The Washington times., 1922-04-16
ATTACKSRENT
Commission AS
AID. TO WEALTHY
MilIspaugh Declares Cases OF
MiIIionaires and Congress
men Have Right-of-Way.

Charging the District Rent Com.
with temporarily setting
aside the cases OF rights OF wage
earners and on its own initiative TAX.
ing UP the cases of millionaires and
members OF Congress, Congressman
Frank C. Millspaugh of Missouri yes
terday afternoon vigorously attacked
the commission and the rent act in
the House.
Starting with a well-founded sas
picion that the Rent Commission wac
responsible for a goodly portion aof
the housing trouble. / deemed Il wise
to make an examination of its aetivi,
ties or inactivities.'' declared Mr..
Miilspaugh. ~
Hits Both Classes.
"I am convinced that this Utopian
scheme is the cause of the distress
Of the wage-earner' as wen ss the
man of moderate means.
The commission has set aside
other cases to take up the cases OF
the rich, in the meantime allowing
the wage-earner to be muicted.
Mr.. Miilspaugh said that the com
mission is more than seven months
behind I'm it's work, He said 500 com
plants were filed betwean September
u, 1921, and November 2s. 1921 and
that only forty of these cases were
acted upon.
The Congressman pointed out thai
the Rent Commission made 1876 deter
limitations during March, resulting,
In an increase of rents OF 1911 .eo@
month and a decrease of s1,277s1nak
ing a net decrease 0f s965,be. ID
then pointed out that IL this decrease
was a fair average. then the renters
saved sl2, 900 a year through thi
commission. He further declared
that II cost the Government at leas
s45 900 year. sa
This means Il costs the tax pay
ers $4,000 year to save $4,000,
be s4id.
'~rhe Rent Commission renders a
report to no one so far as can
ascertain; IL is responsible to no cne
and functions as IL plesses withouG
being examined or supervised at all
al have made these remarks at this
time in order that the members MAY
have time to consider the evil effects
Of this measure, 30 that IL the at
tempt is again made to force ~
thtough the House under gag rule
the members may act with ful.
knowledge of the facts.
Oyster Favors Act.
Commissioner James F. Oyster
former chairman Of the Distric;
Rent Commission, yesterday en-
pressed himself as gratified Over
the action of the Senate In passins
the bill extending the operation o.
the Ball rent act for two year,
from May 22, next. when the
present law expires. s
Should the House fail to concur
with the Senate, we will face
situation here worse than ever
known In so far as rents are con-
cerned." the Commissioner said.
Some opponents OF the legisls
ton have sought to create sent
lnent against II by pointing out
that the Rent Commission did nor
pile up a large sum in pensities
and refunds. i don't care X tbs
commission failed 70 get refunds h.
the amounts looked for: II ia the
moral effect OF the thing that has
meant so much to Washington
renters.
There are some honest land
lords In Washington. In fact, mosi
of them are. There are many. who
take advantage of the situation
and gouge those who are unable To
help themselves. II this class o.
profiteers know that a Rent Com.
mission stands ready 10 take
action, IL will serve as a deterrent
and the renter will profit without
even going before the commission.
The Commissioner said he looked
for great good to come from the
work of the citizens housing bureau,
now conducting an investigation OF
the housing problem Of the Dts.
trict. .-