Evening star., 1919-09-27

himself or herself desires to occupy
'Why pretend to repeal the salisbury
resolution?
Will Stop Building.
"The result of this law will, If
finally enacted. not only operate to
stop further building in the District
OF Columbia and continue the con-
gested condition now existing. but
will result in untold injury to the
tenant. Instead Of people being able
tinue to buy houses to live In. Those
unable to buy will have to shift the
best way they can to get some place
to live.
II predict that upon the passage
of this law. while in force, no house
will be built for rent, but strictly for
sale. If every person had a place to
live, and was now in possession
thereof, 1t would make but little diff
ference. but the trouble is there are
so many more people wanting houses
than there are houses. The law pro-
posed will intensity this condition.
and make it grow from bad to worse.
All of which will eventually operate
against the renters.
The population Of Washington is
more or less changing because Of the
government requirements. Many are 10
Gated here today and somewhere else
tomorrow. 1t is unwise for such people
nothing left for them. to do but to buy
In order to get a place to live for the
time that they are located in Washing
ton. When they leave they will be
forced to sell at a loss.
I'm my opinion. it is unwise and un-
nc OfuIa
but if Congress is determined to do so.
1t should pass law that would interfere
a little as possible with building opera
tons 80 that the congested condition in
Washington could be relieved without
much delay.
'It is unnecessary to add that this bill
will upset the entire law relating to
landlord and tenant now in force in the
District.
Amendments Recommended.
'T therefore make the following rec
concentrations:
Il. Let the rent commission be Sc
lected as recommended by Senator Ball
in his first draft of the bill: The Presi-
dent appoint one. the Real Estate Brok-
ers' Association name three, from whom
the President will select one; the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations of the
District of Columbia name three, from
whom the President will select one; all
three selected by the President to be
residents Of the District Of Columbia.
2. The powers of this commission
should be qualified and restricted in
certain lines; that Is to say, all owners
OF rental property should be assured of
at least per cent net upon their invest
ments, and all rentors Of real property
should be assured that this net increase
would in no case be more than 10 per
cent net on the value of the real estate.
BY this. no great injustice could be done
to either owner or tenant. The word
net should be properly defined in the
bill so that there could be no misunder-
standing as to its meaning.
"3. The duties and powers of the
commission should be limited to the
fixing Of a fair and reasonable rent
within the limitations above mention
ed, and it should not have authority
to interfere with the other terms and
conditions of the lease contract.
a. There should be a clause in the
bill to the effect that after the rent Is
once fixed it should stay fixed for a
certain length of time; say, for the
duration of the term Of the lease.
SO. Sections eight and nine of the
bill should be entirely eliminated
"6. In case of appeal to the Court of
Appeals. the party SO appealing should
be required to give security for the
cost, and in case the tenant appeals,
he should be required to pay the
agreed rent or the lont fixed by the
commission. or give satisfactory Sc
curity therefor. pending the deter
mination of the appeal.
Provision for Eviction.
.'7. The failure to pay the rent
agreed upon between the parties. or
fixed by the rent commission, or to
comply with any Of the other terms
Of the agreement. should be grounds
for eviction or dispossession at all
times. whether controversy is pend
ing or not, and the bill should be so
amended as to permit this. - : .
"8. The tenant or subtenant should
not be permitted to sublet without the
written consent Of the owner or his
duly authorized agent. The commits
sion should not have right to author
ize subletting without the consent OF
the owner.
SO. The law should be in no way re-
troactive. -
40. It should not interfere with
contracts voluntarily made.
I'll. The law should be limited to two
years. Should it be desired to extend
it beyond that time, it could Be easily
done before the expiration thereof.
il the tenant or tenants shall comply
with the terms of tenancy. whether
under a written or oral lease or by
operation of law. and pay the rent as
provided thereby. or shall pay such
rent as may be fixed by the rent COM
mission of the District Of Columbia
or on appeal by the Court of Appeals
Of the District of Columbia, said ten
ant or tenants may not be dispossess-
ed" should be stricken from the bill
This is a re-enactment Of the worst
feature Of the Salisbury resolution,
which is repealed by the main bill.
IT am firmly convinced that IL the
above ideas and restrictions are en-
bodied in the proposed legislation the
law would amply protect the tenants
and would remove many Of the harm
full features from the bill
BUYS BALTIMORE SITE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, September 27.-Mor-
ris Foot & Co., building contractors
of Washington. closed deal this
week for the transfer Of an entire
block Of ground opposite the seven
acre tract recently acquired by the