Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-13
A Fair Anti-Profteerine Law.
o the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor Of The Stlr:
While profiteering in its true sease n
absolutely reprehensibie, and should be
condemned and stamped upon. legtsia-
tors should not be too anxious to
pounce upon legitimate price-makfns.
The bill introduced by Representative
tives with reference to the prices
which may be charged for house rent
is a fragrant example Of this too
ready tendency to treat legitimate
price-making as proateer1ng The
johnson bill il enacted. would take
away from every District landlord the
legitimate income from his property
by taxing 100 per cent on everything
received in rental for a given ptscs of
property in excess of what was reesiv-
ed for the same property prior to De-
cember 81, 1916. Even though I am q
renter in the District this does not
prevent my seeing far enough to ap-
preciate the imposition this bill would
be upon the landlords. They VIII be
held down to rent received prior to De-
cember 81, 1916. notwithstanding that
the price of everything (coal, repairs.
etc.) necessary to the upkeep OF the
in the eantime.
Aside from these considerations the
proposed legislation Is q direct viola
ton OF the due process clause in the
Constitution tArticle OF amsaa-
ments). in that it is q taking OF prop
erty without due process OF law. The
right of an individual to contrAot at
will has always been recognized n one
of the fundamental privileges OF . free
and independent citizen, and thls Tree
A,. hA1A hw~~ -
rfous courts to be \ property right
which cannot be taken away by lNBts-
lation, except in the interest OF the
general welfare or the safety of-the
tho supreme judicial court of the com
monwealth of Massachusetts, 10 directly
in point. A BILL known as the mini
mum wage law. was passed By the
among other things. the hours of labor
of all persons in whatever capacity or
position were limited to eight hours
per day. A case arose in which tho
toned on the ground that it interfered
with the free right OF an individual to
contract his services for q longer
period than eight hours . day. 1t was
held that while the houro OF labor OF
persons in dangerous occupations (such
as railroad engineers and 80 foFth). ana
OF women and children. could b feg0-
lated by legislation as protection of
the SAFETY ana general welfare OF the
public, yet the hours Of labor OF those
not falling within that ciass could not
be so regulated. and that fnasmuoA ~
the act in question attempted to ragu-
late the hours Of labor OF all per3oA0 Il
was unconstitutional because II vas
depriving the individual Of his r-fFoA
right of contracting Ito wit. his prop
erty) and hence deprfving him Of 1892
erty without due process Of law.
That case 10 exactly analogous to the
attempt upon the part OF RepressntA-
tive johnson to regulate the right of
District landlords to contract The
right Of landlords to contract for
higher rent commensurate with the. In
creased cost of upksep is . prenorty
right which cannot b taken AMY 6eon
them without due process Of Law. xAN
bill cannot be upheld on the grounA ~
public safety and welfare, nor ~ . war
measure. bscaucs rooms for govsrlaesee
clerkD cannot Be said to b v1tAf -
the prosecution OF the war In Ike WAn-
ner with food. inasmucA - The 49,
own barracks for these clerks.
1t would indeed b . calamity - D1D1
this bill. for to do - would - ~ -
peiys cttisens Sf the uniss9 eeeesS e
whteh the rsveasel.ne4 ~ 80.