The Washington times., 1919-09-11
Bill to Curb Profiteering
In Rents Now In Senate

have TO live in the Capital a sut-
foient salary" He declared there are
a lot of "sightseers and cave dwell
ers' who do not have to live here
sowe Duty to People"
Senator Harrison declared that no
one could doubt the jurisdiction OF
Congress" to pass remedial rent leg
islation. whenever we make II pos
sible TO reduce the high rents in the
District Of Columbia" he said, we
will reduce the high cost Of living
immeasUrably to the people who live
here. 1t is a duty we owe them and
we should grant them immediate re-
lief"
The Harrison amendment not only
provides against unreasonable and eX-
cessive" prices for leases or subleases
OF apartments, rooms and houses, but
IL imposes on rent prOfiteers fne OF
50, 600 or two years Imprisonment or
both upon conviction.
Senator Harrison believes that only
by confronting rent prOfiters with jail
sentences that the evil can be sue
cessfully stamped out in Washington.
This .sbal and chain" amendment, be-
lieved by Senator Harrison to be far
more effective than the mere payment
OF fines has the support of representa-
tive bodies Of the city.
The Washington Times already has
urged the necessity Of jail sentences
as the most effective club to hold over
the head of the would-be rent prof.
iteer.
Wants Permanent Law.
''I am very much in hopes that the
Senate and House will adopt this pro-
vision" said Senator Harrison, there
~ giving some immediate relief to the
peopIe OF the District. And I hope the
senate District Committee will bring
out some permanent legislation that
will not only remedy some unfortu-
nate cases under the Salisbury law,
but will extend this provision and
make il permanent law, so that the
strong arm Of the Department OF Jus
tice can punish those who deal unjustly
with the people in this city and whose
whole ambition is to add unreasonable
and exorbitant rent charges on the
already heavy bUrdened shoulders Of
thousands OF wage-earners in Wash
ington."
Senator Phelan said he did not see
why the property owner should be
compelled to bear the burden Of the
high living tax when the Govern
1nent itself should meet conditions by
decreasing salaries to its employee
Senator Harrison replied that he was
(the property owner) because he has
been putting the burden on the people
OF the District too long"
wants Proateers PunIshed.
you wish to punish him." asked
Senator Phelan.
~I wish to do justice by him but
compel him to do justice toward the
public" replied Senator Harrison.
But this is not a penal statute"
demonstrated Senator Phelan, refer
ring to the food control act
II am quite sure that no jury will
convict any man unless he Is charging
an unreasonable and exorbitant price
for his dwelling or apartment or his
rooms"
senator Dial Of South Carolina, q
member OF the District Committee,
declared that his committee has q
comprehensive rent bill ready, and
that it would be better to let the mat
ter be covered in a separate bill
'T think IL would be better to have
the whole thing embodied in a sepa-
rate bill" replied Senator Harrison,
nut since I have come to Washing
ten az a member Of the House and as
q member Of the Senate, I have heard
IL suggested time after time to put
this or and put that OF, defer and
procrastinate on matters touching
legislation, and hnally we get nothing
Let us meet the conditions as they
arise-meet them promptly and enec-
lively"
aT,oafh To Invest In ID. c."
Here is an opportunity to give re-
Risf TO these people by Incorporating
a in this bill, and the question that
should guide US is whether or not
-
favor Of IL IL will become law, and
we can give immediate relief. II we
wait we may give them no relief"
Senator Phelan was insistent that
nothing should be done to retard
Building operations in Washington.
He declared he would be loath to
make an investment in the stock or
bonds Of building companies here be
cause Congress Is trying TO invest
: apartment houses and even dwellings
With the character Of q public use,
and hence II would be impossible for
those projectors Of apartment houses
20 dispose Of their securities.
sIf you WIN leave them alone they
win put up apartment houses" said
Senator Phelsn, ''and naturally their
zeal TO collect the very high rents
which exist now will cause Gu abate-
naent Of the high rent situation, and
q viii pass away"
The fair rent bill, as revised by the
Senate District Committee provides:
That when used in this act, unless
I the context indicates otherWise-The
: term rental property" means any
building or any part thereof in the
. District Of Columbia rented, or hired
for dwelling purposes and the furni
fure or furnishings therein: but does
not include hotels or apartments.
The terms owner" agent" "ten-
ant" lessee and person" mean in
/, dividuals. partnerships, joint-stock
companies, associations, corporations,
guardians, trustees, executors, ad-
Eninistrators, and receivers.
The term "true value" means the
actual market value OF the property
1t the time in question.
Ths term controversy" means any