The Washington times., 1922-04-15
To
PASS BALL
ACT soon.
Lower Body Expected to Make
Changes in Act as Passed
BY Senate.


Speedy action on the Ball rent
bill, which passed the Senate late
yesterday afternoon, is expected
In the House.
Chairman Focht, of the House
District Committee, probably will
consider the act at the next regu-
lar meeting of the committee
and report it to the House shortly
thereafter.
May Eliminate Amendment.
II is probable that the House win
eliminate the amendment in the SEN
ate bill which gives the rent commits
sion jurisdiction over hotel rates. IL
is possible also that the House Will
reincorporate in the bill that section
which gives the rent commission
Jurisdiction over business properties.
Through the efforts of Senator
Walsh OF Montana an important fea-
ture of the bill, as written by Sena-
tors Ball and Pomerene, was
changed. The District Committee
was in favor of carrying appeals
through from the decisions of the
rent commission directly to the Dis
trict Supreme Court. The Walsh
amendment, as adopted, however,
provides that all such appeals shall
&C to the District Court of Appeals
instead of to the District Supreme
Court.
When Senator Wesley Jones OF
Washington offered his amendment.
excluding business properties from
the scope of the act, II became ap-
parent that the supporters Of the
measures we're not opposing this
change.
Jones Amendment Voted.
The Jones amendment was adopt
ed practically without delay.
The final vote upon the measure
showed an Unexpectedly large num-
ber of Senators arrayed against the
bill. Thirty-six Senators, including
twenty-four Republicans and twelve
Democrats, voted In favor of pas
sage, and seventeen Senators, in
cluding nine Republicans and eight
Democrats, voted against the meas
ure.
The chief opposition on the part
of the Senate yesterday was from
Senator Poindexter. At one time
Senators Walsh and Pomerene made
q heated reply to Senator Poindex-
Senators and Congressman were in
clined to favor the continuance of
the Rent Commission because the
latter had reduced their rents in
various cases.
Specific reference, was made 10
Meridian Mansions, at 2400 Sixteenth
street northwest, in which Chief
Justice Smythe Of the District Court
OF Appeals and a large number of
Senators now reside. Senator Poin-
dexter read a letter from the land
lord OF Meridian Mansions, which
drew sharp replies from various
senators who lived there.
,Pomerene Backs Bill
Senator Pomerene made the chief
address In favor of the passage OF
the bill. He declared that thousands
of Government workers would be
evicted from their homes II the pre-
sent law were allowed to lapse.
Shall we sit silently by and allow
them to be thrown into the streets,
and permit these excessive exac-
tions, or shall we try to give them
some assistance?" asked Senator
Pomerene.
Senator Pomerene denied that the
rent law had interfered with bust
ness operations in the District of
Columbia, and cited various figures
from the building inspectors office,
In proof of his contention.
An amendment by Senator Cara
way was not designed to give the
Rent Commission Jurisdiction over
hotel rates, but was aimed to pre-
vent any advance In the rates on
less than thirty days notice Fines
ranging from $40 to 500 are pro.
vided as penalties for violations.
II am seeking to provide some
means of preventing hotels from ad-
vertising. in cases of conventions
and other meetings in Washington"
said Senator Caraway, that there
will be no increases in the prices
charged by them in order to induce
people to come and then practicing
all kinds of extortions.
'I have in mind an instance which
occurred not a great while ago. A
convention was being held here and
certain persons asked me to engage
rooms for them at one of the best
hotels In the city. did so, the price
agreed upon being 81 day. I Of
ferred to pay in advance, but 1 was
assured that 1t was not necessary;
that the rooms would be reserved
When the people came they found
their reservations had been Cancelled
and they were charged and compelled
TO pay $40 a day for their rooms"
Jurisdiction Feature.
Senator Walsh's amendment does
not have the effect of changing mate
rally the original clause in the bill
providing for appeals from the deci-
sions OF the rent commission to the
District Supreme Court. 1t merely
provides that in ordinary landlord
and tenant cases coming before the
municipal courts the existing law
shall not be changed.
The present jurisdiction OF the Mu-
nicipal Court over landlord and ten
ant cases ia limited largely to routine
matters. Under the new rent law, ss
passed by the Senate, appeals from
the decisions of the Rent Commission
can be taken only TO the District Su-
preme Court, and then only in cases
where constitutional questions are in
volved.
No court has the right to review
findings of facts by the Rent Com.
mission, except in cases where the
landlord claims that the rentals fixed
by the commission amount TO con
fiara fion of his proparty