The Washington times., 1922-04-17
The Extension of the
Bali Rent Act
BY BILL PRICE.

The action of the Senate in extending the Ball rent
act another two years will doubtless be approved by
the House, and there isn't much doubt of the
nuaton OF the law unless serious differences arise
In conference between the two Houses.
One difference may come over the inclusion of
business properties in the extended law The Senate,
sensitive to the pressure of business voted aganSt
business properties being included. In this case the
business" pressure came from outside Washington,
lnasmuch as the business men of this city prac-
tically united in asking that they be protected
against deliberate profiteering in rents
The fundamental objection to the regulation of
business by law the prime reason for the action
of the Senate on business properties That objection
is fundamental with us all unless an emergency
exists, but local legislation should not be influenced
by what business men in the States may think of
Senators voting in favor of such regulation to cure
dangerous evils in this city.
Another put forth by the Senate is that the
primary object of the Ball rent act is to protect the
tenants of Washington against exorbitant rentals,
and that the inclusion of business properties will not
benefit the general public The argument was that
if business rents should be held down by inclusion in
the law the purchasing public would not feel the
effects
Washington business men have been making heroic
and successful struggle to hold prices in this city
down to the lowest levels of other cities because
they want to see and will see this city develop into
one of the greatest retail centers in the country 1t
is going to be difficult for them if hoggish landlords
are to continue exploitation by forcing increases in
rents.
The tenant of a house or apartment who is being
robbed may, if he desires hunt other quarters and
move This is virtually impossible with business
Il e ILL - l.
and valuable good will He cannot pick up and move
when he wants to. He may be ever anxious to sell
to the public at reasonable profits but the question
of rent bound to enter into the situation If he is
compelled to pay exorbitant rents there is little else
to do but pass the increase to the purchasing pub
lie. And when the general tendency is to demand
increased rentals for business properties, it is the
entire public that in the end pays the ba matter
how hard shopksepers may seek to avoid it
Lscal business msn should carry their fight to the
House. They are right in wishing to protect them
selves and Washington people against rsnt piracy.
The business men of this city have never been
more solid in spirit for Greater Washington, one
that will attract business from all directions and
bring thousands of people here to trade in the
splendid establishments which offer such wide vari-
cites and classes of goods There has never been
time when selfishness entered so little in the pro-
gram of Washington business establishments. None
of them doing business for fun of course but the
unanimity with which they are seeking to build up
this city is most commendable
Prices prevailing here for wearing apparel, food
products household furniture, anything else,
pare most favorably with any city in the country
owing to the fact that Washington business men did
not feel the pinch of depression did those of other
cities, that they, have been able to buy in large
quantities at most advantageous prices from manu-
facturers and Jobbers who were in need of money.
Starting with these advantages, they are unit in
desiring to pass some of the benefits to the general
public and to draw trade here from sections that have
never patronized this city.