The Washington herald., 1922-04-17
Rent Laws or Tents,
To the Editor. The washins ton Her.l,

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
As L am among those who will
have 10 apply for camping space in
the event the rent act Is not ex-
tended i naturally take issue with
those who believe the act should be
allowed to expire. Most of the latter.
appear to have a vague idea of the
subject, evidently not being sum-
GENTLY affected to warrant their
making a thorough investigation.
In one OF Saturdays papers a lady
who has held positions Of promi-
nence In educational and literary
circl's Is credited with saying that
the rent act though designed to cure
the housing shortage. after a trial
OF three years has grossly failed to
DO SO. The shortage OF homes is
growing" Tenants should feel in
debted to the lady for informing
them OF the purpose for which the
legislation was enacted. The writer
was Of the opinion that It was for
the purpose Of protecting tenants
from the gouging OF landlords. In
other words. in the absence of a
conscience 1t became necessary to
create one through legislation. 1t
mas been necessary to legislate
consciences into various other in
dustries. also individuals, and there
would be a howl il a suggestion
was made to abolish those acts
Increased population caused the
housing shortoge and how il coulo
be cured by any rent act the
writer cannot conceive, There are
some real estate firms which have
shown themselves fair. but, unfor
tunately, the legislation must take
In all.
The rent act has not a tendency
to curtail home building. This as
sertion is borne out by the testi-
mony of contractors and their
statements should be taken not
withstanding remarks to the con-
trary of former presidents Of the
League OF American Pen Women.
Housekeepers' Alliance, Brigham,
from Boston. etc. The gentleman
named says housing conditions are
bad in Vienna. where rent legisla-
tion exists. The suggestion is
made that he might be welcome
over there IL he should decide 10
adjust matters for them. When he
tries to parallel the Washington
situation with any conditions ex-
listing in Boston he makes himself
ridiculous. with a railroad station
at either end of the Boston bust
ness district commuters arrive in
town without difficulty from points
thirty and more miles away. Go
few miles outside OF Washington
and each morning you start with a
prayer you'll reach your destina-
ton.
Then there's the fellow VIII,
walls that only marble, silver
trimmed apartments for the
wealthy are being constructed and
none for the s35 to $40 per month
tenant. Doesn't he understand that
the s35 to $40 per month apart
ments are now renting at any
where from $50 to $50 and the
landlords are straining at their
leash. hoping that II. will be dis
carded on May % and make fur
tier increases possible.
The housing committee can per-
form a very helpful service in de-
termining why building costs are
so high. 1t appears that this body
will be somewhat handicapped by
a few members who ostensibly are
giving their services toward aiding
in solving the housing situation,
but will not hesitate to hand the
rent act a few wallops IL oppor-
tunity offers.
A hearing was had before the
District Commissioners in January
which resulted in that body recon-
mending to Congress the extension
Of the act. At that hearing both
those for and against the acts ex-
tension had opportunity to express
their views. The Commissioners
report shows that the former had