Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-07
TENANT PROTECTED
BYPOMERENEB|LL
Salisbury Resolution SUBJ
stantialIy Included in Com
prehensive Measure.

Should the Pomerene bill to prevent
rent prof1teering in the District OF
Columbia. now attached to the emer-
gency agriculture appropriation bill
as a rider, become law the Sauls-
bury resolution would in some re-
spects be superseded, though In the
main the Salisbury resolution would
remain undisturbed.
In the first place, the salisbury
resolution is substantially section 5
of the Pomerene bill and almost
identical In language. Under the
Pomerene bill. therefore, tenants of
houses. rooms, etc. who continue to
pay their rent could not be disturbed.
Rent as of October II, 1917.
Under the Salisbury resolution ten
ants who have a verbal or written
agreement with their landlords may
retain possession of their dwellings
for the period of the war. If they so
desire, at the same rental as in the
past. Under the Pomerene bill, how
ever, the rent Is fixed as of October
1, 1917.
If the property was not rented on
that date the rent is fixed at the last
PAeNlOuS IeHtSl Us uEc. IL the prop
erty never was rented before then
1t may be rented for an amount equal
to per cent net on a valuation equal
to the assessed valuation of the prop
erty for taxation plus so per cent
thereof.
Under the plan of assessing at two
thirds valuation this means per cent
on the full valuation after all ex-
paid Where improvements have been
or are made the landlord is entitled
TO per cent on the money spent for
the improvements.
Under the Pomerene bill any at
tempt made by a landlord to trans
fer to the tenant any burden or liza
bilfty previously borne by the land
lord shall be treated as an altera-
ton In rent and a violation of the
Rent Administrator.
rent administrator, to be appointed
by the President. to enforce the pro-
posed law. The administrator is to
be citizen of the District and not
engaged in any way, directly or in
directly, in the real estate business
in Washington.
Appeals from decision by the rent
administrator may be taken to board
, of rent appeals, which is to be the
real estate board or equalization and
review of the District of Columbia
The Pomerene bill may operate
/ either to reduce or to increase the
| rents permitted under the Salisbury
resolution. Where the rents are
! higher at present than the per cent
! net on the full valuation of the prop
! erty they will be reduced; where the
rents are lower they may be in
creased.
The johnson bill to prevent profit
, eering in rents here. which passed
the House and for which the Senate
substituted the Pomerene bill, oper-
ates through the taxing power of the
government. 1t provides that the gov
eminent shall take, in the form of
taxes, any sums collected as rent on
houses rooms. etc, in excess of the
rent charged during the year prior to
i September 80. 1916, plus 10 per cent
! thereof.
There is no section in the johnson
. bill similar to the Salisbury resolu-
I tton to prevent eviction of tenants
during the period of the war. 1t is
understood, however. that should Con-
Eress finally agree upon the johnson
bill to meet the rent proflteering sit
uatton in the District, provision SIM
liar to the Salisbury resolution re-
1ating to evictions would be made.