The Washington times., 1920-03-24
IGNORES RENT
BOARD PROBE
]. L. Karrick Goes to Europe
But Leaves Attorney Here
To Face Commission.


mons of the District Rent Commits
sion, is today somewhere on the At
lantic ocean on his way TO Europe.
Attorney II. Merillat appeared
for Mr.. Karrick before the commits
sion this morning. lie left the hear
ing room after every one OF his mo-
lions, accompanied by a verbal tilt,
had been denied. The proceedings went
on without any representation OF tre
defense in the case of 100 tenants of
the hotel who complained that Mr..
Karrick charged excessive rents. fall
ed to furnish heat, make repairs or
give proper accommodations gencr-
ally.
II warn the commission against
proceeding with this case in tho abb
sence of the defense. i am going di-
rectly to the Court of Appeals to file
a writ of prohibition to enforce any
determination of this commission"
Mr.. Merillat remarked as he left the
room.
1T is up to you" Chairman James
Il. Oyster. of the commission. replied.
II ask for the right OF any excep-
tion," Mr.. Merillat added.
offered Use Of Auto.
THAT right has been granted you
before" said Mr.. Oyster. I'VE will
even furnish you with an automobile
in which to get to court IL you
want it."
1t was a sensational climax to a
proceeding which was marked with
personal feeling. although the com
miss toner's this morning assured Mr..
Merillat, and he exchanged like as
surance, that no personal element en-
= led into the positions taken.
i'uch a feeling was first evidenced
wuer Mr.. Karrick filed his answer.
in tLg Introductory OF which he stat
ed that he was of the opinion that
under the law no real estate owner
was to be a member Of the commits
sion. He deducted that therefore
the commissioners were ignorant re-
garding the ownership and manage
ment OF real estate" In which re-
spect he assumed the members OF
the commission have qualified"
Therefore. Mr.. Karrick concluded
that in order that a "layman" could
understand his answer at must nee
essarily be In detail, perhaps to the
point Of WEAKNESS"
Motions Quickly Denied.
At one point in Mr.. Merillat's mo-
tons today, Chairman Oyster. re-
marked. "You are legelaman.
am not" conveying the inference
that the attorney should know what
he is speaking about regarding GER
tain technicalities.
Mr.. Merillat first made q motion to
dismiss the proceeding on the ground
that the commission was without
jurisdiction to consider the matters
involved. He declared that the act
TO- h. m les In v,
was unconstitutional. He then moved
to have certain portions of the COM
plant stricken out. Both motions
were quickly denied by the commits
sion.
Then Mr.. Merillat. charge that GER
tain of the complainants were not
legal tenants of the hotel in that
they were sub-tenants of the original
lessees. He asked that these be sift-
ed out from among the others.
Commissioner A. LeftWich Sinclair
stated that he was of the opinion
that it was too early in the proceed
ing to take such a step, and that the
development of the testimony would
unfold as to who would have stand.
ing in the proceeding.
IsToo Much, Delay
A postponement of the case was
next asked for. 1t had already been
postponed Chairman oyster stated
that the case was of too great an i'm
portance and affected too many ten
ants to be delayed any further.
I'm justice to these complainants
who are here this morning the docket
must be carried out according to
schedule" he said, and added that il
the case was lost, by the defendant
r. 1T 70 oil ha
had been given every opportunity to
present his side.
The reason given for Mr.. Karrick
for his leaving for Europe was his
health, which he declared in his an
swer was impaired because of the
stress of the war and war conditions.
An affidavit of DR.. Charles c. Mar
bury supported this declaration.
Say Knrrfck Was Indifferent.
When Mr. Merillat had left the
hearing room the compliments were
called for testimony. 1t was declared
that every request on the part of the
tenants for proper treatment had been
received by Mr.. Karrick with indif-
ference and contempt amounting to
insolence."
The hearing room was crowded with
men and women, tenants Of the hote
and their friends.
In the writ of prohibition fled by
Mr.. Merillat, the appellate court IL
asked to stop further proceedings by
the rent commission on the ground
that the Ball rent law Is unconsti-
tutional, claiming that II deprives
Mr.. Karrlck of his property without
due process OF law, refuses trial by
jury, takes private property without
Just compensation, invades the judi
cial functions of the Government, and
denies adequate relief from injuries
suffered at the hands of the commits
sion or of persons invoking the aid