The Washington times., 1919-08-28
Rent Tribunal Urged As
Probers Drive Last Nail
In Coffin Of Pfofiteers

Referring to the SubleasinS evil,
Captain Peyser said the landlords
had put the yoke about their own
necks. Before the war, when apart
ments were going a-beggihg, he said,
landlords encouraged their tenants TO
rent apartments for subleasing pur-
poses. Now that the tenants see q
"get-rich-quick" business in it, they
refuse to give up their leases and
the landlords are. the victims along
with the tenants. Without doubt, he
said, the subleasing system was one
of the worst evils and worked many
injustices upon owners OF property.
ct don't want to say all the men in
the real estate business in Washing
ton are crooks or profiteers," said
Captain Peyser, 'sbut the long lines of
women, some OF them with gold stars
on their sleeves, showing they had
given their sons lives to their coun-
try, who crowded the courts and our
offices, indicated that many were
profiteering. Even in the days OF the
flu epidemic, the courts were
crowded with women whom the land
lords were trying to evict- from their
homes.
"Finally, got the court to adjourn
for a time, it became 50 unbearable.
Three judges sat every day to try
these cases until o'clock in the
afternoon. We had nine lawyers in
court to defend Government en-
ployes."
Many Cases Withdrawn.
Because many of the tenants were
not treating the landlords fairly,
Captain Peyser' said, he withdrew
many cases. Some tenants were
e. -, 90
800 per cent in their gsub-leasing of
houses and apartments.
''The, tenants were sub-letting and
blood-letting at the same time," sug-
gested Senator Sheppard Of Texas.
Captain Peyser said he did not have
any flrst-hand information of real
estate men engaging in this practice
Of sub-letting.
In recommending legislation, Cap
tain Peyser suggested to the commit
tee that they include a clause making
it obligatory upon landlords OF apart
ment houses where hot water, heat,
and elevator service are supplied from
central plants to furnish their tenants
with these necessities.
J.. p. N. Bowie, in charge OF the
rental department of II. L. Rust & Co.,
400 H street northwest, was ques-
to the thirty-two apartment houses in
the hands Of that firm. He said that
In 1915 about per cent of the rooms
in these apartment houses were va
cant. All Of them are occupied at
present.
Everything Going Up. ri.
Referring to the increased cost OF
maintenance, Mr.. Bowie declared that
labor has gone up from so to 100 per
cent during the war; coal at least 100
per cent, and that there was an in
crease of 100 per cent in general re-
pair work. The only things that hate
not been increased, he explained. were
water rent, fire Insurance. interest on
investments, and taxes.
Asked by the committee, he said
that the increase in rents averaged
less than 10 per cent over the pre-war
period, at the present time. Upon
cross Mr.. Bowie ad-
mitted that his firm had made the
usual request for increases from all
its tenants, He denied, however, that
the new increase expected after OctO-
Der 1, If the rent law is not extended.
would exceed the pre-war rents by 20
per cent.
Mr. Bowie said that the expenses in
volved in their rented houses were
very much smaller than in the apart |
ment houses. He declared the firm Is
not contemplating any increase in the |
rented houses at all after October 1.
The committee asked about the
practice of subleasing by tenants.
."Subletting got to be quite an evil."
said Mr.. Bowie. Finally we had to |
regulate it."
He did this, he said, by pursuing the |
policy of not permitting tenants to |
suitcase unless they paid additional |
rent and provided furniture.
some Bar ChIIdren.
Senator Dial of South Carolina in
terrupted at this point to say that he |
was interested in young America"
DO you refuse to rent to people |
who have children" he asked.
Some owners won't let US lease to /
families with children" replied Mr. /
Bowie, "but we find that the majority |
don't mind"
Mr.. Bowie denied he had virtually |
warned" tenants not to take advan-
-age of the salisbury law.
1T is not the policy of the firm to
use threats or coercion" he declared.
He said in some instances suits had
been filed to gain possession of prem
LSCS " 4CA lCAA1ANo AAs@A ANA0SCA ~ Pag
rent.
"But we never filed a suit because a
tenant failed to pay an increase in
-ent," he claimed.
Charles Flint agent for the Oc-
.avia Apartments. 1869 Columbia
-oad, owned by his sister. Mrs. Bar
'ett, was another witness. DR.. J. c.
Bullock, one of his tenants, previous
y had testified Mr. Flint had made
Efforts to increase his rent from $50
% 500. Mr.. Flint admitted this. He
lenied. however, that he had ever
threatened" DR.. Bullock or anyone
Use in the apartment.
What will be your attitude toward
your tenants who have appeared
against you before this committee?''
lie was asked.
VIII Ask Them To Get Out.
when the Salisbury act goes by
md 1 can give them notice, shall
ask them to vacAts," he re-
lied promptly.
He said his sister had bought the ,
)ctavia Apartment two years ago for
$50 900, involving exchange OF prop
rty as part payment. The rentals
or 1918. he declared, were SI9,1S35O,
ut the total expenses involved S14- {
Ills, leaving a net income of about
1000.
F. r. Van Antwerp. who owns the :
partment at 9O1 Twentieth street /
orthwest. was ordered to testify as a | ,
esult OF complaints by Edward Z