Evening star., 1922-04-15
HOUSE AGAIN GETS
. D. c. RENT MEASURE
Concurrence With Senate's
Action Expected Within
Next Two Weeks.

The Ball rent act, extending the life of
the Rent Commission in the District for
two years. which passed the Senate yes
terday. went back to the House today.
1t is generally believed that the House
will promptly concur in the Senate ac-
tion within two weeks.
While 1t is pointed out that a similar
act passed the House before by an over
whelming majority, some opposition has
been added which the members Of the
House District committee are anxious to
study carefully before they take action.
Ayep.Statel.sAAosAGa
Chairman 5Focht Of the House Dis
trict COMMITTEES and Representative
Ralph Gilbert OF Kentucky. who is
now the ranking democrat are both
out Of town; Other members of the
committee decline to express their
views until they have had time to
study the bill. Representative Mills
paugh OF Missouri today issued a
statement in opposition to this legis-
lation. and Representative Wheeler Of
Illinois said. I'VE extended the time
before, and we will do 1t again. There
is some opposition, but that will be
easily overcome"
DR.. Wilbur Crafts was at the Capt.
tol today urging members of the
committee that too much considera-
tion had been given to the tenants
landlords. urging that the House
committee should consider the rights
and complaints of the landlords as
well as those of the tenants.
Attack BY Millspaugh.
Attack on the proposed extension
Of the BALL rent act was made in the
House today by Representative Mills
paugh of Missouri, q member of the
House District committee, who said
he had personally investigated the
situation, and spoke at this time, "in
order that the members may have
time to consider the evil effects Of this
again made to force 1t through the
House under gag rule, the members
may act with full knowledge OF the
facts"
Representative Millspaugh said that.
starting with the we'll founded sus-
picion that the Rent Commission was
responsible for a goodly portion OF
the trouble, deemed 1t wise to make
an examination of its activities or
inactivities. as you may choose to
call 1t, and upon merely a cursory
investigation am convinced that
OlOpldu 0CHctAC 10 IhS Sooco -
the distress Of the wage-earners as
we'll as of the man of moderate means
in the District.
although the commission is more than
a thousand cases behind its docket, It
has recently. partially abandoned the
docket where the rights Of wage earners
are involved, and has. upon its own
initiative, taken up the matter OF fixing
rents for the Chastleton and other apart
ments, which are occupied principally
by. millionaires, senators and representa-
tives, in the meantime allowing the
wage earners to be mulcted.
'"The commission Is now more than
seven months behind in its hearings,
and a reference to its docket reveals
the fact that there were 500 COM
plants filed from September IL. 1921,
to November 28, 1921. of which num-
Der 48 have been acted upon.
'In an official statement Of the COM
mission for the month of March. 1922.
1t Is shown that 1876 rent cases were
denied by the commission, resulting in
an increase in rent Of $311.5O per
month and a decrease of $1.277 per
month. making a net decrease In
rents for the entire month OF $s6550.
Estimated Years Reductions.
Assuming that this is fair aver
age of the result of the deliberations
and determinations Of the commits
sion. 1t will readily appear that the
total net reduction of rents for one
year will be less than $4,000, while
the expenses of the commission to
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