The Washington herald., 1922-06-10

COuttNhcu .EIObt ogc Oeso-
incomes, but is almost solely ad-
dressed to comparatively high
priced structures for residents who
have the available money for their
purchase or who are able to con-
form to the scandalous financing
practises prevalent in executing
second mortgages.
9. There are fewer than 500 va
cant habitations In the District.
many of which are not sanitary
Few of these are for rent and most
OF the houses now being erected
are for sale.
.. There are between 1854 and
3.s37 alley buildings, which must
be vacated by November IL, 1922.
under act of Congress closing the
alleys to homes. The population Of
these alleys is estimated at between
9,4s5 and 1886. The early elimf-
nation of these alley dwellers would
augment the distressing lack of
housing facilities and create condi-
tions menacing to the morals Of
the community
10. There Is no shortage of homes
available or in the process of con-
struction to satisfy the demands
for high-priced homes for the
lesser part of the population.
Value of Rent Legislation.
IL. Profiteering in rents first ap-
peared in 1918. Rent legislation has
done much to curb rent profiteering.
The number Of vacant houses or
apartments for rent are less than 200.
and most OF these rent in excess of
$50 a month. Rent legislation can
not cure this shortage. II will only
, be cured when the abnormally high
cost of financing the construction of
homes is reduced by remedial legis-
lation.
Is Recommendation was made that
the investigation be continued by Con-
Eress where there is power to s-lh-
poera witness es. to administer caths.
an1 to make examinations OF books
of account.
13. Recommendation was also made
that Congress be petitioned TO extend
fo' a period OF two years the time
when the alley closing law will go
into effect.
Several Clashes Occur.
Repeatedly during the discussion OF
the report there were clashes betw cen
members. and between members and
the chairman. Peyser was called to
order a number of times for alleged
unparliamentsry tactics.
In an attack on the report. Peyser
declared certain portions were libel
GUS Ham replied to Peyser and
urged the adoption of the report
while there were yet few teeth
in it.
Preceding the reading and discus
sion on the general report. there
were submitted reports from the
subcommittee on rent and rent
LEGISLATION and on construction
practices.
The subcommittee on rents re-
ported that there were less than 200
vacant houses and apartments. none,
of which were for less than $50. The
rentals in two-family flats average
between S24 and s57 a month, as
now being paid. according to the
number of rooms and the kind of
heat and light.
Would Let Down Bars.
TIE rentals being paid on one
family homes average from SIS to
S107 a month, according to the num-
ber of rooms. kind of construction
and the kind Of heat and light
Apartment house rooms rent from
50 a month to SIS a month, accord
ing to number of rooms used and
the type of construction.
The subcommittee on building
practices recommended that as lib
eral a construction be placed on the
building code as is compatible with
the safety of construction and sani-
tary needs. The revision of the
building code so as to permit the
conversion of three and four story
dwellings into apartment houses
was recommended. At present such
conversion Is stringently restricted.
This revision Recommendation was
opposed by IhIder, who maintained
that II would be letting down the
bars and developing q permanently
serious problem in safety and sani-
tation