Evening star., 1922-03-10
REALTORS ATTACK
BALL RENT Law
Declare Legislation Has Left
Poor in District "WorSe
(, Off Than Ever"

Rent legislation in Washington has
operated to stop production of rental
quarters for persons OF moderate
means, complicating rather than I'M
proving the housing situation here,
in the opinion of William E. Shannon,
war director of the United States
Housing Corporation. Department OF
Labor, and of Henry r.. Brigham.
chairman of the housing committee
of the National Association of Real
Estate Boards
The attitude of these men is said to
be shared unofficially by the national
association, whose executive commit
tee has Just concluded its winter ses-
sion in this city. Mr.. Shannon was
the local delegate to the meeting.
Declaring that the Ball rent act has
not hurt the rich man, but has left the
man of moderate salary and the poor
worse off than ever" the realtors
Joined in summing up what they state
are the actual accomplishments of
the act, as follows:
Realtors Score Rent Law
There have been more marble
halls, mirrored bathrooms and gilded
elevators erected in Washington since
the enactment of the Ball act than
ever before in the history of the city,
but there has not been one single
apartment house erected for the man
of moderate means. There has not
been one single house erected for the
purpose of being rented to the man
of moderate means or to- the poor
man since the law took effect"
Mr.. Shannon asserted that the
realtors of Washington and through
out the nation told the legislators
what would happen under rent control
legislation and that the prediction has
come true, although at the time some
persons scoffed at the possibility of
the law reacting to the injury OF the
public.
"The Ball rent act was enacted un-
der the guise of helping the govern
ment employe and keeping the man
Of moderate means from being gouged
by the. grasping landlord, said Mr.
Shannon This sounds fine, but, as
a matter of fact, the law has done the
government employe and the private
clerical forces a tremendous injury.
Small Homes Out OF Market.
Literally hundreds of small homes
that were renting at from $25 to $45
a month have been taken out of the
renting market and sold. In addition
to this, the Ball law is eliminating the
old fashioned landlord, who took a
pride in his property and who knew
his tenant personally, because this
old gentleman, being a self-respect-
ing citizen, objects to being referred
to as a 'profiteer,' thief or highway
man. In his stead is coming the man
who has no consideration for his
tenant.
1--WE have witnessed the sight of
the rent commission soliciting the
tenants of a million-dollar apartment
house with a view to reducing their
rent, but who is soliciting the $1,000,
$1,000 or $500 clerk? Who has
helped, or attempted to help, this
body Of men? Certainly the Ball act
has not helped them, because the re-
suits show that there is nothing be-
ing produced for their shelter.
1--WE have In Washington today a
number Of moderately priced houses
being built to be sold as homes. but
who can point to one house being
built for the purpose of being rented?
1t was only a short time ago when
hundreds of such homes were being
built and sold to investors for rental
purposes The tenant was happy
under these conditions and the in
vestor was satisfied. But what in
7Confirned on Page Q. Column 81