The Washington times., 1919-10-04
RENT PROFTEERC TO END WITH PASSAGE OF BALL Bill 81 s.
Complete Text of the New Rent
Law For District

tions as may be necessary to carry this
title into effect.
Powers Of COmmissiOn.
All powers and duties Of the COM
mission may be exercised by major
ity Of its members. A vacancy IN
the commission shall not impair the
right OF the remaining commissioners
to exercise all the powers OF the com
mission. The commission shall have
an Official seal, which shall oe 9u-
dicIally noticed.
section 1OS-Each commissioner
shall receive q salary Of $o'OOO
year, payable monthly. The commls-
sion shall appoint a secretary VINO
shall receive a salary OF $o,OOO q yeaI'
payable in like manner; and. SUBJECT
10 the provisions Of the civil service
laws, Il may appoint and remove such
Officers. employees, and agents ana
make such expenditures for rent
printing, telegrams, telephone, IA"
books, books Of reference, perloolcals'
Furniture. stationery, office equipment
and other supplies and expenses as
NAV be necessary to the adminlstra-
ton OF this title. All Of the expenoi-
tures OF the commission shall upon
the presentation Of itemtEed vouchers
therefor approved by the chairman oi
the commission be audited ana pa"
In the same manner as other eLpenol-
t,,.ee FOR the District OF Columbia.
with the exception Of the secretary,
All empIoveg Of the commission shall
be APPOINTED from lists OF eligibles
suppiied BY the Civil Service Com
mission and in accordance with the
civil Rervice law.
An Advisory ABuistant'
Section Ie+The assessor OF the
District OF columbia shall serve e1
offirio ag anl advisory assistant to the
commission, but he shall have none
~ tbe powers or duties Of q commits
sioper. He shall attend the meetings
and hearings OF the commission
Every officer or employe OF the Uni
ted states or Of the District Of Co
Iumbia- whenever requested BY the
commission, shall supply TO the COM
mission any data or information per-
taining to the adminigtratiOn Of this
title which may be contained in the
records Of his office. The assessor
shall receive for the performance OF
the duties required by this section q
salary Of 81 900 per annum, payable
monthly, IN addition to such other
salary as may be prescribed for his
office by law.
Section 1O5-For the purpose Of this
title the commission or any officer,
employe, or agent duly authorized in
writing by it, shall at all reasonable
times have access to, for the purpose
OF examination. and the right to copy,
any books, accounts. records, papers.
or correspondence relating TO any
matter which the commission is au-
thorized to consider or investigates;
and the commission shall have power
20 require by subpoena the attend
ance and testimony Of witnesses and
the production Of all such books, ac-
counts, records, papers. and cor.
regpondence relating to any such mat
ter. Any member Of the commission
may sign subpoenas, administer oafha
and affirmationa examine witnesses,
and receive evidence.
Hay BubPoenE Witnesses.
such attendance Of witnesses and
the production Of such books. ac-
counts, records, papers, and CORE
Gpondence may be required from any
place in the United States at any
designated place Of hearing. In case
Of disObedience to 3 SubpOena or Of
the contumacy OF any witness appear
AAAa AGA0Gg NAAG GAAAAAAAAl4A0Aa the EOLLl@
mission may invoke the aid Of the
Supreme Court of the District Of Co
lumbia or OF any district court OF the
United States. Such court may there
upon issue an order requiring the
person subpoenaed to obey the sub
poenR, or to give evidence touching
the matter in question. Any failure
to obey such order Of the court may
be punished by such court as a CON
tempt thereof. No officer or emplOye
Of the commission shall. unless au-
thorized by. the commission or by q
court OF competent Jurisdiction, make
public any information obtained by
the commission.
Section 1O6-For the purpose OF this
title Il is declared that all (a) rental
property and (b) apartments and ho-
tells are affected with a public inter
est, and that all rents and charges
therefor, all service in connection
Herewith, and all other terms and
conditions Of the use or occupancy
thereof, shall be fair and reasonable,
and any unreasonable or unfair pre-
vision OF a lease or other contract for
the use or occupancy Of such rental
property, apartment, or hotel with
respect to such rents, charges service,
terms, or conditions is hereby de-
clared to be contrary to public policy.
The commission. upon its own in
itiative may, or upon complaint
shall, determine whether the rent,
charges. service, and other terms or
conditions Of a lease or other con-
tract for the use or occupancy OF any
such rental property, hotel. or apart
ment are fair and reasonable. Such
complaints may be made (a) by or
on behalf Of any tenant, and Cb) by
any owner except where the tenant
Is in possession under a lease or
other contract the term specified In
which has not expired, and the fair
ness and reasonableness OF which
has not been determined by the COM
mission.
Opportunity for Hearings.
In all such cases the commission
shall give notice personally or by
registered mail and afford an oppoF-
tunity to be heard to all parties in
interest The commission shall
nr0nnf1v hear and defaPnfna the fa-