Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-28
SEE NEW DANGERS
IN BALL RENT BILL
D. C. Realtors, Lawyers and
Builders to Fight Act
Even as Amended.

mittee has decided to report out the
Ball bill affecting landlord and ten
ant cases with an amendment under
which it will still be possible to eyict
tenants for non-payment- Of rent un-
der the present seven-day summons
provision of the code, Washington real
estate operators, builders and men,
bers of the bar today went forward
with their plans to oppose vigorously
enactment of the measure, even in the
amended form, on the ground that
there are other inequities involved in
the proposed legislation which should
be corrected by further amendment.
The Ball measure. which would en-
tirely eliminate the Seven-day rule
by transferring landlord and tenant
cases from the Municipal to the Dis
trfct Supreme Court. arpused a storm
of protest on the ground that it would
involve long delays in evicting a ten
ant for any cause and would put a
premium upon rent lodging.
The Senate committee thereupon de-
cided to amend the bill so that the
seven-day rule might continue to
apply in cases Of rent default.
Other Objections Made.
Comments by Washington business
men today were to the effect that by
this amendment the Senate committee
will eliminate the measures most
vicious feature. However. there re-
main in the bill. they say, provisions
which, II enacted into law. will have
a disastrous effect upon the real estate
market and building activity. The
principal objections remaining are
that bona fide purchasers will not be
able TO obtain possession, OF property
for home or other purposes except
have NO control over The most c6eu-
siye and hHrtfnl auble1StnG, 1nd that
- Bituations viii come shout Whereby
tenahts will have UAct1c9,8y per-
erty occupied by them 50 long az they
meet their rent obligations
The District Bar Association. at a
special meeting to be held tonight at
the courthouse, Will canvass the mat
ter thoroughly and may, it was In
dicated today. decide to recommend
substitute legislation. ~.
1t was stated that the association
probably would request a formal hear
ing before the Senate committee.
Lawyers Plan Opposition.
A. H Bell, vice president of the as
sociation, declared there was no doubt
that body would vigorously oppose
the Ball measure with the suggested
amendment. as the provisions retain
ed in the bill. if enacted into law
would discourage real estate and
building activity and the lending Of
money on mortgages
Several real estate operators charg
ed that Congress Is trying to prevent
rent increases by an indirect method
and that they would prefer to see
enacted A law holding rents at the
present level rather than legislation
making it impossible for purchasers
to obtain possession Of property ex-
cept after delay of a year or more.
owners who are now endeavoring to
gain possession of property pur-
chaSed while occupied by tenants also
prepared today to present their case
to Congress. They will hold a meet
ing tomorrow night at S03 New York
avenue to discuss the situation.
meeiine eearues stated S today that he is one one
Of hundreds of owDers who have been
unable to get possession OF their
homes, and that the time had come for
property owners to take concerted
action for their protection
Congress has given tenants in
Washington q chance to become land
lords themselves at the expense Of the
owners" said Mr.. Joyce. There are a
great many tenants to my knowledge
who, under the protecting care OF
Congress, have been able by charging
high rates for rooms to buy the prop
erty in which they live. the owners
being forced to sell; and some indeed
have been able to buy other property
as we'll This has been done. and is
stin being done. to the great detriment
and loss Of the property owners.
Il make the statement without fear
of successful contradiction that three
fourths OF the property proffteering in
Washington has been done by tenants
while landlords have been
held down 60 a pre-war rental rate at
a time when the dollar had only about
33 per cent purchasing power.
"But there is relief in sight speedily,
for the former tenants are fast be-
coming landlords and the landlords
are fast becoming tenants"
Report Amendment Thursday.
The Senate judiciary subcommittee
TO which the BAH bill was referred
report to the Senate Thursday.
amended SO as to prevent rent dodg-
ers from holding on indefinitely.
The subcommittee decided upon
such an amendment yesterday and
delegated Senator Sterling OF South
Dakota, a member of the committee,
to draft the amendment He expects
Thursday. the day set for the next
meeting of the Senate.
Senator Sterling said today that the
members of the subcommittee desired
to give the landlords in the District
protection against persons who de-
faulted in payment of their rent, and
to give an opportunity to obtain pos
session of the premises occupied by
such tenants. The Municipal Court OF
the District will be given Jurisdiction
in handling such cases.
Board of Trade Committee
Relieves New Ball RiI