Evening star., 1922-05-23
PLAN T0ENFORCE
NEW RENTAL LAW
Preparing Machinery to Put
Into Effect Ball Act,
lust Passed.
IMPROVEMENTS ARE SEEN
Speculation on Commissioners to
Be Named-President May
Not Reappoint Two.

Members of the District Rent Com
mission today expressed the opinion
that the terms of the rent law passed
last night provide improvements
over the old Ball act. which will re-
suit in an expeditions adjustment
Of rental and possession contro-
versies in the District of Columbia
eliminating much of the delay in
hearing and determining cases that
have been complained of from time to
| time in the past
The transfer of all possession dis
putes from the Jurisdiction Of the
rent commission to the Municipal
Court and the appointment of a larg-
er commission which is empowered
to have number of hearings under
way at once before individual men,
bers of the commission are the two
changes. which will do most to quick
en- the work of the commission, it
was pointed out.
Beneht to Both Parties,
This facility on the part of the COM
mission will rebound greatly to the
benefit of the tenants and the land
lords. who always are desirous of
early decision of cases filed with the
commission. In addition, tenants and
landlords will be benefited, 1t is stat
ed, by the provision requiring appeals
to be taken directly to the District
supreme Court and thence to the
United states Supreme Court as this
procedure will result in reduced dura-
tion Of legal fights in the courts.
y,
were in their Offices early this morn
ing. were busy discussing the differ
ences of procedure involved in the
new law and the adjustments neces-
sary to accommodate the work of the
commission to the changes.
Changes Brought About.
Their discussion today brought out
the fact that there are half a dozen
| changes. as follows:
l. The new law creates a commits
sion of five members to be nominated
by the President. The old law pro-
vided for but three members.
2. The new law empowers the COM
missioners to hear cases as indiyid-
uals. enabling the hearing Of as many
mination, however. to be concurred
in by all five. The old law provid ed
a whole.
3. The new law transfers possess
sion cases from the Rent Commission
to the courts
4. The new law provides that an
owner may regain possession of his
property from tenant for purposes
of occupancy by himself or family,
or FOR the purpose Of materially re-
modelling the property for any use,
or, for. tearing down the building
either to erect new building of any
description or for turning the prop
erty over to some public or quasi
public use. The old law provided
possession Of their property fortheir
own use of for the use Of their fam
lilies or for the purpose of erecting
new rental property.
Question of Appeals.
peals from the decisions of the Rent
Commission must be taken to the
District Supreme Court. and, If ap-
pealed from that court, to the United
States Supreme Court by writ Of
certeora. The old law provided that
appeals be taken to the Court of
Appeals.
g. The new law provides that, pend
ing an appeal from the determination
Of the rent commission, a tenant whose
sion shall continue to pay his old rent
to the owner and shall pay to the COM
mission the amount of the increase,
there to be impounded awaiting court
action. The old law compelled the ten
ant to pay the increased rent fixed by
the commission and provided for re-
fundment by the owner in the event of a
reversal Of decision by the court
Numerous other provisions are In
cluded in the newly-enacted legislation
that will serve to clear up vague points
of the previous law and tend to expe-
dite action all along the line.
Rent Commissi0ners Act.
When ,ys Of the passage of the act
and Of its enactment into law reached
the rent commissioners last night they
Immediately issued an order continuing
in Office pro tempore. all present en-
ployes of the commission. The commits
sion has before 1t. awaiting hearing,
about 1000 petitions Some Of these
involve possession disputes, and these
will be turned over to the municipal
court in accordance with provisions of
the law. Several cases which had been
heard but on which there was no time
left to render decision, will be de-
termined at once and dated May 20, it
Is understood.
Employees in the office of the commits
sion expect to receive a flood of new
complaints this week. and preparations
are being made to take care of the rush
Of work
Commissioners to BE Named.
President Harding will lose very little
time in making his selections of
those to serve on the rent commits
sion. In making this known at the
White House today it was explained
that the President wishes first to
make a suitable inquiry into the ELI
eibility of the several candidates
whose names have been placed before
him for consideration.
It is understood that the executive
will confer late today or tomorrow
with Senator Ball, author of the rent
law and Edward F. Colladay. repub-
lican national committeeman for the
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