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0 • O • c'.> 106 MR. FRANCIS L. HARRIS, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING MINORITY REPORT: MAY 27, 1949. THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. IN RE: RENT CONTROL. GENTLEMEN: HAVING BEEN APPOINTED ON YOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO STUDY RENT CONTROL I WISH TO REPORT AS FOLLOWS: RENT CONTROL 1* RENT CONTROL IS CLHSS LEGISLATION WHICH ARBITRARILY COMMITTEE CONTROLS RENTAL INCOME; BUT THIS ACT DOES NOT BIND THE COST OF LABOR AND MATERIALS, THE CHIEF FACTORS IN BUILDING COSTS. MINORITY REPORT 2. RENT CONTROL DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN OLD AND NEW CONSTRUCTION, THEREBY PLACING RESTRICTIONS UPON FREE ENTER— PRISE AND VIOLATING A BASIC PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY. 3. UDDER RENT CONTROL AND UNDER THE PROPOSED FEDERAL HOUSING ACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROMOTES BY SUBSIDY THE BUILDING OF RENTAL UNITS AT A LOSS TO TAXPAYERS WHICH IS PLAINLY A STEP TOWARDS SOCIALISM* 4* UNDER FEDERAL RENT CONTROL, THE GUARANTEED RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARE SUPPRESSED AND THE RIGHTS OF CONTRACT ARE NULLIFIED. 5. FEDERAL CONTROL DISCOURAGES INDEPENDENT ENTERPRIGE AND PROGRESS AND CREATES A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE DEMO— CRATIC WAY OF LIFE. CENTRALIZED FEDERAL CONTROL TENDS TO RELIEVE THE INDIVIDUAL FROM DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY IN HIS GOVERNMENT AND MAKES HIM A READY VICTIM OF CONTROL FROM ABOVE* 6. ON ACCOUNT OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF G. I * t S V'11 TH FAN11LIES AT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE ENLARGING OF LOCAL INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, THE HOUSING SITUATION HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. BUT THE STRAIN IS TEMPORARY AND DOES NOT JUSTIFY A LONG TERM HOUSING PROGRAM EXCEPT IN LOW PRICED PROPERTIES. 7. IN THE LOW INCOME GROUP, WHERE THE SITUATION IS MOST ACUTE, THE PROBLEM CAN BEST BE MET BY GUARANTEED LOU! INTEREST RATES RATHER THAN RENT. CONTROL. IN BRIEF, 1 AM OPPOSED TO FEDERAL CONTROL AND MOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR NATION RETURN TO FREE ENTERPRISE THAT WILL RELEASE THE FULL EN— ERGY OF OUR INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR CITIZENS IN DEMOCRACY TO GET USED TO FEDERAL CONTROL IN ANY FORM. IT WOULD BE MOST UNFORTUNATE FOR CHARLOTTESVILLE IF THERE WERE A PERMANENT CONTROL WHICH WOULE FIX NOT ONLY MAXIMUM BUT MINIMUM RENTS. I AM WILLING TO TRUST MY FELLOW CITIZENS, IN ADJUSTING INEQUITIES IN PROPERTY OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND { THINK THE DECISION SHOULD BE MADE HERE NOT IN WASHINGTON. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, F. L. HARRIS (SIGNED) FLH:AS. F. L. HARRIS A MOTION BY MR. BARR, SECONDED BY MR. ADAMS, THAT THE MAJORITY REPORT BE APPROVED, WAS ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING RECORDED VOTE: MAJORITY REPORT APPROVED. AYES: MR. ADAMS, MR. BARR, MR. HAMM AND MR. TEBELL. NOES: NONE. AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RE-ENACTING SECTION 97 (B) OF AN ORDINANCE FOR IMPOSING AND COLLECTING LICENSES AND TAXES FOR THE EXERCISE OF CERTAIN PRIVILEGES WITHIN THE CITY OF ORDINANCE RE: PEDDLERS — WHOLESALE CHARLOTTESVILLE ADOPTED APRIL 4, 194911, WAS OFFERED BY MR. BARR, SECONDED BY MR. ADAMS, AND UPON BEING READ, WAS CARRIED OVER FOR CONSIDERATION, AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE FOR IMPOSING AND COLLECTING ORDINANCE RE: LICENSES AND TAXES FOR THE EXERCISE OF CERTAIN PRIVILEGES WITHIN THE SKATING RINKS CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE FOR TWELVE MONTHS COMMENCING ON THE FIRST DAY OF MAY, 1949, AND ENDING ON THE THIRTIETH DAY OF APRIL, 1950, ADOPTED APRIL 49 1949, BY THE ADDITION THERETO OF A NEW SECTION NUMBERED 72A." WAS OFFERED BY MR. BARR, SECONDED BY MR. ADAMS, AND UPON BEING READ, WAS CARRIED OVER FOR CONSIDERATION.