The Washington herald., 1919-08-28
IS
PROPOSED In CAPITAL
FOR ALL RENT HOGS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


J. r. M. Bowie. of the H. l.. Rust
Company. 400 II street northwest,
was ordered to furnish rent statistics
to the subcommittee on thirty-two
apartment houses he said he manages
He testified that the H. l.. Rust
Company had raised rents, but said
these raises did not amount tn 10
per cent.
When questioned in regard to the
COST OF running the apartments today
as compared with three or four wears
ohck' bowle said that practically
everything had Increased 100 per
cent he said the only things incl
dent to apartment house expense
which had not increased We're water
rents. fire insurance, interest rates
and taxes.
Bowie said he thought that not
more than per cent of the anart-
ment houses his firm rented were va
cant at the beginning of the war,
Bowie was called because A. T.
Middleton, tenant in one of the
Rust apartments. testified Tuesday
that his rent was to be raised from
1880 to $45. Mr.. Bowie admitted
this increase. He "aid that the in
crease was the first made in many
years.
When Chairman Ball asked Bowie
about increases on residence rents
he told the Senator there would he
practically no increase in residence
rents. as the expenses were not so
great in these instances.
subIetting Scored.
More about what they termed as
the subletting evil was told to tn.
Senators by Bowie, who told of In
stances where their tenants had
sublet at fabulous prices and they
were powerless to prevent them.
Charles Flint, agent for the Oc-
tayia Apartment. 1859 Columbia
road. made no bones in telling the
subcommittee that he would ask
certain tenants who had testified be-
fore them and who had taken ad-
vantage of the Salisbury act to va
cate as soon as he was permitted ia
by law. He said these tenants did
not deserve consideration inasmuch
as they had refused to aid him in
bearing what he claimed were ad-
ditional expenses in operation.
Assessor Richards testified that
the Octavla Apartment House was
offered for sale at less than Slz5.-
900. while Flint claimed that his
sister, who owned it, paid s1SO.OOC
for 1t in a trade. Additional infor-
nation in regard to this trade was
asked by the subcommittee.
Flint said he had asked one ten
ant for an increase from $50 to 500
and
tenant had such a fine apartment
that it was well worth the price
mentioned.
Owner on stand.
F. r. Van Antwerp, owner of an
apartment at gOl Twentieth street,
testified yesterday in answer to
charges made by Z. E. BrittOn, Sec
retary Danies' secretary. that Van
Antwerp was asking eXorbitant
increases.
Van Antwerp told the subcom-
mittee he only anticipated making
increases in three of the eleven
apartments in his building. and that
none of them were eXorbitant. He
said that he did not believe tenants
who refused to accede to increases
asked by him were fair, as it was
essential to get from rents enough
money to make a Legitimate profit.
Mrs. G. Geogehan. owner of the
Fairmont Apartment. was the last
property owner to testify. She ex-
planned increases already made and
proposed in her apartment
When the subcommittee meets
this afternoon at . o'clock they
will hear more apartment house
owners and real estate dealers who
handle a large number of apart
ment houses.