The Washington times., 1919-08-30
Rent PrObers To Frame
DC. Laws AS Model To
End All PrOfiteering

Armed with sufficient proof Of
proateering in rents on large scale
by property owners and tenants alike,
the Senate District Subcommittee
ending its investigation OF living con-
ditions in Washington, intends 70
meet again next Tuesday afternoon
! to frame a rent law for the National
Capital that will be q model for the
entire country.
With the close Of the rent hearings
yesterday afternoon, Senator Balls
subcommittee decided that sunicient
testimony had been given to enable
the committee to proceed with the
framing Of permanent legislation to
] AFFORD relief to property owners and
I tenants from vicious practices which
have been revealed during the last
week by scores OF witnesses.
Square Deal Assured.
The committee Is approaching the
subject with q fair-mindedness that
predicts Legislative recommendations
| Offering q square deal all around: Re-
lief from extortionate prices demand
ed by unscrupulous landlords and
property-oWners on the one hand and
a legitimate increase OF rents guar
anteeing fair return on inVsstmentg
on the other. The absolute necessity
OF encouraging building operations
mas impressed itself hrmly upon the
mines Of the committee members and
whatever Recommendation may be
made they will ahord ample protec-
ton to those engaged in building op-
eFations.
When the committee concludes its
executive work on the rent situation
II win take up the high cost Of CLOTH
ing.
Miss Henfietta Hartshorn, Of 1871
Iowa avenue, told the committee how
the Salisbury law IS preventing her
regaining possession OF her house at
243O twentieth street northwest,
which she purchased, with her sister.
/ in June, 1918. Although they paid
$1,000 on the $1,000 price Of the
residence, Bhe was unable to take pos
session Of It ebcause the. occupant, A.
II. Marsh, assistant manager Of the
National City Company, refused 70
/ give it up, although his lease had ex-
piFed in March Of that year.
she Brins. Suit.
/ Miss Hartshorn brought suit In the
Municipal Court, as she said IL had
been agreed before she bought the
house that Mr.. Marsh would vacaIe.
Judge Terrell decided however, that
because she and her sister occupied
lodging rooms at the time they could
not compel the tenant to vacate. Mr..
Marsh still refuses to give up the
house. she told the committee, al
though he owns a house OF his own in
Garfield street which he Is renting
for SIS a month. Miss Hartshorn said
he pays her S48 q month for her
house.
Allen E. walker, with his firm,
owns the Parltwood apartment house
at 1746 K street northwest. When he
/ took over the building this year the
rentals were $25,30S. he said, and they
intended to increase rents 50 as %
obtain S3S,S2O, which would allow
about per cent on the investment
Cost OF maintenance he estimated at
about $4,000, which included rent
ting throughout. The increase IN
rents he estimated at 30 per cent.
which would bring seVen-room apart
ments now renting at S72.5O TO $92.oO
up to $125 and $3.50.
Says He'll Boost Rents.
DR.. J. ID. coblentz, owner OF the Cob
lentz apartment at 10 Florida avenue
said that in 1917 his total net pronts
from rentals had been S499 and In
1918 he had suffered q loss Of $1sI9I.
DR.. Coblentz declared that he had
NOT notified his tenants in writing
that their rents are to be increased
an the fall, but admitted that he would
have to raise rents IL his apartment
was to be made a paying proposition.
/ He told the committee he had asked
increases Of new tenants.
Rents in the Henrietto apartments
are to be raised, notice having been
sent to the tenants, John OHagan,
agent for the apartment, and John R
Galloway informed the committee.
Rents would have to be increased at
least 20 per cent, they said, to obtain
a return of 8 per cent on the invest
ment.
J. z. Powell, president of F. H.
Smith Company, testified that last
year there had been increases rang
| ing from to 10 per cent in apart
ments handled by his firm, and be-
lieved the rents should be increased
25 per cent further in the fall. With
a 25 per cent increase, he SAID, the
average return would be from Z TO
per cent, without taking depreciation
into consideration.
BIamez Probe For Unrest.
Mr.. Powell informed the committee
that the mere fact that there was
LEGISLATION pending created unrest in
building operations to q great extent
A solution to the construction prob
lem would have been made before
this. he said. had it not been for the
Salisbury law. Real estate men are
uncertain as to what course legtsIa-
ton Is to take and necessarily build
ing operations are slack.
He said he wished to explain ABOUT
previous testimony before the com
mittee with regard to fire in the
birmingham apartment for which he
Is agent. Witnesses had testified that
he had used the fire as an excuse 10
force them to vacate, he said, Whea
in reality he did not take over the
building until after it had been re-
built.
Mrs. A. c. ReuteFberg was another
witness who complained against the
salisbury law. She said that she
had rented her house. $40 Fifth street
northwest, to a Mrs. Hale for $50
month. Some time later, Mrs. Reu-
terberg said that she tried to regain
possession of her house, but that Mrs.
Hale refused to give il up. In order
To obtain accommodations for her
- - sagd sha asked Mrs Hale