Arizona republican., 1922-04-16

Control act went in effect at the ma
| tions' capital Oct. %. 1919; 1t expired
| Oct. 20, 1921, and was extended to
May %, 1922. 1t is now proposed
by congress to extend same for two
more years and in addition to places
| Of abode to include office buildings
and business properties.
The National Association of Real
| Estate Boards and the realtors OF
Washington. representing to a large
| degree the tenant, the home owner,
and the landlord, at public hearing
| before committees of the senate and
| the house. protested this legislation
| and, a s experts. explained to the re-
| spective committees of congress what
would happen under rent control
| laws. Their prediction has come
true although at the time some per-
sons scoffed at the possibility Of the
! law reacting to the injury of the
public.
Looking back two and halt
years it was found that there have
been more marble halls. mirrored
bathrooms and gilded elevators erect
| ed in Washington than ever before
| in the history of the city. but there
has not been one single apartment
house erected for the man of mode
rate means. There has not been one
single home erected for the purpose
OF being rented to the man of small
| income.
The rent control law was enacted
under the guiseT OF helping the gov
ernment employe and keeping the
man of moderate means from being
"gouged by the grasping landlord.
This sounds fine, but as a matter of
farf the Ta hoc 1c,,A fha rroynry4 +.
nlent employe. the private clerical
forces and the laboring classes Of the
city of Washington a tremendous i'm
jury Literally hundreds of small
homes that were renting at from $25
to $45 per month have been taken out
OF the renting market and sold. In
addition to this, the rent law has
about eliminated the fashioned
landlord who took a pride in his
property and knew his tenant per-
sonally, because this old gentleman,
being a self-respecting citizen. OBJ
jects to being referred to by the
members of the legislative body as a
rent profiteer," rent hog and
"thieving landlord" and in his stead
there has arrived the type of land
lord who cares little as to what he
is called and less for his tenant.
These men have witnessed the
sight of the Washington rent COM
mission soliciting the tenants Of a
million dollar apartment house with
a view to reducing their rent, but
who is soliciting the laborer, the
81 200. $1,000 or $1,000 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 for two and one half
years there has been nothing pro-
duced for their shelter. And shelter
is what houses people. not laws.
Due to the fact that the law did
not interfere with their production,
they have in Washington today num-
bers OF moderately priced houses be-
ing built to be sold as homes, but
who can point to one house being
built for the purpose Of being rentedg
It 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 un-
der these conditions and the investor
was satisfied, But what investor to-
day is coming to the rescue or the
man of small means?
The congress seems now to be very
much concerned about the alley
dwellers of the capital city and 1t is
seriously suggested that bonds be is
sued for the erection of homes for
these persons. II it were not for url-
wise legislation the alley situation Of
washington would have been solved
long ago: but If the rent law con-
tinues the taxpayers of the country
will not only have to look after the
alley dwellers of Washington but
after their employers as well. II the
Ball act was designed to reduce the
American tenant to the level OF the
Europes- tenant, it is fast accom-
plishing its purpose.
Today in Washington. figlIratively
speaking. to every 1000 rentable
small places of abode. there are 1.100
families who want to rent small
homes or small apartments. What IS
going to be the final answer2 Do not
the powers that be see that so long
as the rent law is on the statute
books there is going to be no produc-
ton OF private capital OF moderate
priced homes for renting purposes!
Do / not read between the lines that
there may be a group OF persons
who know the government will nave
to produce the homes IL this condi-
ton keeps up? DO the powers that
he want the same conditions in this
country as exist in London TO-DAY
The housing condition there mas cos.
the English taxpayers $60,0O0,0QO ana
is costing the taxpayers $500 per
house annually--and the government
collector is often stoned when he at
tenpts to perform his duties.
This picture is not overpainted-
There is in this country a strong
group Of men who believe in govern
ment control of the home" Is this
not step in that direction-toward