The Washington times., 1919-08-27
Jail For Rent PrOfiteers
In District Latest Move
To Reduce Living Cost
Ccontinued from Page one.l

Continued from Page ons.l
in washington is overwheIminsiy for
It."
Senator Harrison said the bill viii
AFFORD six months relief FOR wash
ingtonians against the rent gougers
or for two months after the conciu-
sion OF peace.
seek Permanent Relief.
In the meantime, Senator Balrs sub
committee is going ahead in its rent
investigation. and win report TO the
full committee recommendation for
permanent relief. Senator Ball Is con-
fdent permanent relief win be found.
Realizing the DIFFICULTIES that stand
In the way Of just regulations. the
subcommittee is considering NUM-
her OF propositions. Harry Wardman.
a prominent real estate man, has sug-
Eested that q proper solution can be
found IN 4 return TO the rents of
1913. with an increase OF 10 per cent
70 meet higher cost OF maintenance.
want Bullding Ensouraged.
Members Of the subcommittee Be
neve nothing in permanent iegislAtion
should interfere with building opera
tIons, the lack OF accommodations be-
ing q serious problem. The tenant
must be protected against further
proflteering demands after October Z.
while protection must be accorded
properly owners from unfair treat
ment under the salisbury law.
when the committee makes its rec
concentrations, Il undoubtedly VIII in
clude q provision tending to make
available to the public vast number
OF closed houses IN washington
Senator Ball has served notice on
landlords that the Senate District
subcommittee regards as absolute
threats" the new system OF Pent ex-
tortion that eVades the Salisbury law
By giving tenants the choice Of re-
newing leases at greatly increased
rentals or getting out into the streets
as soon as the law expires.
Scores o. C6mplaints.
When landlords and real estate
arents are summoned before the com
nittee to answer scores Of charges
made against them in the last two
DAYS, they will be demanded to fur
nish proof that increases, ranging
from IS to 10O per cent in rentailss
are not eIear-cut cases Of pronteer-
ing.
during the hearings yesterday after
noon, informing witnesses that these
leases viii recefVe'-careful CONSIDERS
tiOn when the committee undertakes.
next week to recommend anti-rent
profiteering legislation for the Dis
triet Of Columbia, which he hopes
Congress will put through before 0e-
tober !, when the new leases gener-
ally go into effect.
ere.nI
in advance" said Senator Ball. rap
oing the table hard with his knucl<les.
'but they are a threat that unless you
pay a higher rent you will have TO
get out. II you don't meet this ad-
vance there Is nothing to do but to
get out. II Is clearly an absolute
threat"
Ask Increase Of 50 Per Cent.
what Is the name OF your agent?"
Chairman Ball inquired Of George p
Hasick, OF 219 p street. who testinnq
that his agent had demanded an m
crease In his rent from $3.50 20 ~
a month.
"Idebermann & Hawn," replied the
witness. The name Of the agent went
down in the committees list Of agents
and landlords who are to be sub
poenaed. other tenants Of the same
apartment have the choice Of paying
increases Of 10 and so per cent or va
eating, the witness testified.
Twenty-seven tenants carried their |
woes before the committee yesterday |
some Of them testifying that they /
feared retaliation IL property owners /
knew they had testified. Nearly all /
Of them had been served with what /
appears to be a typical lease. giving /
choice between Vacating or meeting
another increase.
Race suicide Looms.
Washington landlords are more re-
sponsible for race suicide here than
anyone else" declared A. d. Fair
oairn. a newspaper correspondent,
who informed the committee that
agents consider children as worse
than smallpox or scarlet fever"
Judge W. B. Lamar, of 1915 Massa-
,husetts avenue, solicitor for the
Department and former
from Florida, rather
startled the committee by saying:
eff I knew anything in favor OF an
apartment landlord. I don't believe
could tell il unless 1 was tortured"
Judge Lamar said he had been In
lose touch with real estate business
or many years anu NANh MAAe /
vas talking about.
1t seems that in June. 1918. Mr.
Tairbairn found a landlady in Chevy
chase, Md, who was an enemy
llien." Her name was Mrs. Erdman,
md she was prevented, under order
II the President, from residing In the
District. He paid so a month for
lis apartment. which he said was
alleged to be furnished"
DespOIIed Egyptian
An identical apartment, on the
lOOr beneath him. rented for S22.50
month He protested against pay
ng the rent any longer, telling her
Ie would compromise by buying the
urniture and paying her exactly
Ouble the amount the tenant below
i'm paid. Mrs. Erdman refused. I
Thsreupon Mr.. Fairbairn abruptly de-
arted, leaving a months rent un-
aid
Cheating an enemy alien was like
espOiling the Egyptians" he told the
Ommittee. Il would have jumped
wO months rent IL could"
Mr.. Fairbairn then rented an apart
tent at 1850 Girard street northwest, |
nd II was like jumping from the fry /,
1g pan into the FIRE, he declared. He
aid he hasn't gotten out OF trouble
ct, principally because his agents OBJ
aet to having a four-year-old boy in !
he apartment.