Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-22
THINK RENT BILL
FORD. c. W|[[PASS
Observers Predict Compro-
mise From Conference on
Pomerene Amendment.
SALISBURY LAW ALSO up

Prospects for rent profiteering leg
islation for the District Of Columbia
today appeared brighter because of
the firm stand taken by the Senate
yesterday. A conference over the
Pomerene rent-profiteering amend
ment to the emergency agricultural
&ppropraatiors bill probably will be
held this afternoon or tomorrow.
The Senate seenfeEess will insist that
the PonfsfS III Ill elidment in some
form be kept in the bill.
The prohibition steam roller will like
1y run over Representative Ben John
son of Kentucky, it was said today.
Mr.. Johnson's opposition to the Pome-
rene amendment is delaying final action
on the emergency agricultural appro-
priation bill. including the wartime
prohibition rider. The prohibitionists
in the House are beginning to be
anxious that this legislation be no
further delayed.
That being the case, and in view of
the fact that the Senate seems ready
to stand by its rent profiteering amend
ment to the limit, Mr.. Johnson's oppo-
sition to the Pomerene amendment
may be overruled by the House, where
the prohibition sentiment is strong.
That the Pomerene rent profiteering
amendment will be amended before
it is enacted into law if it is to be
enacted into law was predicted today.
1t is likely that it will be made more
stringent.
Possible Change in Salisbury Law.
Also the probabilities are that pro-
vision will be made to amend the ex-
listing salisbury law prohibiting the
eviction of tenants in the District
during the war. During the debate
in the Senate yesterday, Senators
Smoote Williams and OvermaD called
attention to cases where the Salisbury
law has been abused.
Senator Smoot told Of the case Of a
woman who leased her home last
spring for a definite period of six
months. The lease expired September
1. She leased the house to an en-
p1oye of the government She has two
sons in the service Of the government
and her only daughter is employed
here in one of the departments. The
title to the house is in her name, and
because she is not directly employed
by the government she has been un-
able to get her home back, and she
anu ucT uduSuIcT are sleeping In the
hallway of one Of the apartment
houses in the District.
Senator Smoot said that this woman
had taken the matter up with sew
eral attorneys. and with former SEN
ator Sutherland, and had been told
that under the Salisbury law she can
not obtain her home.
Senator Overman cited the case of
Miss Wilkes, the daughter Of Admiral
Wilkes She is ninety years old. She
rented her homo to an Army officer,
g colonel, Senator Overman said, un-
til September 1.
"And now he will not let her have
possession so she can die in her own
home" Senator Overman said. "Un-
der the salisbury resolution she can
not put him OUT
Senator Williams discussed the
case of a woman who had rented her
home to an employe of the Navy De-
partment for a certain period and who
would not give it up:
Il took the liberty of sending a
statement Of the case to the Secre-
tary of the Navy" said Senator Will
liams, "and requested that that man
be court-martialed for conduct unbe-
coming an officer and a gentleman.
Now whether he could have done what
he did under the law do not know,
but do know that if he did what
they said he did, in which he had acted
very ;rudely, toward these ladies in
addition to keeping their homes, he
ought to be- scourt-martialed."
Senator Smoot said he had no doubt
there were hundreds OF such cases,
and that, something must be done to
cure the situation