Evening star., 1922-02-16
BUSINESS MEN ASK
congress TO ACT
IN REDUCING RENTS
Merchants and Manufactur.
ers' Association Declares
D. c. Prosperity ImperiIed.
800 TO 400 PER CENT
INCREASES REPORTED
Failures Attributed to High Costs
of Business Properties-Reme.
dial Laws Asked For.


dial Laws Asked For.
Declaring that business prosperity
In Washington is being imperiled be-
cause rents on business properties
have increased during the last 1--WE
years as much as 400 and 400 per cent.
local industrial interests, through the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
ctation. today petftioned Congress TO
take immediate steps to bring about
legislation correcting this great
abuse"
The petition was in the form Of a
letter to Senator Bail. chairman Of
the Senate District committee, drawn
up by a special committee of the as
ISOLATION appointed by President An
ton Stephan. and was signed by r. p.
Andrews. chairman: Louis Levy,
George E. Hebbard, George p. Kill
liam and F. w. Harper This COM
mittee was appointed following the
board of governors tuesday sde
rising Congress ''of the necessity of
Immediately including business prop
erty in the provisions of the Bali rent
act. Under an amendment TO the
act some time ago business property
was excluded from the operation Of
the rent law.
Corrective Liquidation Asked.
The petition points out that while
it is believed that the control and
supervision of business and the per-
son should be limited at all times"
the business men are nevertheless
conscious that when an extraordi-
nary situation arises, the effect OF
which is to impair the common good,
Congress should and must enact leg
tsiatfon to exercise q corrective in
iuence."
The statement contains the opinion
that "a substantial part" OF business
calamities for 1921 were due to the
inordins e rents that were assumed
by retail merchants"
The petition further states that
information has reached this assoc
citation that during the last five years
business property rents have mounted
to heights absolutely beyond reason,
| tual value involved.
1T must be borne in mind that in
practically every business property
lease the lessee must bear the burden
Of all improvements and repairs. and.
Indeed, some OF them carry provisions
Property Alsae n<naEaf HsgA.
THE value Of the dollar decreased
so per cent in the most trying period
that we have passed through. But
that situation long ceased. due to the
fact that practically everything ex-
cept property rentals has dropped.
Therefore. those who are disposed to
interfere with the common welfare
through arbitrarily maintaining fc-
titious value should be made to per-
emptorily desist. The practice can
only tend to operate to the disad-
"One OF the great mercantile agen-
cies has reported that the total bust
ness failures, according to their
records for 1921, were 1852. An in
crease of 1s5 per cent over the previ.
Gus year. of which 1899. or IL LIS
per cent. were among retailers.
If business property owners are en-
titled to a greater return on their
holdings they should have II. but we
submit that in instances where ten
ants make repairs and. indeed, have
actually created entirely new build
ings, with modern equipment such as
| no doubt will last for fifty years or
more, and did this upon the ruins OF
age.old buildings. abnormal and un-
reasonable increases in rentals should
War Bre.sht Shortage.
THE present admitted shortage Of
buildings is in no sense due to q lack
of enterprise upon the part Of the
business community. but came about
through the exigencies OF war. when
the necessities Of the government and
the nation dema nded that there should
be a cessation of building to con-
serye man power and materials for
the then more necessary undertake
ings.
Excessive and unreasonable rents
| have the effect of increasing prices.
increasing unemployment and Of gem
! orally creating a situation wherein
discomfort is nourished.
I I'VE believe that in the former
amendment Of the rent control act q
grave mistake was made in exempting
business property.
"Since the absence of control, de-
: mands have been made on lessees for
1 increases, the undertaking of which
can only spell disruption OF established
| businesses and the increase Of unefn-
ployment.
ness should be run solely for the BEN
efit Of the landlord or any one indi-
vidual.
I'VE trust that you and your con-
freres in the Senate and House will
take Immediate steps to bring about
legislation correcting this great abuse
of excessive rents for business prop
ns.ts - rNl. hf