Evening star., 1918-02-14
JOHNSON BILL CAME
UP IN HOUSE TODAY
General Debate of 3 1-2 Hours
on Anti-Rent Profiteering
Agreed On.
OPPOSITION is EVIDENT

OPPOSITION Is EVIDENT
The johnson so-called "anti-rent prof
iteering bin'' came up in the House for
consideration at noon today with an
agreement for general debate to continue
for three and half hours, when the bill
shall be considered by sections for amend
ment. AS soon as the House went into
committee of the whole Mr.. Mason of Illi-
nois made the point on no quorum" the
roll was called and absentees summoned
from their offices and committees.
1t was evident that the bill would
meet with opposition and that it might
not be concluded today. Chairman
Johnson intimated that if it is not fin
ished today he would call it up in the
House on the next District day. Minor
ity Leader Gillett announced that on
the republican side of the chamber the
bill will receive judicial consideration.
some members favoring it, and others
opposing it
Important Bill, Says Sponsor.
i When a quorum had been established
Chairman johnson took the floor to ar
que in behalf of the bill. Mr.. johnson
said he believed this to be one of the
most important bills before Congress.
He said that here at the capital of the
nation a situa tion exists which he be-
lieves does not exist anywhere else in
all the civilized world. He declare,
that extortion in it's most infamous
form is being practioed to an extent
never before practiced anywhere else.
Opposition to the bill, he said. seems
to come from three sources-hrst. from
some gentlemen on the floor who seek
to defeat it; second, from the real es-
tate men, whose opposition he can un-
derstand, because they and their clan
are the profiteers, and third, from The
Evening Star.
Mr. johnson declared that since he
| has been in Congress The Evening Star
has been the apologist for many things
that are wrong. This paper, he said, in
all things concerning the government
clerks heretofore has defended the
clerks. and he praises it for doing SO.
But in this case, he said, The Star is
| confronted by double question.
Upon the one side are the government
clerks to whom it sells its papers, and
| on the other the real estate men from
it derives thousands of dollars for ad-
vertisements. In making a choice be-
tween the government clerks and the
real estate men Inc Slar IoFSetS the
clerks from whom it receives the pen
nies and goes to the side which fur
nishes the largest revenue. This paper
| he declared, has taken the position in
directly that profiteering shall not be
interfered with and that those who fur.
| nish thousands of dollars in advertise
mehts shall go untouched.
Deposit Is Refused.
Mr.. johnson said that he had looked
in the advertising columns of las,
nights Star and noticed 1o7 advertise
ments of furnished rooms and apart
ments. Only seventeen of them gave
the price, and he inferred from that
that the others were ashamed to pub
lish the exorbitant rent they intended
to demand.
Mr. Johnson referred to the case of
the secretary to Representative Gordon
of Ohio. who tried to get a room. The
real estate agent would not even let
him look at it until he had deposited
s35. The room was found to be insult
able and the agent would not refund
the money. Mr.. Johnson intimated that
grand jury proceedings might be insti-
tuted in this case.
He then read some advertisements Of
fers of furnished apartments for rent
ranging from $50 to $500 per month
and read from a Cleveland newspaper
quoting furnished flats for rent as low
as $40.
Mr.. johnson Reads Rent Ads.
Mr.. johnson read another advertise
ment of house containing five rooms
and bath for SIS a month.
]. Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania,
comparing the rents advertised in Cleve-
land and those in Washington, asked
Doesn't the gentleman think it worth
the difference to live in Washington"
This drew a laugh.
Representative Tinkham of Massa-
chusetts wanted to know il there were
not places for rent in Washington of a
different character from those adver-
tised in The Washington Star which
could be had for the same rental as
those advertised in Cleveland.
Says Prices Went Up.
Il have seen advertisements in Wash
ington newspapers recently of apart
ments and houses at lower figures" re-
sons desiring to rent them got there
they found the prices had gone up
sir. Johnson mentioned a house ad-
Nertised TO be rented furnished at $3.50
month. Five men determined to rent
the house together.
When they got there" said Mr.. John
son. the woman who had the house
said the rent had been raised from
S25U to $1,000 month.
Maybe she didn't like their appear
ance." it was suggested
She didn't like their pocketbooks.
said Mr.. Johnson. The combined
salaries of these five men did not reach
$1,000 a month.
Room Rent Exceeds That of Honse
He gave the case Of one room which
rented for more than the householder
paid for the entire house. Touchine
on the question of water rent, he said
he had found case where a landlord
charged the tenant SIG year water
rent. when, as a matter of fact the
landlord was paying only S. He said
there were many instances similar to
that. ~
Il would be glad to see the grand
jury take up that case" he said:
MIR. johnson read letter from +,
storekeeper who said that the rent on
his store had been increased "a ner
cent
THE writer says. Why does the sov-
ernment allow them to increase NV
rent SO much and yet by law keep down
the prices l may charge for the food
l sell?'''
AUSTRIA AND THE ALLIES
EXCHANGE PRISONERS
GENEVA, February 1.-THE first ex-
change of prisoners of war between