Evening star., 1918-02-23
REALTY MEN TO AID
|NPROF|TEERF|
Bates Warren, Representing
D. c. Brokers, Urges Legis-
Iation to Reach Guilty.
PRESENTS HUGE REPORT

FncOENIO HUOE NET On
The real estate owners of Washing
ton and the real estate brokers who rep
resent them are not profteering in
rents; are doing all they can to prevent
profteering, and are eager to devote
their time and expenses in aiding the
House District committee draft legisla-
ton to prevent rent profteering. These
points were brought out in testimony
at an open hearing before the District
committee today.
Bates Warren, chairman of special
committee of the Real Estate Brokers
Association to consider the problem of
profiteering, urged upon the commit
tee immediate need for legislation
which will reach those really guilty
of profiteering and which will prevent
owners of real estate who might be
tempted to countenance' profiteering
when the leases expire after October
1, 1918.
In regard to this Mr.. Warren said:
Ii
are who are responsible for the levying
of extortionate rents. While the agents
have been able to hold the owners in
line SO far, there is a possibility that
when leases expire in october We may
not be able to hold the owners in
check.
I'VE are honest and sincere in saying
that we want legislation to check those
now profiteering and legislation which will
prevent owners from prohteering after
October l."
Mr.. Warren Opens Case.
In opening the case for the Real Estate
Brokers' Association, Mr.. Warren said: ut
is not our intention to prevent legislation
to stop the practice of charging high rents.
but to aid in drafting some legislation
that will be fair to all parties concerned.
Mr. Warren presented a yoluminous
report from the association, which he
discussed during the hearing. He said
that the association Is seeking infor-
and had prepared list of sforty-three
real estate agents. renting to 23,000
tenants, with an increase of LAZY ten-
ants since September 80. 1915. He said
that the total rents per month are
these forty-three. on these rents the
increase per month from all forty
three agents is $4.902.46.
Mr. Warren claimed that this showed
an increase of practically l per cent
over the 1916 rate. He submitted
letter showing why these increases
were made. and that most Of them are
dated prior to October l, 1916. or be-
fore the war started any profteering
in the District.
In response to questions from Chair
man Johnson Mr.. Warren said that the
real estate men first awoke to the
growing custom of profiteering through
subletting. after the date for renewal
cf leases last year. Mr.. Warren said
that the real estate brokers have no
record of the excessive charges by
owners of small houses who rent direct
and not through the agent. He made
this statement:
Will Do Anything.
1--WE will do anything that we can
and take testimony day and night CIV
ing our time and paying necessary eX-
penses in order to get the real Iacts for
this committee.
Mr.. Warren called attention to the fig
ures he had submitted as showing that the
owners did not reap the fruits of the in
creased rents and that the agents appear
ing before the committee did not reap
profits from them. I'VE are therefore not
asking protection on any profits we have
made, but we are asking your committee
30 be fair to owners of property In the
District
Charles W. Fairfax, president of the
Real Estate Brokers Association, in re-
sponse to a question from Chairman Ben
johnson, said that this report does not
show the increases charged by subletters.
but only the legitimate business of the
agent.
When Chairman johnson asked when
the Real Estate Brokers Association
started it's activities to curb subletting
at profiteeringl prices. Mr.. Fairfax said
that their association had passed a
resolution in October frowning upon
a violation of the lease
and pledging members of the associa-
tion to do all they could to prevent sub
letting at extortionate prices.
Chairman Johnson asked if there had
been any evictions on account of
sublettinG without the consent
of the landlords or agents. Harry Ward
man testified that he had evicted one
tenant. He explained that the apart
ment unfurnished rented for s55 a
month. An attempt was made to sub
let 1t for $155. He had the furniture
and rented the partment him. |
self direct to the subletter at $55 un-
furnished.
Did Away With Effort.
Chairman johnson commented upon |
he way in which Mr.. Wardman hero
cally did away with this effort at ex-
ortion.
Thomas Bradley, representing the
Loan and Trust Company,
to furnish the committee with
everal specific instances in which he
lad taken similar action. ousting the
enants who had attempted to sublet
It eXtortionate rates.
Chairman Johnson asked informa-
ion as to the ownership of the Munsey
building. Riggs building. Woodward
new Department of Justice I
|uil6inRt new Interstate COmner !