Evening star., 1919-09-27
Bates Warren's Analysis of
Pending Provision and Pro-
posaIs for Modification.
TENANTS COULD STOP
PAYMENTS ON APPEAL
Composition of Rent Commission
Unfair to Owners, Who Have
No Representation.

At the meeting recently held of the
joint committee of citizens appointed
by various civic organizations to take
steps to secure if possible modiflca-
tiops in the now pending amendment to
the food control act affecting property
rentals in the District of Columbia, Bates
Warren read a statement covering OBJ
jections to the Ball bill. incorporated
in the proposed food control legisla-
ton, his recommendation having since
been adopted by the committee as ex-
pressing the sentiments of realty owners
of Washington. This committee con-
sisted of representatives of the Board OF
!. Trade, the Chamber Of Commerce, the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion and the Fedora tion of Citizens AS
scciatiors.
The Ball amendment, embracing the
proposed legislation to control rents
Washington, is now before a COM
mittee of conference between the two
houses The Star herewith presents
Mr.. Warren's statement, in part. as
bearing upon the matters in question.
Mr.. Warren in opening his state
ment. declares that in his opinion any
rent legislation is wrong and unnec-
! essary, tending to prolong the
troubles now affecting the COM
munity, but states that he would not
oppose any legislation which is fair
to both landlord and tenant. He
notes the serious shortage of houses
in the District. due to restrictions
placed by the government, upon build.
ing during the war. the high cost OF
material and labor and an unfalr
rent law" He notes also the neces-
sity. from the point of view of prop
erty owners, for a fair increase in
rents. due to the increased cost OF
upkeep of property, increased cost OF
service and supplies and the Increased
cost of the owners themselves to ave
The shortage OF houses. ne says.
creates an excess of demand over
supply.
On the point that has been raised
that landlords are not making as
MANY repairs as heretofore Mr.. war
rem notes that this is in itself an ad-
dition to the ultimate cost upon the
owners, as neglected property depre-
ciates more rapidly than that Wnlch Is
kept in full repair.
wrong in lawmakers to undertake oy
LEGISLATION to force rents to remain
down while other costs are rising
Legislation, he says, will not bring
relief in the matter of housing snort
age. The Salisbury act. he urges,
was "the most hurtful. unfair ana un-
Just law that was ever forced upon
people supposed to be protected oy
the Constitution OF the United States"
Passing to the legislation now pro-
posed to supplant the Salisbury act.
Mr. Warren says:
More Living Quarters Only Relief.
'.In order to meet the situation as I
fo. nYnnnSed hV
Congress- to pass the Ball rent bill.
keep this thought in ninds the only
relief is through more living quar-
ters-enough to house the people
comfortably. There are only two
ways of accomplishing this. The gov
ernment must build them. or the IN
dividual investors must build them.
If the government proposes to bullo
and will build. why. then, 1t makes
little difference what kind OF law
is nassed. so far as the housing prob
lem is concerned, and in that event
rent regulation ceases to be of any
public interest. II investors are ex-
pected to build and overcome this
shortage, then let lawmakers see to
it that no unjust and unfair rent law
be passed.
.The Ball bill in section by the
way, I might say. although called the
IL,
Mr., Ball personally would have it
provides for a commission, to be
known as the rent commission OF the
District of Columbia, which shall be
composed Of three commissioners NOT
owning or representing owners OF
rental property, hotels and apart
ments. The disqualifications named
should. in my opinion. be made the
qualifications. There IL no sound rea-
o. lior,solffvfn0 n hpCan4A
he is successful enough to own real
estate or represent owners Of real
estate. The only reason that can
see for disq4alifying this class is. as
has been suggested. to get commits
sion unsympathetic and unfriendly to
any one owning real estate. The pro-
hibition to name any person owning
rental property or any one represent
I ing an owner Of such property dis
qualities practically every real resi-
dent of Washington. There is scarce
ly a resident in the District of Column
bia who does not own rental property
or represent an owner.
The "Tenant Commission"
This commission should be termed
the tenant commission for the Presi-
dent has no option except to name ten
ants for this commission. The effect
of which will be that tenants are TO pass
| on the reasonableness and fairness Of
| their own rents and their own leasing
contracts We urged that this COM
| mission be selected as follows: The
President to name one, the Real Estate
Brokers' Association to name three
men, one of them to be named by the
President; the Federation of Citizens
Associations of Washington to name
three. one Of them to be named by the
President. BY following this suggestion
all parties in interest would be fairly
represented and more confidence would
have been given to the investors in real
estate.
Section 6 declares that all apart
ments, hotels and all rental properties
within the District of Columbia are at
fected with public interest, and that
all rents or charges collected or made.
and the terms or conditions imposed for
the occupancy of such property under
lease suitcase or other contract OF hir-
| ing, shall be fair and reasonable.
| "Under this section this Commission
| of tenants will have the power not only
| to fix the rents, but to say how the
apartment, hotel and other rental prop
erty shall be managed and operated. II
| the rent does not suit tenant, or II the
property is not managed to suit any one
Of the tenants OF any apartment. or any
| one of the guests Of a hotel, such q
tenant or guest is invited to make out q
| complaint upon a blank provided for
such purpose and flle it with this tenant
commission who will in turn probably