The Washington times., 1919-12-29
Landlord and Tenant Disputes h
District Ia Statu Quo
By BILL PRICE.
Ns.-kxistesee u Rsa4 Csnuisu6sa b wsuaan
ruGhasas e Bsaas.

Inc attitude taken by Judge Aukam, OF TIE 0unienA
Court undoubtedly with the sanction Of the four o&r
judges of that court leaves the great majority o landlord
tenant disputes in the District in statu quo be determined
by the Rent Commission as provided in the Ball Law.
That is, tenant who receives thirty days notice -
vacate need not bother himself about the notice. far
the Municipal Court is concerned and that dispute eea
to the Rent Commission when the President it The
tenant who receives notice of increase may remain
equally unconcemed unless his of justice
him to decide to pay increase That dispute too goes
before the Rent Commission.
In virtually upholdng the Ball Law, the Municipal
Court hands to the Rent Commission about 10000 r4
rows in Washington and declines to take jurisdcoa Of
them.
That part of the law holding the rent stuatiou IN
statu quo is as follows: S1
section loe-1ne riest Of ss..nt :ss.ze
e: sss .s sss q ssss.fr ss s.s v s, Nv S -
% s. 'A :. -. % sss:' S s'
s:a.a E s; hs..:s -: :a sss' :: =.
. long & s.S :s ' Is @ d ss - = = 49,
::: { ::::s {: :: s. =. =:
The law further provides however that landlords and
tenants financially responsible for the differences h
rents finally found by the commission That s and3ad
exactng unreasonable rent from tenant at this time
and the commission holds he will diseorge The
tenant who is refusing to pay reasonable rent Just H.
BILE to be compelled to make up the difference the dsc
sion is against him The purpose for which the commission
was created to determine what is reasonable
The Ball law gives protection to subtenants whe -
not compelled to meet the demands of gouges for Il is
well known that the worst rent pirates in Washngton
tenants who in possession OF houses for which ty
themselves refuse to pay reasonable rents but charge the
most extoonate prices to Government workers and othss
for furnished unfurnshed rooms apartments Small
fortunes have been made by tenants and subtenan
all fattenng from necessities of overcrowded local pom
aton The average landlord has been public benefacor
compared to of these people
The greatest injustice prevailing in the absence Of
Rent Commission is that which prevents legitimate pur
chasers of homes for their occupancy from getting
possession Many purchasers paying all the spare cash
they have and wake up to find that they cannot into
their own homes the tenants obstinate Under the
Salisbury law this possession promptly given. and
the Ball law intends to be equally liberal. The law pro
vdes though that purchaser shall take conveyance sub
ec the rights of tenants provided In the section given
above but may obtain possession Of his property upon
approval by the commission thirty days notice. setting
forth the facts There being commission to give sp
proval purchasers in bad way if tenants refuse 70
vacate.
Nothing but prompt nomination, confirmation, and
ganzation of the commission will correct such mjusoe
Many lawyers of opinion that the naming Of the
mission has long been delayed it viii hardly get started
before local courts will have held portions OF the law
stitutiona and again compcate already badly confused
situation.
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