The Washington times., 1920-11-07
.BROKERSOENY
.NAYYCAARCES
viii Probe Gouging Claims.
Daniels lndorses Board In
Rent Investigation.

Certain that q number OF socially
prominent Washingtonians would
'blush for shame" II the public were
told their names and knew TO what
extent they are profteering in real
estate, Q board of navy officers is
expected to be appointed this week
to hear personal complaints Of Of
ficers in the Navy Department about
rent profiteering and to investigate
the facts In order to obtain q list
Of guilty parties" to be used In .
campaign Of "pitiless publicity
INDORsED ny DANIELs.
The creation of such a board was
recommended yesterday by comdr. J.
H. Klein, Jr., u. 8. N, In his report
to the Navy Department on housing
conditions In this city. The report
was indorsed by the Bureau Of Navi-
fiation and Interested Secretary
Daniels personally.
The announcement OF a .pitiless
publicity" program as a remedy for
rent prohteers created stir In WASH
ington yesterday because of the un-
heard OF novelty of the scheme and
the speculation as to who the $50
cialiy prominent" gougers are.
lnc. TcpoIt oCtsaTCu that PuOiiSby
would cause such persons to "suf-
fer mentally" and It was rumored
last night that tRe mere annpunce-
ment OF the plan already has had
its desired effect In that some OF
the guilty hiHted at were in . rather
uneasy frame Of mind. 800
NEAR DREAlGuNG POINT.
Accordins tof III. ssport. sol Cons,
nisnder Klein the sufferirs 70 which
rhs Washtngtos public has been sub
jsSsed by prodteerfag landlords has
reached the breaking point and that
apparently no remedial effects can
be expected under existing laws. TN
WV OF which the extreme must be
resorted to. y
The Investigation OF Commander
Klein was prompted especially by the
inconvenienee naval officers have
been put to in finding desirable homes
here. In this respect the report de-
clares that allowances given Officers
by law do not 20 more than half way
In meeting current expenses because
OF exhorbltant costs.
1t is propcsed to point out this fact
to Congrsas lnen report on housing
conditions to be gathered from the
findings OF the board Of officers who
are to hear rental complaints.
Just what the program of "pitiiess
will be has not yet been
but II has the hearty
recommendation OF the Bureau OF
and the naval establish
ment generally. Chief Thomas WASH
ington. Of the bureau. declared yes
terday that he hoped immediate steps
would be taken in this direction.
qualification ~ the
charges made by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels, II. L. Rust. president of
the Real Estate Brokers Association,
of washington. declared that the or
gsnization would thoroughly probe
the navy officials allegations.
OPERATORS DENY CHARGE.
For some weeks, It was said. the
Real Estate Brokers Association has
been conducting a comprehensive sur
vey of the housing situation in WASH
ington through specially appointed
committee, headed by Charles w. Fair
fax. This committee also will be
urged to look into the situation as
pictured by Secretary Daniels, with
the view Of determining whether the
charges are warranted.
Among real estate operators Il was
stated that there Is no foundation for
the charges made by Commander
Klein, who made the investiEation for
Secretary Daniels. ana they all feel
that the allegations. being Of such q
serious nature, should either be
proved or disproved.
It was declared that it is evident
that the motive behind the Navy De-
partment's investigation was to amply
provide low accommodations for
naval officers, and that the campaign
conducted In the Capital was done In
the PARTICULAR interest of the navy
personnel. Many real estate .oper-
ators declared their Indignation at
the charges. and all OF them de-
ciared they could see no foundation
for the charges as made public by
Secretary Daniels.
] The committee. headed by Mr. Fair
fax, OF the Real Estate Brokers' As
sociatlon, II was announced. will take
the ChArHes up at n meetin0 IN he