Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-02
BALLS GOOD WORK
FOR THOSE WHO RENT
WASHINGTON HOMES
Il Has Saved Them From What
They Believe Would Have
Been Extortion.
FIGHT IS STILL GOING ON

Special Dispatch From Every ENeninE
Washington Correspondent
Washington. March 2.-Senator l..
lscisler Ball Of Delaware, chairman OF
the Senate District of Columbia Com
niittec. is Eratiiied with the progress
the Pomcrene bill. just reported TO the
Senate from the District committee, Is
making. lie Is working with Senator
romcrene and the rest OF those sem
ytors who want the people OF the dis
trict 90 be protected from the rent
l,rontccrs. lie feels that 1t is essen
tlal that further protection be given.
as Ia provided for in the pending bin
extending the Ball law two years.
The Ball act expires May %, 1922,
and the pending bill must be passed
ty both the Senate and the House and
have the signature of the President
before that time to become operative.
For this reason the promoters OF this
measure are doing everything possible
To hasten action In the matter. This
hill now goes ON the Senate calendar.
aud II is the purpose OF Its supporters
To- call Il up for consideration at the
earliest possible moment.
senator pomercne. acting for Sem
atur Balls committee on the impor
tant matter OF regulating rents IN the
District OF Columbia, made COM
prchensive report on the situation and
the need for the enactment of the
measure as reported. This report In
part. said;
Your committee finds that the rent
al conditions In the District of Colum-
hia. which prompted the enactment Of
the original legislation. approved Octo-
lcr %. 1919, and the extension thereof
as approved August 20, 1891, continue
to exist. n they have not grown worse.
Your committee Is satisfied that II the
present law Is permitted 70 expire
rentals viii be unreasonably increas s.
cd. Co the serious dotriment of the ten
ant class
This statement applies 20 both
business and dwelling property. After
business property was withdrawn from
the jurisdiction OF the rent commission
Icntals were, as your committee be-
licvcs, In very many instances. eN-
t,ayarantly increased. snd excessive
increases were frequently demanded
Tor apartments and dwellings, and
often where the tenant refused TO &C.
cent these increases the landlords have
'Vfuscd 20 make leases. awaiting The
expiration of the rental act
Your committee believes that tn,
Present legislation as proposed 20 b,
amended carefully protects the inter.
crt of both the latdlord and tenant
class. and Will expedite the hearing,
and decisions both before the rem
commission and the courts
Tho principal changes in the pres
mt Jaw are as follows
ta) The rent law is extended unit
the 22d day OF May. 1924.
"(b) The rental OF business proper.
~, Other than hotels is returned e
the Jurisdiction Of the Rent Commits.
sion.
tel Tho membership OF the com
mission Is increased TO FIVE members
'td) Two additional inspectors ar,
provided for.
"to) Appeals from the Rent Com
mission to the Supreme Court of tn
District are authorized. instead Of Z
the Court OF Appeals OF the District
'GD The jurisdiction OF the Munici
al Court for the recovery Of exces
rents IL extended so as TO permit a
suits TO recover said rent before tn
. Municipal Court. Notwithstanding tha
the amount involved may be in exces
a. $1,000.
"tg) The Rent Commission shall nC
De required TO pay costs or TO CIV
bond In appeal
"th) Each member OF the commi,
SION Is authorized TO conduct hearing
and receive evidence and certify n
same 10 the commission for fin.
action.
The committee believes that the Q,
istCnce Of the commission has been
deterrent 20 tho increase OF rent
which, except for the commission
would have been excessively increal
cd"
Balls Great Service.
Probably the most conspicuous an
popular thing Senator Ball has dor
slnce he has been here ans a represei
tative in the upper chamber Of Cor
xrcss from Delaware IS the part }
has played In the enactment OF legi
lation Tor the protection OF the rent
class IN IN. District. Not only do
large majority OF the people here con
mend him for his great service in IN
matter, but. ~ is believed, a great IN;
"a joriiy OF the senators and represent;
tlvcs cordially commend him for VIII
h. has done along this line.
However, the landlords who desi
TO impose excessive rentals on u
ru5lic DO not feel kindly toward q
senior Senator from Delaware. for
mas prevented them from eNtoiti,
mat would have been. 81 is charge
unjust. oppressive and intolerable