Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-27
DRASTIC ACTION
0NPR0F|TEER|NG
IN RENTS LIKELY
Senator Kenyon Says Wash
ington Fuckers "Make Capt.
Kidd Look Like Piker."

Members of Congress are aroused
over the rent situation in Washing
ton, according to Senator Kenyon of
Iowa, and unless there is change
he predicts there will be drastic leg
islation aimed at the profiteers.
Before leaving Washington yester-
day for the west where he is to take
part in the campaign, the Iowa SEN
ator, in an interview, said he intend
ed to act in the matter himself when
Congress reconvenes in December.
and added that many other senators
would join with him.
1t will be remembered that Sena-
tor Sherman. chairman of the Dis
trict committee, before Congress ad-
journed, issued a similar warning to
the agents and owners of rental prop
erty in the capital
Rent Raising Arouses Ire.
There is a good deal of feeling
among members of Congress as well
ton this fall to find that their rents
have been raised in most cases to a
point beyond all reason" said Sena-
tor Kenyon. People who are con-
nected with the government to a
large extent are compelled to live in
Washington. They seem to be re-
garded as worthy objects of plucking
and robbing by the apartment house
owners. The extent to which this
robbery is going on would make Capt
KIDD and his band of pirates look like
pfkers.
Sees Way to Meet Situation.
There is a way to remedy it. Prob
ably the capital will never be moved
from Washington, but various de-
partments and bureaus could be
moved. reducing the number of peo-
pie who are compelled to live in
washington and pass through this
process of being plucked for the bene-
during the war a portion of the Ship
ping Board was moved to another
city There is no reason why the De-
partment of the Interior should not
be moved to the middle west. That is
where it belongs Likewise. the De-
partment of Agriculture.
There is no particular reason that
know of why the Treasury Depart
ment should remain in Washington,
and 1T might be good idea to have
the war Department moved farther
from the coast. So if these four de-
partments could be moved from
Washington to other cities-and there
are plenty of cities which would be
glad to duplicate the buildings and
reneve the government from expense
IN the removal-it would lessen by
thousands the number of people re-
CURED to live in Washington There
is no reasons why the Interstate Com
merce Commission and Federal Trade
commission cannot be removed to
other cities.
might Have Benencent Enect.n
That might have beneficent ef-
rect in holding rents to a fair return
on the investment. OF tourIe ffe
heads of these departments could be
In Washington. but the great. mass of
employees would be by this process re-
moved to other cities. Practically
every member of Congress who is
compelled to rent an apartment is
going to return to Washington with
the idea that he has been the victim
OF uncomfortable robbery. OF course,
ne may attend some banquets here to
promote good feeling between Con-
gress and real estate robbers, but he
is going to have feeling in his heart
that there are things needing
remedying. and I predict there will
De some drastic rent laws passed by
the Congress, and I predict further
made to remove many of the bureaus
and departments from the city of
washington. I shall certainly do all
l can to help in such a movement,
and other members of the Senate have
told me they would assist.
Scores Alleged Combine.
People can have respect for those
who hold you up at the point of a
gun on the highway, for that requires
courage, but for combination of
real estate men and owners of apart
ment houses to unite in a plan of
robblng the people does not arise to
the dignity or respectability of high
way robbery"