The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-15
WARNAGAINST
SKYROCKETING
OF D. c. RENTS
Realtors Tell Clients UnreaSon-
able Raising Will Bring DraS-
tic Laws In Retaliation.
BY BILL PRICE.

Conservative real estate men are al
ready beginning to pass word to their
clients that reckless and unreason-
able increases in rents in Washington,
following the decision Of Judge Gould
that the Salisbury act is uncOnstitu-
tionaI, viii be the worst thing thai
ever happened to legitimate real es-
tate interests, and may bring down
upon Washington stringent laws oy
Congress that will handicap real es-
tate here for years to come In aool-
ton to giving the opportunity Tor
widespread lambasting OF this city IN
legislative halls.
The District Commissioners today
we're giving serious thought to the sit-
uatfon, inasmuch as skyrOcketing OF
rents will upset things In this city 10
a degree that it lie difficult now TO
conceive. Appeals will be made to the
Commissioners, and Congress VIII ma
pleasure in flsying the whole city for
the money-grabbing propensities OF
q few.
Commissioner Gardiner was very
frank about the matter today, throw
ing out a pointed hint to real estate
operators that they must not allow
greedy landlords TO run away with
things.
Future Rests With RealtOrA
II have been satisfied for a long
time that the Salisbury act lie I'm
constitutional" said Mr.. Gardiner.
NY study Of the law convinced me
Of that months ago. From q strictly
legal standpoint IL interferes with
End destroys contractur1 rights.
Much has been said about the real
estate men of Washington as to ex-
plotting and alleged unfair dealings.
This was never true as q whole They
are not responsible for conditions
that existed here This decision Of
Judge Gould. however. puts squarely
up 20 the real estate men, with no
law to control or regulate their OPP
erations except that Of supply and
demand the results upon which the
future will be judged. 1 am satisfied
that the results will show conclusive
( ~ that these men as a whole wf1l
Zeal fairly with the people That
they have done so in the past 1 am
confident"
GOuId's Decision Not Final.
There is q tendency almost every
where to regard the decision OF Judge
Gould as final, and this virtually
amounts to CONSERVATION among
3 thousands of tenants who were re-
tanned in their homes by decisions OF
! the Municipal Court that the Sauls-
? bury act was valid and furnished
protection against eviction and rent
1oisting.
1t must be remembered that Judge
+ Gould's decision is not that of the
2 entire Supreme Court bench. Able
nan that he is, the bench might adopt
his ruling, however. To q large ex-
tent the thousands Of cases that
were passed upon remain in status
quo pending final decision by the
Court OF Appeals OF the District
There should be no fright on the
part Of tenants until the Court of APP
peals does act 1t was generally be-
lisved today in judicial and legal
circles that the latter court soon will
hand down a decision, touching the
question Of constitutionality. The
court has before it the exact issues
that were decided by Judge Gould.
When that decision is made II will be
time enough 10 consider everything
settled.
The Rights Of Tenants.
Eminent lawyers today stated that
an cases passed upon by the Municipal
Court, in which decisions were made
favorable to tenants, cannot now be
revived. unless appeals were taken
by landlords. Also the parties would
stand in statU quo until the Supreme
Court hears the cases as a whole, or
the Court Of Appeals renders final
decision.
There are a number Of appeals by
landlords before the Supreme Court
II is possible for these landlords to
file motions for judgment before the
Supreme Court, and IL that bench as
a whole backs Judge Gould the mo-
lions would probably be granted. II
81 is still possible, however, for the
tenant to continue appeals to higher
courts.
What Municipal Court May Do.
II is entirely discretionary with the
judges OF the Municipal Court
whether they will follow Judge
Gould's decision in landlord and ten
snt cases that may come before them
from now on. or which may be pend
ing before them. The judges may
follow their own decisions Of the past,
although IL is customary for the lower
court to fall in line with decisions
above IL.
In these cases the Municipal Court
may or may not stand pat on its
former position until the Court OF
Appeals has acted. That being the
highest local court its decisions are
finAI unless appealed TO the United
states Supreme Court.
While tenants have recourse to ap-
peals pending final Judgment by the
Court Of Appeals the process is a
costly one. The tenant must give
bond guaranteeing to pay all ac-
cTued rentals and the costs OF the
suit.
SauIsbuFy Law Soon TO Die.
q solar plexus from Judge Gould, |
would die a natural death anyhow so |
soon as peace is proclaimed with /
Germany and Austria. II terminates !
with the signing of q peace treaty.
While IL iG true that the law has /