The Washington times., 1920-01-07
SHERMANPROM|SES
rent BOARD ACTION
Senator Is Noncommlttal on
Names Proposed by
80. President.

A..
District Committee. on the nomln
tons OF the three Washington men
70 be members OF the rent commissoin
fer the District of Columbia
II IL 10 possible TO get togetheI
qourum of COMMITTEES members 70
day. a committee meeting win DC
called Immediately to take up .ne
nominations. along with thAt o. 'ne
Rev. DIR. John Van SchAick' ,r' 70 oe
District Commissioner.
While Senator Sherman is noneom-
initial In referring TO the appoint
ment of Capt James y. oyster ~
Leftwich Sinclair and Guy Mason As
members of the rent commission, neN-
ertheless he is determined that no
time shall be lost In considering the
nominations In committee uniese
some strong objection Is raised. u 70
expected the nominations VIII DC 10
ported promptly to the senate Win
recommendations for their connrma-
ton.
ettrs Acton On vas schaiek-
President wilson's action In send
ing the names of the rent board TO
the Senate will serve to stir up com.
mittee action on the nominetion 0,
the Rev, DIR. Van Schaick. Displeased
over the attitude Of tho President In
delaying the appointment OF the rent
commission for so long a time, the
Republican members of the District
COMMITTEES, headed by Senator Sher-
man, were determined that the nomi-
nation of DIR. Van Schaick would oe
held up until the President saw nj
to name the rent board.
Threats of putting through reso-
luton of inquiry were beginning 70
AA
the annoyance Of Senators by send
ing in the nominations yesterday
afternoon.
Senator Sherman expressed the nope
that local property holders VIII not
seek to evade the purposes or the baii
bill, which puts the question OF grew
Snces up to the Rent Commission
Threat From Sherman.
aIf the property owners of the Dis
xrfct succeed in annulling the purpose
of the Ball law" said Senator Sher-
man." they will goad Congress into
taking punitive action against them,
such as the establishing OF higher
taxes or of a special tax on rental
properties.
"If the real estate owners do not
meet the law halfway to help bring
about an amelioration of the present
unsatisfactory condition, Congress
will make 1t unpleasant for these
owners by passing law which VIII
punish them" D.
1t had not been determined whether
hearings would be held on the Rent
Commission nominations, though pro-
tests will receive Normal considera-
fion. Hearings will be held on the
nomination of the Rev. DR.. van
Schaick at an early date.
The dual capacity in which the Rev.
DR.. Van Schaick would serve, as Dis
trict Commission and supertntend-
ent of schools, is a ground for obJec-
ton to his nomination. though some
of the committee members are In
clined to believe that 1t would be well
to have the school superintendent
represented on the Board Of Commits
sioncrs.
Ball Anxious for Action.
Senator Ball of Delaware, author OF
the rent law, is anxious for early ac-
ton on the rent nominations. $50 far
as 1 know, it is q very good commits
sion" Senator Ball declared. while
I am not personally acquainted with
any of them. they have been spoken
of very highly to me. 1 think the ap-
pointments will relieve existing con-
ditions."
Thousands OF cases, many Of them
of a distressing nature, await the at
tention of the board when 1t meets
for the first time. Under the Ball rent
law, the Salisbury resolution, protect
ing tenants from eviction, will con-
tinue in force for sixty days after the
appointment of the commission.
The decisions of the Rent Commits
sion will be final, subject, Of course, to
appeals to court. In cases where ap-
peaIs are made from decisions Of the
Rent Commission an attorney will be
furnished by the commission to de-
fond those who are unable. to engage
a lawyer.
The commission will be swamped
with cases, which have been accumu-
Iating in increasing numbers ever
since Tie District Court OF Appeals
held the Salisbury anti.eviction law
to be unconstitutional. Appeals from
that decision, however, are pending in
tAe United States Supreme Court.
Appointccs Well Known.
President Wilson's appointees to
the rent commission are well known
in Washington.
Capt. James F. Oyster, native
washingtoLian, has long taken ac-
tive part in Washington admins
trative affairs. He Is now president