The Washington times., 1919-09-03


Supreme Jurisdiction over wash
ington rents BY commission Of four
members, one Of whom would be the
District Assessor, Is the basis of a
model rent law for the District OF
Columbia. now under process OF
framing by the Senate District sub
committee that is bent upon ridding
the National Capital Of rent prof
iteering. Encouragement of building
operations would be met by guaran-
tees OF a liberal return on invest
ment
Senator Ball of Delaware, chair
man Of the subcommittee, intends to
report legislative recommendations
to the full District Committee not
later that the early part OF next week.
Frame BiH TomOrFOw.
when the committee meets tomor-
row it will begin the actual framing
Of the bill which promises to give a
square deal to property owners as
well as tenants in providing proper
permanent solution for the unusual
conditions existing in Washington.
The subcommittee did not meet to-
day, Senator Ball and Senator Cap
per Of Kansas being absent from the
city.
While all suggestions are tentative.
q general discussion OF the rent
situation yesterday afternoon at a
brief reopening of the hearings, in
dicated clearly the trend Of the legis-
Iation now under consideration.
Senator Ball, II Is understood,
speaks for the committee when he
suggests the administration Of rents
by a commission that Is to be in
the nature Of a court, with full
powers to pass upon differences be-
tween landlord and tenant and auth
ority to declare what shall be a fair
rental.
Abolish subIeasinK.
These are the two outstanding
features Of the committees proposal:
Adjustment Of the subleasing evil.
recognized as the worse factor in rent
prohteering, except with the consent
Of property owners and determine
tiOn OF terms regulating subleasing
by the commission.
Encouragement of building opera
tions to alleviate the consested hous-
ing conditions in the city by guaran-
teeing rentals that would produce net
returns ranging from Z to 10 per cent
on the valuation of the investment.
The committees legislative plans
were outlined by Senator Ball during
testimony given by Bates Warren, a
well-known real estate agent. The
hearings, which were reopened yes
terday to permit Mr.. Warren and
Percy II. Russell, owner of the New
port apartment house, to appear be-
fore the committee were used as an
opportunity for a frank discussion of
legislative remedies.
"Must Have LeEfsIatiOn." !
Senator Ball said he disagreed with
Mr.. Warren's suggestion that no Iegis-
lation was necessary during the war
period to regulate rents in the Dis
trict. The Senator said he believed
the Salisbury law had "outlived its
usefulness" but qualified this by say
ing:
Il think il we don't have some
legislation there will be general
prohteerlng In rents; but this COM
mittee intends to recommend legisla-
tion that will not discourage building
operations"
Senator Ball suggests that the rent
commission be composed Of four mem
bers, all Of whom should be residents
Of the District thoroughly conversant
with local housing conditions and
real estate.
The chairman Of the commission
would be selected by the President;
the second would be the District as
SCISSOR; the third would be chosen by
the Real Estate Brokers Association,
and the fourth by the citizens' asso |
Citations OF Washington.
to 10 Per cent Return Fair.
The purpose OF having the District |
assessor a member of the commission,
Senator Rail awnI,Erad -aa ~ I1Iar- J