Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-21
u. s. DEPARTMENT
! TAKESA HAND IN
{ D.C-RENT TANGLE
Assistant Attorney General
: Asks Hearings in Mon
mouth Hotel Evicti0nS.

took a hand in the rent and eviction
situation in the District. muddled by
the action Of the courts in holding the
rent commission law invalid and the
continuance of the commissions to
function.
Declaring that the federal govern
ment has an immediate and vital In
terest in preventing, as far as posi-
bile. the needless eviction of tenants In
the District of Columbia, because OF
its direct reaction upon the efficiency
of the government itself" Assistant
Attorney General H. H. Classic of the
Department of Justice yesterday filed
with the judges of the Municipal
Court a petition to be heard in the
pending Monmouth Hotel eviction
proceedings.
The petition asks that the Depart
,ment of Justice be heard. "as amicus
curiae," on the question of the en-
forcement of the District of Columbia
rent act of October %. 1919. and the
scope and application of the decision
of the Court of Appeals in the case
OF Hirsh VS.. Block" This decision re-
Gently declared the Ball rent act, uni
der which the District rent commits
sion operates, to be unconstitutional.
Considerations Submitted.
The following considerations were
submitted in connection with the ap-
plication:
The housing problem-which is in
fimately connected with the problem
of the high cost of living-is mani
testify one of the highest social con.
Germ. Legislatures in various parts OF
the country have dealt and are now
dealing with it. Every attempt made
TO solve it in one jurisdiction. there
fore, is a matter of general national
concern. The subject is so many
sided that 1t is important in the pub
hot he ~
bearing of every decision should be
accurately defined.
I'm the District of Columbia. the
federal government has an immediate
and vital interest in preventing. as far
as possible, the needless eviction of
tenants-many of whom are its en-
rloyes-because of its direct reaction
upon the efficiency Of the government
itself. The mental anxiety. physical
distress and general social and eco
nomic disorganization certain to result
from such a course of procedure de-
mand that the subject receive the full
est and most painstaking consideration.
The United States has also an imme-
diate interest in protecting it's en-
ployes, their families and the COM
munity which exists primarily for the
facilitation of the functions of govern
ment, from the consequences of an un-
controlled enhancement of the cost of
the prime necessity of civilized life.
TIVE Other Considerations.
sThe present interest Of the gov
eminent in this matter is further ern-
phasized by two other considerations:
First. the due execution of the con-
gressional mandate that the invalid
fly of one part of the rents act slall
not be held to affect. impair Of in
validate the remainder thereof: Sec
ond. the necessity of a ole9f public
understanding Of the true Scope and
operation of the recent adjudication
of the Court of Appeals in view OF
for violation of itS provisions. In
amuch as these penalties will be
enforceable and the duty to prose-
cute unavoidable irrespective of the
date of the/offense in the event of
the statute or any relevant portion
thereof being finally upheld; it is OF
importance to all persons designing
to treat the whole statute as invalid
to be fully apprised Of the existing
legal situation"
Although apprised of the action of
the Department of Justice, the Dis
trict rent commissioners reserved COM
ment
Monmouth Hotel Case.
The case in which Assistant Attor-
that of w. J. Pilling Of the Monmouth
Hotel Company against six tenants
whose rents recently were reduced
by order of the rent commission. The
defendants are A. L. Patten, Martha
McFadden. Ethel Reid. Pelma Pow
len. R. n. Watson and A. H. Booth
The hotel company is seeking to have
the court give it possession of the
apartments occupied by the tenants
cited.
Five petitions alleging excessive
rentals were heard by the rent COM
mission yesterday. Complaints were
filed as follows: p. H. Marcum
against Mrs. Rachel A. Murphy, lessor
Of 1910 New Hampshire avenue north
o. Bliss properties, lessor of the Dor
chester apartment house. 18th street
and Massachusetts avenue northwest;
The Woman's Christian Temperance
Union against Mrs. B. L. Reid, lessor
of 522 9Th street northwest; Dr.
Joseph d. Rogers against Mrs. J. C.
Drake. lessor of apartment 3. the
Thomas. 1400 NJ street northwest, and
Mary A. Curran against Lizzie Logan
ct al. lessons of 1910 and 1912 North
Capitol street.
Petitions for Possessions,
Petitions for possession of prem
fses were heard, as follow: Ephraim
J. Hollis and others against the Hick-
man Company, Inc, for possession of
939 Louisiana avenue northwest; Mrs.
Daisy T. Serviss against William j.
tombstone: for possession of 4s7 Blair
road northwest, and Roy w. Nelson
against Mrs. Mary Smith for possess
sion of $40 goth street northwest
Seven complaints relating to al
legged exOrbitant rentals are set for
hearing before the commission to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock at 1890
F street northwest.