Evening star., 1918-05-21

RENT MEASURE
Salisbury Plan to Protect
D. c. Tenants Considered
in Senate.
OPPOSITION IS SHOWN

Senator Salisbury. acting on in
today moved that the Senate concur
in the House amendment to the Sauls-
bury resolution which would prevent
the eviction Of tenants during the
war and for one year thereafter in
the District Of Columbia. as a means
of preventing profiteering.
After considerable opposition, to the
proposal to have the operation OF the
resolution extend over the period OF
the war and a year thereafter. as pro-
vided in a House amendment, Senator
Salisbury said that to expedite the
withdraw his motion to concur In the
House amendment and ask to have
the resolution sent to conference. I'm
der the resolution as passed by the
Senate 1t would be operative only dur
ing the present session OF Congress.
and to stand only until Congress had
An opportunity to pass finally the
general bill against profiteering In
rents in the District.
The resolution finally was sent to
conference by the Senate. the confer
ees being Senators Salisbury, Pome-
rene and Sherman.
Senate that the effect of the resolu-
tion will be to continue the present
status OF tenants in the District OF
Columbia until the general rent
pronteering bill is enacted into law
or. failing that. until one year after
the war. He said that the Senate Dis
trict committee today had considered
the House amendment and had in
structed him to move that the Senate
concur in these amendments.
May Work Hardship on Tenants.
Senator Salisbury said that owing
to the wide difference in the rent
pronteering bills passed by the House
and the Senate, the Johnson -Pome-
rene bill may be some time in confer
ence.
He predicted that unless the pend.
ing resolution was enacted without
delay there would be great hardship
worked upon many tenants in the Dis.
trict Of Columbia
Hundreds have been given notice to
buy the houses or get out, he said
This plan OF operation. he said, has
been taken by the landlords to force
higher prices for the houses.
SSHAlOT oTduQc8c0 suggested ina,
| the resolution might do harm to q
man who owns a house which wal
mortgaged and the mortgage fell due
He said that the man would be de-
prived of q market for his house and
might be forced to sell his property a,
| a low figure under foreclosure pro.
ceedi4gs.
No Interference With Right to Sell
Senator Salisbury replied that tn,
resolution did not interfere with righ,
to sell property.
But 1t deprives . landlord Of q part
Of the market" said Senator Brande-
gee. "since a mAn would have to sell
his property subject to lease"
To that Senator salisbury answered
ants may be ousted where the prem
ises are needed by landlords or . bona,
fide purchase for occupation, either by
himself or his family.
Senator overman Cites Case.
Senator Overman said that a mar
| had come to him this morning who
has a mortgage on his property
which is rented. and who said that
resolution was adopted, and he would
| lose his property under foreclosure
proceedings. Senator Overman sug.
gested that it would be just as well
to wait until the general bill becomes
a law in a few weeks and not to pasl
this resolution.
This legislation necessarily will worl
some hardship" said Senator Thomas OF
Colorado. But 1t Is designed to prevent
greater hardshipe. IN my opinion since
the District Of Columbia has been sci
aside for the use Of the government AZ
the capital of the nation, and since the
government is bringing great numbers
Of persons here to work for IL during