Evening star., 1921-05-31


u certain day two years ago "A crowd
p: 300 snn pcOpl. had gathered out
side his office and broken down the
plate-g!aSS door. and that the third po-
lice precinct had offered TO send police
protection.
No Great Demand.
The exact contrary Is to be found to-
day. he said His firm had financed a
new apartment house. and the appilca-
tons for apartments have been few
We have apartments for rent to-
day" said Mr.. Linkins. He said that
the government is dischargiEg many
Of Its employees and that the popu-
iation here was growing less. Build
ing conditions, due to the high cost
of materials and the fear that rents
will come down in accordance with
the law Of supply and demand. are
bad
apartments for rent in other real
estate Offices" continued Mr.. Linkns.
Il believe that there will be a fairly
reasonable supply and reasonable
rentals"
He mentioned the case of an apart
men house which his firm sold for
$4,000 in 1909. The owner of this
apartment. he said. had failed to
raise rents and had recently come to
his firm to handle the rents. He
owner of the apartment had made
only s106 net on this building during
a year.
Adjustment Expected.
Senator Jones Of Washington asked
if there is 70 be any reduction in
rents The witness replied that rents
are not coming down this minute.
but added that he expected the law of
supply and demand to bring them
down.
This situation will clear itself up
if left alone he said.
Senator Jones asked the witness if
he inquired of applicants for apart
ments whether they had been COM
plainants before the rent commi ssian.
Il haven't, but ! will do so now re-
piled Mr.. finkinS He said that he
wished to find out the general desir-
ability of a tenant before leasing to
him.
"A kicker in an apartment house
can make the life Of the landlord and
the agent a burden" said Mr. Linkins.
He said that the real estate dealer has
many different kinds of landlords to
deal with some Of whom demand that
the agent shall charge excessive rents.
Records Examined.
Mr. krauthoff said that he had had
a public accountant examine the rec
ords of the rent commission. and that
the exam: nation showed in l.137 cases
before the commi SSion. involving Il
monthly rental Of $2S.os9.54. the com
mission had ordered decreases in
cases where the rents involved
amounted to $4,000. and had ordered
increases in cases where the rents in
volved were s1l.21S, and in cases
where the rents involved were IS, $50
had allowed no change.
Many of the cases before the com
mission. he said. have involved at
tempts to obtain possession. He said
that the actual net reduction in rents
allowed by the commission. when the
decreases and increases were conSld
cred covering these cases to which
he had referred, was only S293.
Mrs. Clara Sears Taylor, member of
the rent commission. called the atten-
ton of the committee. however. to the
fact that this estimate did not Civ" "A
true idea of the situation. since the
records examined by the accountant
did not show the large increases de-
manded by the landlords in many
cases.
Senator Ball chairman of the com
mittee. expressed the opinion. too. tha I
the Ball rent act had had the effect of
preventing many demands for increa sed
rents.
Advertisements for Homes.
Mr.. krauthoff read a list of adver-
tisements appearing in the local pa :
pers showing that there are many
advertisements for apartments and