Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-17
BALLS RENT LAW
HELD UP IN HOUSE
BY HOSTILE LOBBY
Influence of Landlords and
Others Overcomes Inter-
ests Of People.
PREPARING TO LIFT RENTS

Srccial Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent
Washington. May Ex-senator l..
Hcislcr Ball IL very much dirappofnt-
ed over the failure OF the House TO
take action on his Rent law. recently
passed by the Senate with but slight
opposition.
Tho measure, which has been held
up by the arbitrary ruling of Speaker
Gnl.it. 10 an extension Of the original
pnn Rent law II has been deemed
esspnilal to the welfare of the people
of Washington. as without ~ n wide
spread fear ~ entertained that land
lords will raise rents beyond the
capacity at the tenants and in many
cases ciert those who have refused to
meet the demands of the landlords
IN htgh rents.
Consideration 81 the measure was
delayed until the last minute by
tiintory and Incompetent Congress.
and when action WAS attempted the
proponents uf the hll were told Il
could NOT ho brought up until after
Tho expiration the Ran law. which
VIII be on May 20.
n In said o. nation. wide campaign
WA made against the hill by lumber
people realty people aud other in
tuteta that were made Co believe
manifold evils urked IN such legisla-
ton. n is charged this campaign was
led q, the rich landlords of Washing
ton and that they succeeded In
thtottling oven the voice of Congress.
fu u iR conceded that like the Senate
tho House 30 overwhelmingly favor
able Geo tho law THAT body, however.
is powerlesa to do IT, own will when
the restraining hands ~ its masters
are raised against legislative enact
mont.
since tho landlords feel they have
prevented the passage of this hill.
they now como to tho tenants of the
city with the spirit of charity i'm their
hearts. offCring rs they do. 20 form
among themselves a fair rent commit
toe. whose duty 81 viii be 70 nx thu
rents ~ the city.
Nv nation wide lobby they have
seemingly won their fight, and now.
As a substitute for the rent law they
generously o1cr to fx fair rentals
ou all property in the District Of CO.
lumbia They have known ell along
what the prices ought to he and they
have resented the action of Congress
IN passing law to prevent them from
outrageous cytortion.
senator Ball said this so-called fair
rent committee ia wrong in principle
and would result in wrong when put
into practice. II think the proposal
IL ridiculous" said Senator Ball. NC
committee OF the Washington Real
Estate Board could fairly adjust the
disputes. as Il will be admitted the
members arc prcjudiced in their owr
favor.
The tenants would have no repre-
sentation on tho committee. and. OF
course. they could expect nothing hui
such terms as the landlords We're de
termined 10 exact"
There are thousands Of cases pend
Ing before the Rent Commission
which has been operating under tn,
Ran law. These cases are ones IL
which the landlords have raised rent
In many instances beyond the capacit,
OF the tenants TO pay. 10 is common
talk among the tenants here that al
who have protested against extortio,
in rent charges have been black
listed" by the landlords and the da,
of reckoning will he when an arm,
of house hunters" are denied a plac
10 live.