Evening star., 1921-08-20
BALL ACT MEASURE
BEFORE THE HOUSE:
Bill Extending Rental Com
mission Reported-Action
Monday Forecast.

The Ball bill extending until May %,
1922, the District rent act was formally
and favorably reported to the House
today from the House District COM
mittee. The report was made by Rep
resentative Woodruff, republican, Of
Michigan.
The supporters of the bill are insist
ing that an opportunity be given to
consider the measure on Monday,
which. under ordinary circumstances.
would be District day in the House.
The matter was taken up with the re-
publican steering committee of the
House today. 1t is believed that If the
bill Is taken up on Monday it will be
passed quickly and by a large major
ity.
Sees Apparent Need.
In his report on the bill recon-
mending that it pass, Mr.. Woodruff
said: ~
"From the evidence submitted in
connection with the consideration Of
this bill. it Is apparent that the
Of this law for an additional seven
"That the effect of the war on the
housing problem still exists in the city
Of Washington, and that there is a
necessity for the continuation Of the
rent commission and its supervisory
functions is believed by your COM
mittee.
'Tt is hoped that after the expiration
Of the seven additional months. pro-
yided in this bill the principle. of
supply ,9 and dsmsad d. ..ll ,,,t to IS, some ss; {;
charges. =
Disarnaanaenf Farley ConsIdered.
Zone OF the important provisions Of
the bill sto control the leasing pDb-
lem for the fall and winter. and this
need Is augmented by the fact that
this disarmament conference will meet
here In November and that other gov
way, were this law not continued for
unreasonable rental charges:
This bill will extend the provisions
of the District of Columbia rent act,
which expires October %. 1921, for a
period of seven months. and provides
that on and after October %, 1921,
the provisions of the act shall not
apply to any garage or warehouse or
any building or part thereof or land
appurtenant thereto used by the tenant
exclusively for a business purpose
other than the subleasing or otherwise
subcontracting for use for living ac-
commodations.
FrOv1QeS Tor Attorney.
"The bill also provides for the ap-
pointment Of an attorney at a salary
Of $1,000 year. the attorney to be
appointed by the commission and
authorized to appear for and repre-
sent the commission in all judicial
proceedings. The bill also provides
for the attorney to perform all other
special duties and services required
by the commission.
hill nrou;1oo <hof onu
owner who has, in the judgment of
the commission, prior to April 1S,
1921, collected any excess rents Of
charge may return such excess to the
tenant direct, and If he neglects to
do so the tenant. upon application
to the rent commission and through
it's assistance, NAV force the owner to
return. after further time limit of ten
days, double the amount of such ex-
cess with costs and attorneys fees.
Bill Reported Unchanged.
1.-The principal amendment offered
adds an additional section to the rent
act. containing an expressed pro-
vision that the expiration of the act
and the consequent abolition of the
commission shall not effect penalties
incurred either in violation Of the act
or any order of the commission made
in pursuance thereof or rights ac-
crued and proceedings begun by or
in the name of the commission.
'This amendment further provides
that in violation of the provisions Of
this act or any order of the COM
mission, committed before the termi-
nation of this act. may. after such
termination. be prosecuted by and in
the name of the Attorney General in
lieu Of the commission in the same
manner and with the same effect as
II this act had not been termined,
ond that the Attorney General NAV
after the termination of this act. ap-
point the attorney last appointed by
the commission under the provisions
of section 103 to assist in the en-
fo-cenent of this act"
The Ball bill was reported by the
District committee just as 1t came
from the Senate.