote one way; but if I vote my own feelings I'll to the other way. Explains tba Issue City Atty. E. Ray Chrlstensen explained that the Issue at hand la whether or not there la sufficient housing available today. However, How-ever, he added, it has always been the custom to "rota tha way -you actually think." Other speakers from tha ranks of the spectators Included State Sen. Rue L Clegg (R, Salt Lake), and several landlords, all speaking in behalf of decontrol. Only opposition voiced waa by Joseph C. Pratto, a local attorney who aald he "did not feel that this waa tha proper time" for decontrol. decon-trol. - Despite objections of Commissioner Commis-sioner Llngenfelter, Mayor Glade's motion waa brought to ballot after approximately SO minutes of discussion. Tn explaining his voteTCommls-sioner voteTCommls-sioner Llngenfelter said, "I want it understood that I do not believe in rent control, but I atlll think wa should have tha final report on tha federal survey." Ne Sodden Impulse' In submitting his motion for decontrol. de-control. Mayor Olade also entered a prepared statement In which he cautioned that ha haa not been moved by "sudden impulse." Ha referred to tha rant control law as a war emergency measure that la recent years baa "engendered "engen-dered sartoua hatreds and Intense bitterness" between tenants and landlords. Ha pointed out that there ara 3015 homes under construction in tha city which, with a few ex caption cap-tion a ara all being built under the F H A plan. "If they are sold, obviously they will greatly help to meet the housing aituation; If they ara not sold they will be rented aa la the policy under FHA." Ha aald these homos have net been Included in any of tha surveys sur-veys submitted. The mayor aaked tha full cooperation of every citizen, citi-zen, of tenants and landlords, and of labor, veterans and women's organizations "in meeting thta laaua forUirtghtly to tha American Ameri-can manner. Glea D. Reese, Salt Lake area rent control director, aaid hla office of-fice would have no comment to make on the comm lesion's move to lift rente, elnoe the city governing govern-ing body waa aatnortsed to take such action independently. Advlaad of tha city commission's vote to decontrol rente. Gov. J. Bracken Lee aaid: "If tha papers ara la order when they reach my of flea, I will comply with tha majority request at toe oom mission. |