Evening star., 1918-02-22

Three distince propositions are now
pending IN Congress relative to prof
iteering in rents, the johnson bill. in
troduced by the chairman of the House
District committee and reported by
that committee and now before the
House; the Poindexter bill, introduced
in the Senate and also rendered in the
House by Representative Tinkham as a
substitute for the johnson bill. and the
proposition Of the District Real Estate
but submitted in outline to the House
District committee.
The Johnson bill applies only to the
District of Columbia and provides for
severe penalties for rental charges over
q certain average of past rentals or, IN
the case of new rentals, over certain
valuation. The Poindexter bill applies
TO rent prof1teering throughout the
United States. The proposal of the
real estate brokers of Washington pro
vides for a rental administrator Tor the
District, with power TO fix maximum
rents.
Next Monday it is expected that the
House of Representatives will continue
consideration of the Johnson bill and
the postponement from a week ago
y
without action.
Text Of johnson Measure.
The text of that measure is as fol-
lows:
"That the term real estate as herein
used shall be construed to include lands,
buildings, parts of buildings, houses,
dwellings, apartments, rooms, suites OF
rooms and every other improvement or
structure whatsoever on land situated
and being in the District of Columbia.
THE word person when used in this
act shall be construed to include in
dividuals, partnerships. joint stock
companies, associations, corporations.
societies or bodies corporate.
>"Any word in this act importing the
extend and be applicable to females or
artificial persons or bodies.
'AThe terms income from real estate
as herein used shall be construed to in
clude all amounts received for the daily.
weekly, monthly or yearly use or occu-
pancy Of real estate or for any part of
any of such periods of time.
Section 2. That. in addition to other
taxes imposed by law, there is hereby
levied and shall be assessed. collected
and paid to the District of Columbia an
annual tax of 100 per cent upon SO
much of the income from real estate OF
every person, whether resident or nom
resident of said District, received from
and after December 81, 1916. as exceeds
the deductions herein allowed. For the
income subject to said tax, there shall
be deducted from the gross income re-
ported as herein provided SO much
thereof as equals the average amount
charged for the use and occupancy of
the same property for the same or a
corresponding number Of days, weeks.
months, year or eighteen months, or
H<~VA ovf af Ypv of
time. in. of. or during the eighteen
months Immediately preceding Septem-
Der so. 1916, plus 10 per cent thereof
additional except in cases where the
property was rented or leased fur.
nished- during the period before Sep
putation, and is rented 'unfurnished~
during the taxable period, in which
cases the said additional deduction
shall not be allowed
"If no such income was charged or re-
ceived during said period of eighteen
months. then the deduction from such
gross income shall be an amount equal
to per cent of the value of the prop
erty producing the income. including
furniture. if any. as determined by the
assessor of the District of Columbia
I'm cases where the property was
fore September 80. 1916. used in the
said computation. and is rented. fur
nished' during the taxable period, then
the additional deduction from such
gross income shall be increased to Is
Per cent-
II the real estate producing the in
come has been materially improved
since September 80. 1916. there shall be
an additional deduction from. such
gross income of an amount equal to 10
Per cant of the actual cost of such i'm
provements: Provided. That no such
deduction shall be allowed for the cost
Of repairs made necessary or desirable
by the ordinary wear and tear of rented
or leased property.
mo other exemption or deduction
from such gross income shall be al
lowed It is the intent and purpose of
this act to tax at the rate herein fixed
10 much Of every income from real es-
tate as exceeds the deductions specifi-
Returns to Be Made Under Oath.
Section g. That. on OF before the 10th
of July, 1918. true and accurate re-
turn under oath shall be made by each
person" subject to said tax. or his
authorized agent, to the assessor of the
District of Columbia. setting forth spe-
cifically the gross amount of such in
crued during the period from December
81. 1916. to June 80. 1918. and the de-
ductions to which he may be entitled
under this act; and the said taxes
thereon, computed as provided in sec
tion T. shall become due and collect
dble on or before September /, 1918.
And on or before the 10th of August,
1913, and OF each and every month