The Washington times., 1919-09-11

commissions decision either party
shall appeal therefrom to the Court
Of Appeals OF the District OF Column
bia, the findings and the decision OF
the commission shall be hnaI ana
binding upon both parties to the con-
troversy. II such an appeal Is taken
from the decision of the commission,
the record before the commission shall
be certified by it to such court and
shall constitute the record before such
court, and the commissions decision
shall not be modified or set aside by
such court, except for errors OF Jaw
II either party shall apply TO the
court for leave to adduce additional
evidence and shall show to the salts
faction of the court that such addi-
tional evidence is material and that
there were reasonable grounds for the
failure to adduce such evidence In the
proceeding before the commission.
the court may order such additional
evidence to be taken before the com
mission and to be adduced upon the
hearing in such manner and upon
such terms and conditions as the court
may deem proper.
The commission may modify its
findings as to the facts, or make new
findings, by reason of the additional
evidence so taken, and It shall file
such modified or new findings. which,
II supported by testimony, shall he
conclusive, and its recommendations,
II any, for the modification or setting
aside Of it's original decision, with
the return OF such additional evidence.
In the proceedings before such court
on appeal from decision OF the COM
mission, the commission shall appear
by its counsel or representatives and
e
tending to support the findings and
the decisions Of the commission:
Provided. that no person shall be
evicted from or dispossessed Of any
hotel accommodation, apartment, or
rental property pending the determin-
alton by the commission OF a contro
versy involving the rights Of such
person to occupy said accommoda-
ton, apartment or property,
Procedure to BE Simple.
Section s-That the commission
shall, by general order, from time to
time prescribe the procedure to be
followed in all proceedings under its
Jurisdiction authorized by this act.
summary as may be practicable, and
the commission and all parties ap-
pearing before IL shall not be bound
by the technical rules Of evidence or
Of pleading.
Section e-That no tenant. subten-
ant, lessor, or sublessor shall sublet
any rental property without the writ
ten consent Of the owner or his duly
authorized agent, unless the commits
sion, upon application, expressly au-
thorizes such subIetting in a particu-
lar case.
Section 1O-That any person who
violates any provision Of this act or
wilfully neglects or refuses to COM
ply with any lawful order, regula-
ton, or decision Of the commission
shall, upon conviction, be punished
by a fine Of not less than 500 or more
than $4,000, or by imprisonment for
not more than one year. or by both
such fine and imprisonment
See. IL. That the public resolution
entitled Joint resolution to prevent
rent profteering in the District Of
Columbia" approved May 81, 1918. is
hereby repealed, to take effect thirty
days after the passage Of this act,
and all laws or parts OF laws in con-
fict herewith are hereby repealed to
the extent that they are in such con-
hict.
Sec. IL. That the sum of $50. 900. or
50 much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated and made i'm
mediately available TO carry out the
provisions Of this act, one-half
thereof to be paid out OF money in
the Treasury Of the United States not
otherwise appropriated and the other
one-hslf out OF the revenues OF the
District of Columbia.
Sec. 13. That IL any clause, sentence.
paragraph, or part OF this act shall
be adjudged by any court of compe-
tent Jurisdiction to be invalid, such
judgment shall not affect, impair, or
invalidate the remainder thereof, but
shall be confined in its operations to
the clause, sentence, paragraph, or
part thereof directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment
shall have been rendered.
Sec. II. That IL is hereby declared
that the provisions of this act are
made necessary by emergencies grow
ing out Of the war with the imperial
German government, resulting in a
scarcity of housing facilities in the
District of Columbia, and giving rise
to serious abuses practiced by own
ers, lessons, and sublessors, who have
taken undue advantage of the in
creased demand for housing facilities
II is also declared that this act shall
be considered temporary legislation,
and that it shall terminate on the ex-
piration Of four years from the date
of its DaRsaRa unIAaa soober ranaaIed