The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-05-23
800 CASES
PASSED0N
To COURT
Work of New Board Will Be
Confined to Adjustment of
Rent Disputes.

Possession cases, aggregating
500, pending before the District
Rent Commission, are to be taken
off the commissions docket i'm
mediately and transferred to the
Municipal Court, through the pro-
visions of the bill signed last
night, extending the life of the
rent body until May %, 1924, it
was learned today.
Work Restricted to Rents.
The commission will handle no
more cases of this character, which
formerly had an important place in
that body's procedure. Hereafter
the rent board will be restricted TO
the work implied by its title.
The commission will hear no
cases until next week, and in the
meantime, Captain Brown. attorney
for the rent board. will seek to
bring about the refund of approx.
mately 100000 in illegal rent
charges from landlords to tenants.
A similar amount must be deposited
by the landlords in the Federal
Treasury. more than paying for
the expenses of the commission
since its creation.
The personnel of the new rent
commission has already received
considerable attention in Congress.
Senator Ball probably will request
the privilege from President Hard.
ing of naming one of the members.
Peeney a Candidate.
1t is believed Senator Ball has in
mind the name of Thomas f.
Peeney, of Wilmington, Del. at
present clerk of the Senate District
Committee. Senator Ball has not
confirmed this report, however.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, a
Washington lawyer. is conspicuous
ly mentioned for a post on the new
Rent Commission. which will have
five members. 1t is understood on
good authority that Mrs. Mussey
was assured of this position before
the extension measure became
law.
II desire to serve the tenants OF
Washington from a place on the
Rent Commission, or in any other
capacity" Mrs, Mussey said. Il
have not heard anything about my
possible appointment to the COM
mission-recently."
The existing commission Is not
certain whether IL will continue 10
serve on the new body. Under the
terms of the extension law, the
present board continues TO function
until the President appoints a ma.
jority of the five members, and the
appointments have been confirmed
by the Senate. Whether this indi.
Gates the President will renomi-
nate one or more of the present
commissioners Is not known.
Opposed TO Realty Man.
"A real estate man would he
prejudiCed member" Mrs. Clara
Sears Taylor, one OF the commits
sioners, said There are any mum.
Der OF Washington business men
who are acquainted with the real
estate business and could he de.
pended upon to give unbiased jude
ment to rent cases
Although the law, in its final form.
does not provide for Inspectors ir
the service of the commission. il was
said today the commission probably
would appoint inspectors under the
Civil Service ruling.
The increase in size of the com.
mission is but one important change
brought about by the continuing act
One of the most noteworthy is the
enunciation Of rights of property
owners. Possession of premises ma"
material Improvements, for construc.
ton OF a new building. or for any
other purpose that does not involve
eviction of one tenant in favor of
another.
Appeals from rent commission
decisions may be taken to the
Supreme Court of the District
whose decisions are renewable only
by the Supreme Court of the United
States on writ of Certiorari. Under
the old law appeals went to the
District Court of Appeals.
In case the commission orders
higher rental and an appeal is
taken by the tenant, during the
lover the old rent is TO be i'm.
pounded with the commission.
Penalties for Landlords.
A penalty of 1000 fine, or i'm
prisonment for year. or both,
may be imposed upon a landlord
who fails to provide such service
as is, stipulated in lease or contract.
Subletting of rental property at
rate in excess of that paid by
the original tenant is forbidden
save with the consent of the com.
mission.
The commission gains jurisdiction
over apartment hotels. Business
properties and true hotels, however,
do not come within its scope.
The final votes in House and
Senate were, respectively, 24S to 81
and SO to Is In favor of continue.
ton of rent fixing. Though all bal
lots, either for passage, for amend.
ments or on points of order, were
one sided and while the measure
was disposed of in six hours. pro
ponents of the bill were forced to
fight against obstructionist tactics
throughout the afternoon session.
Efforts to block the bill were
made by Congressman Millspaugh,
avowed opponent OF rent legisla.
ton, who made a point OF order, no
quorum insisted on a vote.
The House stood $50 to ~ in
favor OF taking up the bill.