The Washington times., 1919-12-04
BALL RENT ACT
W|NEFFECT,
LAWYERS SAY
Local Attorneys Believe Meas
ure Became Operative When
President Signed 1t.
BY BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
The Ball rent law may stop the
torrent Of attempted rert profiteer-
Ing that has broken loose since the
decision of the District Court Of APP
peals that the Salisbury rent law is
Unconstitutional.
The opinion OF learned lawyers to-
day is that the Ball law is NOW IN
EFFECT and that landlords or ten.
ants who get beyond the line of rea-
son may suffer consequences later
On.
The District Commissioners today
called ON Corporation Counsel Con-
raA Syme for an opinion as to whe-
thsr the Ball law Is now effective,
aAd an immediate opinion is ex-
pected-
The Commissioners have had re-
ports Of attempts to frighten people
from their homes by notices to va
cate. They realize that there is much
uncertainty in the situation. and they
believe that the atmosphere may be
cleared and valuable information
impaired to the public by an opinion
from the Corporation Counsels Of
ice.
Syme Was Consulted.
Conrad Syme was consulted by the
Senate and House committees which
framed the Ball law. His advice was
accepted in q number of matters. He
has been giving some thought to the
present Situation- as have his assist-
aAts.
The unofficial view Of the best law
ysss In Mr.. syme's office today was
that the Ball law, despite the fact
that the rent commissioners have not
been named By the President, Il a
vtrile, live law q this minats and
must guide the local courts In eases
coming before them The offcial
view probably win be to the same sf-
feet
Capt Julius Peyssr, who handled
thoosands Of rent contests In this
city during the var, expressed hi n
ssH today - believing that the Ball
hw ie alive and operative and viii
furnish eli tbs e-o<ectton tenants and
ia.dlords nee from this on
uve AZ SGaiA4.
Almost unanimously the view pre-
vans that the law became Operative
g the date Of its signing By Prssi-
oooe WILSON. N do all laws until
nsture time for going Into eject II
ueaed ~ Congress.
The spirit Of the entire Ban act
= ooe OF protection Of tenants aGninst
Dreotsering and Of landlords aSainst
rsfusai OF tenants TO pay fair and
roasonabls rents
There 10 novhsrs In the act any
mdieation that II " to be deferred.
while the act continued the Sauls
bury resolution for sixty days After
cate Of confirmation by the Senate
Of the rent commissioners, Il distinct
~ stated, however, that q -deternina
ton by the commission made within
that sixty days shall be enforced In
aceordance with the provisions Of the
Here's II vial Cls.se
Here Is the vital clause of the Ball
law which lawmakers believe MAIN
tains . status quo In rents In wash-
ngton until the new commission de-
ctdes otherwise:
seeusn ios-rhe right q . ten
Ant - the sse Or occupancy q
@y restal prsperty, hotel. e.
eoartHeat, existing nj the tie
tAis net takes effect. or thereafter
ae~ufre~, an1er any leAse Or 9th
er contract fer s1eh use sr see~
Dane1 o. unAep any exte~.,-
tAeresf ~ sSerzaien sf law, sAaIl
nSswfshstasSfng the exptratis. Of
0e tern fixed by soeh iease o.
eeesrset. esatinSe n the sptiep Of
TIE tenant. subject, however, 4.
- the es0aissiea relevs.t there
80 asA such tenant sAan net be
evtete6 sr dispeasesseA - Bosx n
he Days the rent and Rerfsrns the
ether terms and eSaditions Of the
teuhney ~ flxe< By such Besse or
contract. 81 In essse such Iease or
contract ID asAsfied By any De-
tenanafs0 - regulates sf the
eeanissiea. then n fixed Sy sveh
hSAine1 tease or contract All
peA~1fes sf the owner nj hwe .,
e~ssty, hase1 % any peevtsie. Of
ny such tease or contract to the
eject hat such lease sr contract
sAaii se seterAined or ferfetteA II
the premises are sold, are sereSy
sssoesaeS - long n this title In
fsree- Every purcha aser shau
0ke e~svcyasce Of any rentsI
prsp<rfy, hotel, or apartment sub
~
provided IN this title.-
section ll3 provides that IL the rent
commission should nnd that "at any
time after the passage OF this act" a
property owner has withsrawn from
tenant any service agreed upon or
exposed the tenant to unsafe or in
sanitary conditions or imposed any
burden. loss, or unusual inconyenI-
ence, the commission shall determines
the sum that will fairly and reason
ably compensate the tenant and reim-
burse him therefor by Judgment.
The view is strong that section Ios
gives the tenant possession under en-
isting contracts and Arrangements
until the rent commission has passed
upon the case Knowing that n
would be some time before the COM
mission would be able to pass upon
cases before IL, the law intended that
conditions should remain undisturbed.
So @~s--- 49, -s-f~e from oe0rt,I.