The Washington times., 1919-10-12
D .RENTGJRB
BILL NOW Up
T0PRESIDENT
ARti-ProfiteeFlng Legislation Ef-
teetive After Senate Ratifies
! Commissioners to Enforce 1t.

The BAN amendment 70 prevent rent
profteering in the District OF Colum-
bia now awaits only the signature Of
President Wilson TO become enective
Immediately after the Senate ratifes
the appointment Of the commission
10 cary out its provisions
BY a ron call vote OF 207 TO 8 the
House yesterday approved the confer
ence report On the food control bin,
which carries the Bail amendment
and earlier IN the day the senate
adopted the report without record
wcte
Urged ~ Freaident.
The BAN amendment IS one Of the
measures asked by the President and
urged By. Attorney General Palmer
70 aid 80 reducing the high cost Of
living. IL also amends the food con-
troll bin by including IN its scope
shoes. clothing and other necessities,
and provides severe penalties, includ-
ing 5au sentence, for boarding and
prodteeriuE.
The Ball amendment. which was
added TO the bill in the Senate, Is
designed particularly 70 relieve the
housing situation in Washington. It
sistfnF Of three members, to be ap-
pointed BY the President and con
frmed by the Senate. The District
assessor IS 10 be a member Of the.
commission ex oIicio.
Provides for Appeal.
Under its provisions any tenant Of
any rental property in the District.
which includes business property, who
believes he Is being charged an eE-
orbitant rental may appeal 70 the
commission. The commissions and
ing on each complaint shan be llnai,
except that an appeal may be made
10 the District Court anpeals.
Regardless OF whethc the tenant
has signed q lease, he is entitled 20
make complaint 60 the commission.
The bil1 specifically provides that
where d tenant so desires, counsel
shall not be compelled TO pay the
cost Of any of the proceedings.
LandIord Al1c Has Heeourse.
Where a landlord feels that he Is
not receiving just rental, he. too.
may appeal However Il the land
lord has entered into q lease, he is
not entitled 90 make such an appeal
The position ig taken that no land
lord would enter into lease unless
the conditions were satiefactory to
him II also was feared, if the land
lords were permitted 20 Gle com
plants at will, they would dle so
manay the commission would be 90
busy with their claims tenants who
really need relief would not have an
opportunity 70 be heard.i
The President is not restricted in
his selection Of the rent commits
sion. he may appoint residents Of
the District Of Columbia or desi-
dents Of other cities
An appeal from the decision OF the
commission must be fled in the court
o. appeals within ten days after
the commissions decision is filed
and meanwhile the decision Of the
commission may be enforced.
Punintment BroviEiona.
II The owner of any rental prop
srty. which Includes hotels and apart
ment houses as well as private
houses. shall collect rent in excess
of the amount liked By the decision
Of the commission. he shall be liable
20 pay double the amount OF such
excess, plus the costs Of the proceed
fnEB against him. which shall in
ciude an attorneys Zee Of $50. ahe
tenant % % receive back the amount
he has been oevrchargeds and the
remainder Of the sum recovered is
% 50 70 the credit of the District
Of Columbia.
Any person VIM seeks 70 avoid the
pFOTfEions Of the law By entering into
90 agreement either 70 pay OF 70 re-
eeiVs bonus "a excess Of the amount
EDeclded e. q fair rental BY the com
mission shall be punished BY q me
of net mere than 81 900 or By i'm
pFlaoument for not more than year
- beth.
To gtuudlrdine Leases.
ne commission shall prescribe
standard forms OF leases and shall
require their use.
The oWnsF Of an apartment or hotel
~ required By the bill to furnish TO
TIE coul1niEEiou plans and other data
Descriptive Of the rooms. accommo-
6ations and service given and q
schedule of charges. The commission
10 empowered 20 pass upon the fair
ness % these charges and 10 Ok other
charges N neceEBarys
The amendment is 70 be opern-
tive for two years.
The Commissioners are to receive
salaries of 81 900 a year. The Dis
trict assessor fE 10 receive 81 900 iB
addition 20 his present salary, giving
him % all $500 a year.
Bele1Ig EaulsburV Law.
The Amendment repeals the saulr-
bury resolution. under which II Ia a.
present impossible 70 evict q tenant
except Tor the n0n-payment OF rent
provided be behaves himself The
6aulgbury resolution ceases 70 BE-
IN eject sixty days after the senate
shall have confirmed the members or
The rent commission.
HoWeFeT the BIN makes special
provision Tor those tenanfg who bavs
taken adVantaEe Of the sauigburv
resolution and have refused 10 nav
ndditloual rent or 10 EaoVe out on
the demand % the landlords.
THERD lcoNCEHF OCE0BER "a