The Washington times., 1920-07-23
RENT BOARD TO
PUSH OWNERS
Will Ask Health officer to Prose-
cute Landlords Who Deny
Tenants Necessities.

DIR. William c. Fowler, health Of
ficer for the District OF Columbia
probably will be called upon by the
Rent Commission to better the living
conditions OF the tenants in some or
the apartment houses In Washington
The rent commission has been recelV-
ing numerous complaints recently
that when tenants have refused TO
pay the increased rents and have ap-
pealed to the commission. the owners
OF the apartment houses, in order 10
make them vacate the apartments
have stopped most of the janitor
service. particularly the emptying OF
garbage.
FEAR DIR. FOWLER
This practice. the rent commission
maintains, makes for bad health con-
ditions. and the health officer as the
proper party will be asked to use his
office to remedy the situation.
"The health officer is more feared
than any other city Official, said u
member of the commission today be
cause of his reputation for hnishlns
anything he tackles"
What Captain oyster, chairman OF
the rent commission. designated as
the worst case since the Monmouth
Hotel, came up for hearing yesterday
1t was the case OF the tenants OF the
Danforth apartment house, 1923 Har-
ward street, against the owner OF the
apartment, David ID. Bowen.
1t was testified under oath yester-
day by tenants that the owner had
raised the rents from $3.50 to $50
month and when the tenants refused
to pay the increase and took their
case to the commission that all jan
itor service stopped. 1t was also tes-
tilted that he refused to do anything
for the comfort OF the ennants.
DENIED THEM SCREENS.
According to the tenants. the land
lord refused to put the screen In the
windows of the apartments, although
they were stored in the cellar. He also
refused to put up awnings on the
windows, although this had been done
in former years, under former land
lord. Tradesmen, such as putchers
and grocerS were refused admission 10
the building and the women or the
house had to carry their marketing
up the stairs themselves. 1t was also
testified that the ice men were re.
fused admission to the building, and
the men and women who lived in the
apartment were forced to carry the
ice to their apartments.
When the tenants told the landlord
that they would appeal to the Kent
Commission, it was said by several OF
the tenants at the hearing yesterday,
he informed them that to do such
thing would be useless. He said that
the Rent Commissi had no authority
to force him to do anything, and also
is charged with saying that the real
estate men and landlords in Wash-
ington maintained a "blaclllist' where
| yhn a
the Rent Commission were written,
and that no one on that list could OBJ
tain a house or an apartment in Wash
ington from any real estate man.
HEARS OF BLACKLIST.
The commission has heard several
rumors of blacklist being kept by
the landlords in Washington, out
Yesterday was the first time that such
a thing figured in tho sworn testi-
mony before the commission. The
members of the commission said to-
day that they were inclined to believe
that Bowen was merely using the eX-
istence of a blacklist as club over
his tenants, and that such a thing
does not exist.
Some Of the tenants testified that
the landlord probably was bel,ever
in the Saturday night bath, as they
only got hot water on Saturday night
and Monday morning for the family
washing. When the tenants regis
tered a kick against this method, 1T Is
said that Wednesday was added to
the hot-water days.
DELAY GIVING LEASES.
The tenants also testified that the
landlord took possession of the room
I'm the basement which had been used
as a laundry and as a consequence
those in the apartment house who
had their washing done at home had
to have it done outside.
The Rent Commission is also in re-
ceipt of numerous complaints from
tenants in apartment houses and pri-
vate dwellings that they have been
asked to sign leases, but that the
leases have not left the offices of the
agents of the owners. This is done
it is said so that the owner will not
sign the lease until it is determined d
what the Supreme Court will do