Evening star., 1919-10-12

BY a roll-call vote Of 207 to 8 the
House yesterday approved the con-
ference report on the food control
bill, which carries the Ball amend
ment" to prevent prorteering In
rents in the District of Columbia.
Earlier in the day the Senate adopt
ed the conference report. The meas
ure now goes to the President for
his approval.
The anti -profteering bill is one Of
the measures asked by the President
and urged by the Attorney General
to aid in reducing the high cost of
living. 1t amends the food control
act by including In its operations
clothes, shoes and other necessaries
ing Jail sentence, for boarding and
profiteering.
Erect of Ball Amendment.
The Ball amendment, which was
added to the, bill in the Senate. is
designed particularly to relieve the
housing situation in Washington. It
provides for a rent commission. con-
sisting Of three members. to be ap-
pointed by the President and con-
firmed by the Senate. The District
assessor is to be a member of the
commission ex oficto.
The bill also provides that any ten
ant of any rental property in the Dis
trict, which includes business prop
erty, who believes that he is being
charged an exorbitant rent may ap-
peal to the commission. The COM
missions finding on each complaint
shall be final, except that an appeal
may be made to tho District Court
of Appeals.
It makes no difference whether the
tenant has signed a lease. He is en-
titled under the bill to make COM
plaint to the commission. The bill
specifically provides that where ten
ant desires counsel shall be furnished
him. and that he shall not be COM
pelled to pay the cost Of any Of the
proceedings.
Privilege to Landlords.
Where a landlord feels that he is
not receiving q just rental he, too.
may appeal to the rent commission
against his tenant. However, II the
landlord has entered into a lease he is
not entitled to make such an appeal.
The drafters of the legislation took
the position that no landlord would
enter into q lease unless the condi-
tions were satisfactory to him. They
also feared that If the landlords were
permitted to file complaints at will,
they would file SO many that the en-
tire time of the commission might be
taken up in settling their claims and
tenants who really need relief would
not have an opportunity to be heard.
The President is not restricted in
his selection of the rent commission.
He may appoint residents Of the Dis
trict of Columbia or residents of other
cities.
Operates for Two Years.
The Ball amendment Is to be opera
tive for two years. Originally the
of the proposed law. In the original
conference report, which was rejected
by the House on a point of order, it
was provided that the law should be
operative for three years. This finally
was reduced to two.
m
salaries of $1,000 a year. The District
assessor is to receive $1,000 in addi-
tion to his present salary. giving him
in all $4,000 a year.
The Ball amendment repeals the
Salisbury resolution, under which 1t
is at present impossible to evict
tenant except for the non-payment of
rent, provided he behaves himself.
The Salisbury resolution ceases to be
in effect sixty days after the Senate
shall have confirmed the members of
the rent commission.
However, the bill makse special pro-
vision for those tenants who have
taken advantage of the Salisbury
resolution and have refused to pay
additional rent or to move out on the
demand Of the landlords
Language Of the Section.
The language Of this section of the
bill is. in part. as follows:
'"The right of a tenant to the use or
occupancy OF any rental property,
hotel or apartment, existing at the
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