Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-11
TEXT OF D. C.. RENTING BILL
PROVIDING FOR COMMISSION
Fourteen Sections In Measure Designed to
Protect Tenants In the National
Capital.

The bill to create a rent commits
sion for the District Of Columbia is in
full as follows:
That when used in this act. unless
the context indicates otherwise
The term rental property means
any building or any part thereof In
the District of Columbia rented. hired
for dwelling purposes and the furni-
ture or furnishings therein; but does
not include hotels or apartments.
THE terms owner, agent, tenant.
lessee and person mean individuals,
partnerships, joint stock companies.
associations, corporations, guardians.
trustees, executors, administrators
and receivers.
The term true value means the ac-
tual market value of the property at
the time in question.
The term controversy means any
difference or dispute between an own
er, lessee or sublessee of any rental
property, hotel or apartment and the
lessor, sublessor or occupant thereof,
with respect to the rent payable
therefor or the right to possession
thereof.
'-The term Jurisdiction means the
exercise Of the powers. authority and
duties conferred upon the commits
sion by this act.
The term commission means the
rent commission of the District OF
Columbia.
Section Two.
Sec. 2. That commission Is
hereby created and established, to be
District of Columbia. which shall be
composed of three commissioners ex-
perienced in rental and housing
problems, who shall be appointed ny
the President. by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate. No per-
son who has not been a bona hde
resident of the District of Columbia
for at least two years Immediately
preceding his appointment shall pc
appointed as a commissioner. Tne
terms of all commissioners shall be
two years. except that any person
chosen to ALI a vacancy shall be ap-
pointed only for the unexpired term
of the commissioner whom he snail
succeed. The commission shall at
the time Of its organization and an
from its own membership. Any COM
missioner may be removed by the
President for ineff1ciency, neglect of
duty, or malfeasance In office
"All the powers and duties OF the
commission may be exercised by
majority of its members. A vacancy
in the commission shall not impair
the right of the remaining commits
sioners to exercise all the powers OF
the commission. The commission
shall have an official seal, which shall
be judicially noticed.
Section Three.
Sec. 3. That each commissioner
shall receive a salary Of $4,000 year.
payable monthly. The commission
shall appoint a secretary. who shall
receive q salary of $4,000 q year. pay
able in like manner, and 1t shall have
authority to employ and nix the COM
pensation Of such employees as 1t may
from time to time find necessary for
the proper performance Of its duties,
and as may be from time to time ap-
propriated for by Congress.
with the exception of the secre-
tary, a clerk for each commissioner,
and such special experts as the COM
mission may from time to time find
necessary for the proper performance
Of its duties, all employees of the COM
mission shall be a part OF the CLASH
fed civil service, and shall enter the
service under such rules and regula-
lions as may be prescribed by the
commission and by the Civil Service
Commission.
"All of the expenses OF the commits
sion shall be allowed and paid on the
presentation of itemized vouchers
therefor approved by the chairman Of
the commission Until otherwise pro-