Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
Senators Give Examples
of Alleged Profiteering
Methods in Fixing Rents

sVbSeIU6SS s<NubS bbSblSS
Pronteering in rents in the District
Of Columbia was discussed at some
length in the Senate yesterday after
noon during consideration of the
housing bill Senator Jones Of WASH
inston told the Senate that the Dis
trict committee would speedily bring
out . bill to prevent profiteering. He
IL 4 member Of the committee.
Senator Jones, while admitting that
in many instances rents and hotel
charges have not been increased in
the District, declared that profteering
was on the increase here.
Petition From oMciaL
IT understood the other day" said
Senator Jones. "rhat in some Of the
larger apartment houses or in some
Of the hotels in this city that apart
ments which had rented for $50 .
month some time ago were increased
to SIS, and notice has been given that
in q certain time the rates will be
500 q month. have received a petit
ton today. sent to mo by q very
prominent government omcial, that
am going to read to the Senate. and
read the letter that accompanies Il,
without giving the name Of the apart
ment house At this time. The letter
states:
with this am sending you q petit
ton signed by q majority Of the ten
ants Of the - apartment.
This petition calls attention to the
very serious condition which confronts
the people who have occupied this
apartment house for 4 number Of
M IN hi
apartment. my secretary and num-
Der Of other government employees per-
sonally known to mo occupy apart
ments in the and are gravely
concerned in the outlook.
"The tenants have ascertained from
the owner that he II contemplating the
transfer Of the building to . private
that Of an apartment house. Tho only
satisfaction he gives the tenants is
that he will notify them two months
in advance Of the proposed change.
This refers to one Of the largest
apartment houses in the city, which
for many years. The letter continues:
"Now, senator. It II well known that
there are no vacant desirable apart
ments in Washington. The - con-
tains forty-nine families, practically
government workers, and nearly every
nat has rented one or more rooms to
new government workers who have
recently come to the city. In . number
Of instances the heads Of families are
relatives are In no position to move.
even II desirable rooms could be found
elsewhere. Inasmuch as the majority
Of the tenants Of the - are in gov
that the matter Justly comes under the
Jurisdiction Of the committee on the
District OF Columbia. which is at this
time considering the problem Of hous-
ing the Thousands Of new employees Of
the government 1t strikes me that it
Is Just as important that the commit
tee should look after the welfare Of
those who have worked faithfully for
the government for many years as for
There can be no question that the
transfer Of the apartment house Is a
case OF profiteering. and personally I
think steps should be taken by your
committee to prevent moves Of this
Increase Put on Furniture.
The letter which the senator from
Warrington has Just read 10 q most
interesting one, and II in harmony with
information Of q similar character
which I have received with reference
Mr.. Thomas Of Colorado. my infor-
nation is that the charge OF profiteer-
ing is to be evaded by placing the in
crease upon the furniture In the apart
| ment rather than upon the apartment
itself; and In some instances I am told
that apartment houses are to be con-
verted into rooming houses. the ten
ants having been notified that their
leases will not be renewed. The house
| 10 to be furnished by the present owner
and rooms. instead Of apartments. are
to be let, the increase being placed upon
| the furniture: 50 that, instead of
| charging an increase Of rent for the
| apartment itself, the added profit ID
figured a. rent upon the furniture. but
| the absolute increase to the tenant
who must pay the rent is very large
| indeed.
II do not know-and have made
some efforts to inquire. and so have
members Of my family-of q single
apartment in Washington that can be
secured unfurnished. the idea being
that BY the furnishing Of the apart
ment by the owner and the placing OF
| q housekeeper or some similar person
| In charge. an enormous increase in re-
| turn can be obtained by renting rooms
! and sometimes apartments furnished
q method OF evading the general prop
osition that will hardly be- acceptab
to the poor devils who have to pay the
rent"
Several other senators, including
Senator's NcCumber and Nelson, Joined
in the denunciation Of the rem
t1HoatAara. ~