The Washington times., 1919-08-28

SOAAlh VI rent pTOnIeeFS leaving the
Senate District subcommittee more
legislation providing a super-heaf to
control the rent situation in the Dis
trict is imperative IL a square dear
is to be administered to all.
Discussion centered, largely, during
the hearing yesterday on the course
TO be taken for swift relief for OPP
pressed tenants and wronged prop
erty-owners who are at the mercy of
unscrupulous tenants whose system
OF subleasing is the crux of the rent
proiteering evil in the National Cap
ltaL While the opinions differed as
to the need of a rent tribunal or a
single head to administer rent, there
was an unanimous. opinion that moth
ing should be done in the way OF leg
islating prices downward that would
retard building operations. Senator
Ball, Of the committee, believes an in
rentals should be guaranteed to en-
courage building operations.
Rent Tribunal Urgent.
Establishment of a rent tribunal in
the nature of a court, where tenant
and landlord alike. could file griev-
ances, without cost was one possible
solution suggested by Capt. Julius
Peyser, who went very fully into his
experiences with the rent situation
as head of the housing and health
division of the War Department. His
testimony, which laid bare a long
line of charges against Washington
profiteers, constituting some $500 in-
dividual cases which he Investigated,
clinched the arguments in behalf Of
oppressed tenants.
Captain Peyser warned that II Con-
gress undertakes to frame a perma-
nent rent law for the District care
must be taken to exclude business
properties against such discrimina-
tions as now afforded under the
Salisbury anti-eviction act, which,
the committee is agreed, is working
many haFdships on business concerns.
at is not fair to tie the hands OF
business" he said. "but 1 do think
every dwelling and apartment house
ought to be included"
Senator Sheppard of Texas called
the committees attention to rent
tribunals established IN Ireland, say
ing they go even farther in their
scope OF powers than the tribunal
which Captain Peyser suggested
should be created in Washington.
The whole range OF problems affect
ing landlord and tenant, ne explained,
came within jurisdiction OF the Irish
tribunals. Senator Sheppard said IL
any such tribunal is established here
it ought to be empowered to look
into all matters in dispute between
property-owners and tenants, rather
than be confined merely to decisions
on rentals.
Too Slow, SAYS Rail.
Senator Ball said his objection to
courts was that the calendars are
usually six months behind. while
cases are waiting to be heard" he said,
tenants would be freezing and land
lords would have to wait before they
could be granted Justice. What I had
in mind" said Senator Ball, was one
head to administer the problem"
Another thing" said Senator Ball,
81 do not regard this rent situation
as temporary. Unless Congress does
to encourage business, and
building, the situation
would not be helped. If we are to fix
a fair rental there must be speedy
action to afford permanent relief"
Senator Ball said that the popula-
ton OF Washington had increased
about $50, 900 during the war, and that
10 house all the people.
1.-THE Housing Corporation is re-
sponsible largely for there not being |
enough houses" declared Mr.. Peyser. !
'Out of the 100000, 900 spent by the |
they only built accommo- |
dations for about 1000 persons"
He declared that the Government |
soon will be. a total loss |
to the Government. II the money had |
been spent in making loans to persons |
in order to help them build, he de- |
clared, then the Government would |
have accomplished some real benefit !
and would eventually have gotten its |
money back.
Urges IS Per Cent Increase.
Senator Ball asserted he was conf |
lent that the moment a sufficient num- |
Der of houses is supplied the people of |
the District the rent situation would |
adjust itself. Mr.. Peyser at this point /
that an increase of from 10 |
to Is per cent in pre-war rentals |
would be legitimate profit.
at ought to be % per cent at least"
Senator Ball, because OF |
the very great increase in the cost of |
building materials. And there must /
be more houses"
will take up the rent problem next I
week." said Senator Ball, "and will |
make recommendations as soon as
possible"
All Properties Listed.
District Tax Assessor Richards
started the proceedings, informing
he committee that he had a COM
olete list OF the values Of all pieces
If property in the city.
Owing to the great advance in the
;ost of building materials, Assessor
Richards explained, land values in the
District had advanced very little in
he last four or five years. The to-
al increase in the value of buildings
lad been about 100000 a year, he
aid, or an assessed value OF SG,OOO,-
100, the assessed valuation being two
birds Of the whole valuation. He
aid this represented an increase of
'nly ) per cent per annum in value.
Mr.. Richards explained the close
alb which the assessors office keeps
m actual values could be seen in the
ollowing estimates: From 1916 to
91S thirty-nine apartment houses
old for $2.426.5OO. and they were as
essed at $2.44O,52S. With Mr.. Rich
rds' figures available, the committee
will form conclusions as to a just in |
rease of rent to be allowed.
Captain Peyser placed in the rec ,