Evening star., 1921-06-03
SUBLETTlNG EVILS
AID To'PRoFITEERs
tcop,inued fsep First Pase.)

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shall subfet at a, higher rate of rent
than the tenant pays unless the rent
commission allows it. Senator Ball
insi sted that subletting is controlled
under the act,
Mr.. Lancaster urged the committee to
allow the Ball rent act to die and leave
it to the people Of Washington to deal
with the housing situation. He sug-
gested that if a landlord violated his
contract with tenant to furnish heat
or other service he should be deemed
guilty Of a penal onense. and suggested
case.
Bates Warren. operator Of large
rental, properties. suggested that the
subletting evil be left to the owners
to deal with. He said that they would
be able to prevent extor,ionare charges
his contract. which provides as a rule
that they shall only sublet with the ap-
pro~a' OF the owner.
John 8. M. Bowie. representing n.
l. Rust Company. told of a case Of
profi,eering through a suitcase at
24oo 18th street He said that the
original tenant paid $155 per month
for an apartment. and that his firm
allowed her to sublet it furnished at
$3.50 a month. The frm found later.
however. that the original tenant had
side agreement with the sub-lessor
by which she received an additional
$3.50 rent per month. making q total
Of 500 a month. Mr.. Bowie told the
committee that the changed conditions
in Washington make 1t impossible
for such e1tortion to be practiced any
longer. He insisted that there are too
many apartments for rent at reasonA-
BILE prices.
an impression which his testimony of
Yesterday. he said, had given. In say
ing that he believed there would be
increases in rent when the Ball rent
act expires next October he had not
intended to convey the impression
that all rents would be increased, he
said.
Edwin A. Krauthon. owner of an
apartment house, speaking for the
real estate board. denied imputations
that any monopoly or restraint Of
trade in rental, property existed among
the real estate dealers here. He denied
also that any black list. showing
tenants who had appealed to the rent
tate men.
Monnouth Hotel Case.
Chairman Sinclair of the rent COM
mission. referring to the testimony
given previously by James L. Carrick.
Of the Fidelity Storage Company and
the Monmouth Hotel, said that the
rent commission had fixed the rents
Of the Monmouth Hotel covering
seventy-hve apartments. with an ag-
gregate reduction of $4,000. This de-
of Appeals and the case will not be
heard until next October. he said.
However. he said. complaints were
filed with the commission that the
owners of the hotel were withdraw
ing service, including electric light
iVa -
tenants who would not pay the old
rent. but would pay only the rent
dxed by the commission. The COM
mission. he said. had awarded one
tenant $50 damages for this action.
Mr.. Sinclair said that Mr.. Carrfck
has been carrying on q campaign
among the business men and Iand-
lords Of Washington against the ex-
tension OF the rent act. He read a
letter which he said had been sent
out by Mr.. Carrick to many persons
urging item to appeal to Congress
and to the President to prevent an ex-
tension Of the rent act.
He also read a letter written In re-
ply by Henry B. Davis. a builder vho
declared that the rent act was still
needed to protect tenanta althou9h
he expressed himself as opposed To
government regulation of business.
He expressed the opinion that If the
Ball rent act il allowed to die there
is hardly q tenant who has appealed
to the rent commission who would
not be put out either for spite or be-
cause the landlord wanted higher
rent.
Mr.. Sinclair expressed tho opinion
khat-<he Ball rent eok did not need 20
- @so1o6 - n1ako it pousfhlo ~
4-6pseGe1yS1y owned aDaStnent house
% e6fAtn po1gession sf his apartment.
He said that fbe rent comr,is-.o-,
Epu.d and would deal With sues cases.