The Washington times., 1919-09-13
ID. c. RENT RAISERS
FACE JAIL TERMS
New Profiteering Bill Passes
Senate and Awaits Only
Presidents Signature.

Presidents Signature.
Jail sentences for convicted Wash
ington rent profiteers is the edict Of
the Senate in passing the new rent
law for the District OF Columbia,
which is soon to await the Presi-
dents signature.
Unexpectedly passed as an amend
ment to the Governments anti-profit-
eering bill, with scarcely any discus
sion. late yesterday afternoon, the
Ball rent measure now goes to con-
ference between the two houses. Up-
less the House develops opposition to
the unexpected course which events
took in the Senate. the House con-
ferees will accept the rent bill as a
Senate amendment to the food control
act during the early part OF next
week.
OpPOsftiOa Seen.
The Senate not being in session to-
day, it will be necessary to wait until
Monday before the Senate conferees
are appointed. Sentiment in favor of
curbing excessive rentals in the Dis
trict of Columbia Is just as strong in
the House as it is in the Senate, but
some difficulties confront the con-
ferees
Strong objection Is likely TO be
raised by members OF the House Dis
trict Committee because the Ball rent
bill was put through the Senate as
naH-1ank Nn fhn NdnA r.AnfFn1 nRf
and not a separate measure. This
necessitates the appointment OF con-
ferees from members OF the House
Agriculture Committee instead OF the
District Committee.
Confident Bill VIII Pass.
Senate leaders, however are con-
ident these difficulties will not block
final action on the rent bill, and that
the rider will be jammed through
conference in short order.
Just before the bill passed the Sem
ate, an amendment offered by Senator
Pomerene Of Ohio and tending to pre-
vent any injustices as a result Of the
lapse in the Salisbury law, was ac-
cepted without objection. It provides
that tenants will lose none OF their
rights through the repeal OF the
Salisbury law, which becomes invalid
thirty days after the passage Of the
new law.
This amendment is regarded as one
Of the strongest points in the new
law. The amendment in effect con-
tinues the provisions OF the Sauls-
bury law, which forbids increases In
rents and evictions, subject to review
by the fair rent commission created
under the bill.
OwneFs Projected
The amendment alSp protects the
rights of property owners by pro-
dwelling house shall not be prevent
ed from occupying his house or
otherwise regaining possession Of 1t.
after having given the tenant ten
days notice to vacate. This was in
tended to meet vigorous protests
against the Salisbury law. made by
property owners before the commit
tee.
Senator Thomas Of Colorado also
succeeded in ascending the clause
relating to the appointment Of mem
bers Of the rent commission. His
amendment provides that the COM
mission shall be composed "'of three
commissioners, not owning or repre-
senting owners Of rental property,
hotels or apartment houses, or who
are experienced In rental and housing
problems"
The action Of the Senate In pass
ing the rent bill 50 speedily came
as a general surprise.
Replaces Ban BIN.
When Senator Harrison Of MIS-
sissippi offered his own amendment
to the food control act, aRordinE
temporary relief against rent pro-
fiteering, the suggestion was made BY
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, that
the District Committee had framed
a permanent bill of its own After
a hurried conference with Senator
Smoot of Utah and Senator Sherman,
chairman of the District Committee,
the Harrison amendment was sub
stituted for the Ball measure.
The almost unanimous support Of
the Senate shows clearly the attitude
of Congress toward curbing the greed
of District landlords. There is every
assurance that the House will fol-
low speedily the action Of the Senate
in AGREEING to the Ball measure az
a rider to the general anti-profteer-
ing, il the bill becomes law.
Provisions Of Bill.
This Is the provision Of the bill
that provides for the repeal Of the
Salisbury law, which includes the
safeguards for tenants. as finally ap-
proved by the Senate;
That the public resolution entitled
Joint resolution to prevent rent prof
lteering in the District of Columbia
approved May 81, 1918, is hereby re-
pealed to take effect thirty days
after the passage of this section, and
all laws or parts of laws in conflict
herewith are hereby repealed to the
extent that they are in such conflict:
Provided, however, that il the tenant
or tenants shall comply with the
terms Of tenancy, whether under q
written or oral lease, or by opera
tion of law. and pay the rents as pro-
vided thereby. or shall pay such rent
as may be fixed by the rent commits
sion Of the District of Columbia, or
on appeal by the Court Of Appeals Of
the District of Columbia, said tenant
or tenants may not be dIspossessed: (:
Provided further. that a bona fide
owner Of a dwelling house who de-
sides to occupy ii himself. or herself,
shall have the right Of possession Of
such house upon giving ten days no
tice Of his desire to occupy the same"
TUE AITF0 DlNnTC