Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-02
BILL TO PREVENT
RENT PROFITEERING
REACHES SENATE

1 =
Continued from First Page)
an oficial seal. which shall be Judi.
ctally noticed.
Sec. 1os. Each commissioner shall
receive a salary of $1,000 a year
payable monthly. The commissior
sinai! appoint a secretary. who shall
receive a salary of $4,000 a wear. nav.
ape in like manner; and, subject te
1 .ue p.ovislons OF the civil service
omcers, employees and agents anG
make such expenditures for rent
printing, kilograms, telephone Law
| books, books of reference. period;ca1s
furniture. stationery, office EQUIP.
az men NJ. ana other supplies and expenses
| IS may pe necessary to the admins.
tration of this title All of the ex.
pendltures of the commission shall
upon the presentation of itemized
vouchers therefor approved by the
CHAIRMAN of the commission. be au-
ano paio IN the same manner
trict of Columbia. LIS
Wlth the exception of the secretary
al employees OF the commission shall
be appointed from lists of elieihies
supplied by the Civil Service Commits
sion ana IN accordance with the civil
Serve as Advisory Assistant.
Sec. 1o4. The assessor Of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall serve ex
oHclo as an advisory assistant to the
commission, but he shall have none
OF the powers or duties of a commits.
sioner. He shall attend the meetiner
ana shearfngs OF the commissinn
Every officer or employee Of the United
States or of the District Of CoIum-
oia, whenever requested by the com
mission. shall supply to the commits
sion any data or information pertain.
Ing to the administration Of this
title which may be contained in the
records OF his Office. The assessor
shall receive for the performances Of
the duties required by this section
salary OF $1,000 per annum. payable
monthly. in addition to such other
salary as may be prescribed for his
ONCE by law.
Sec. los. For the purposes of this
title the commission or any officer,
employe, or agent duly authorized in
writing by 1t. shall at all reasonable
times have access to. for the purpose
of examination, and the right to copy
any books, accounts, records, papers.
or correspondence relating to any,
matter which the commission Is au-
thorized to consider or investigate;
and the commission shall have power
and testimony Of witnesses and the
production Of all such books. ac-
counts, records. papers and corre-
spondence relating to any such mat
ter. Any member Of the commission
may sign sbpoenas. administer oaths
and afiirmations. examine witnesses
and receive evidence.
Such attendance of witnesses ana
the production Of such books. ac-
counts. records, papers and corre-
spondence may be required from any
place in the United States at any
designated place Of hearing. In case
of, disobedience to a subpoena or OF
the contumacy of any witness appear
ing before the commission, the com
mission may invoke the aid OF the
Supreme Court of the District OF Co
lumbia or Of any district court OF the
United States. Such court may tnere-
upon issue an order requiring the per-
son subpoenaed to obey the subpoena
or to give evidence touching the mat
ter in question. Any failure to obey
such order Of the court may be pun.
ished by such court a. q contempt
thereof. No officer or employe OF the
commission shall. unless authorized
by the commission or by a court OF
competent Jurisdiction. make public
snv Information obtained by the COM
Sec los. For the purpose of this
title it is declared that all (a) rental
property and OBJ apartments and
hotels are affected with pubic M
terest, and that all rents and charges
therefor. all service in conn. eonnec. a0d
conditions of the use or occupancy
thereof. shall be fair and reason
able: and any unreasonable or Unfair
provisions Of lease or other con-
tract for the use or occupancy OF sucn
rental property. apartment or notei
with respect to such rents, charges.
service. terms. or conditions Is hereby
declared to be contrary to public pol
lev. The commission upon its own
initiative may, or upon complaint
shaIl. determine whether the rent,
charges, service and other terms or
conditions Of a lease or other con-
tract for the use or ocsup s, c OIL ans any
ment are fair and reasonable. Sucn
complaints may be made (a) by or
ON behalf OF any tenant. and CD by
any owner except where the tenant
ia in possession under a lease or otner
contract the term specined IN Whlcn
has not expired, and the fairness and
reasonableness Of which has not been
determined by the commission.
Opportunity for All to Be Heard.
In all such cases the commission
shall give notice personally or by
registered mail and afford an oppor-
tunity to be heard to all parties In
interest. The commission shall
promptly hear and determine the Is
sues involved in all complaints sub
mitted to 1t. All hearings before the
commission shall be open to the puo-
lie. II the commission determines
that such rents. charges, service or
other terms or conditions are unlair
or unreasonable, IT shall determine ana
Az such fair and reasonable rent or
charge therefor, and fair and reason
able service, terms and conditions Of
usa or occupancy. In any suit in any
court Of the United States or the
District Of Columbia involving any
question arising out OF the relation
Of landlord and tenant with respect to
anv rental property, apartment or
hotel. except on appeal from the COM
missions determination as provided In
this title, such court shall determine
the rights and duties of the parties In
accordance with the determination
and regulations of the commission
relevant thereto.
Sec. lot. A determination of the
commission fixing fair and reason
able rent or charge made in q pro-
ceeding begun by complaint shall be
effective from the date of the filing
Of the complaint. The difference be-
tween the amount of rent and charges
paid for the period from the filing of
the complaint to the date Of the COM
missions determination and the
amount that would have been payable
for such period at the fair and rea-
sonable rate fixed by the commission
may be added to or subtracted from.
as the case demands, future rent pay
ments, or after the final decision of