The Washington herald., 1921-08-21
WILL INSIST HOUSE
TAKE UP RENT ACT
BEFORE RECESS
District Committee Asks
Action - Hammer
ass a-s.--asl -
Files Report.

The Ball act extending the ball
rent law until May 22. 1922 will be
considered by the House before the
proposed recess. IL it is possible,
Representative Mondell. Republican
floor leader. said yesterday. The
bill was reported earlier in the day
by Representative Woodruff. of
Michigan, member of the House
District Committee.
Asked whether the bill would be
considered Monday, which is. Dis
trict day on the House calendar
Mondell replied probably not" The
railroad bill will be taken up on
that day. he said.
1t is recalled in this connection
that not once since the present ses-
sion convened on April IL has the
District Committee taken advan-
tage of District day to push Dis
| trict legislation.
viii Press Measure.
Several members of the Distric,
Committee who are favorable to
the Ball act, however expressed
their intention yesterday of insist
ing that the measure be taken ur
before any recess.
Representative Hammer, of North
Carolina, Democratic member oi
the committee, filed an additional
report in favor of the bill.
THE need of reduction of exces.
| a, o., and ha In
tion thereof by law" he said, will
he admitted by those who investi-
gate conditions which are SO op'
pressiveIy unjust.
The right to take property for q
public use is well settled The
question for determination is
whether by this bill the owner
may be restricted in the use of his
property by certain limitations and
| restraints curbing this tempta-
tions to make unreasonably high
charges. when certain exigencies
exist.
Owners Rights Guarded.
This act guards the right of the
owner to 'repossess' his property for
his own use at the termination of
his lease by giving the required
notice, but he cannot 'dispossess' the
tenant by the hold-uv method of the
heartless profiteer, a commission be-
ing provided to deal Justly in deter
mining whether the rent shall be
increased.
THE only question to be deter
mined is whether Congress Is clothed
with power to meet existing condi-
tions by regulations so long as they
may exist.
"a long line Of decisions say that
private property may be taken even
without compensation to the extent
OF restricting and regulating the
height of buildings. the building of
safe pillars and walls in mines. the
keeping of watersheds clear, etc.
Then why cannot rent be limited
where the public interest is justified
by the public exigency which exists?
Upheld I'm Decisions.
when the public interest Is estah-
lished the regulation of charges fol-
lows as a necessity. This was set
tied SO long ago as in Mum versus
Illinois, "a U. s. 113. We restrict
by legislation interest rates as q
protection against the usurious
profiteer, and there is no new prin-
ciple in giving preference to the
tenant in possession II is a neces-
sary incident In upholding the prin'
ciple established.
THE Intelligent public will not be
deceived by the objections urged
against the measure, for tho legis'
latjon proposed is similar to that II
nations throughout the world. It Il
necessary 10 restrict the growing
greed OF those who. In this exigency
largely control housing conditions In
this congested center"