The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-18
RENTAL BOARD
IS SIX MONTHS
BACK IN WORK
Complaints Of Tenants Pile
Up Almost as Fast as They
Are Decided by Commission
BODY TO BE INCREASED
Two New Members Are Named
and Plan Being Considered
to Hold Separate Hearings

Although hearing and disposing
81 IN average of twenty-five cases
. day, the District Rent Commits
sion is six months behind in its
work.
Approximately 500 petitions for
hearings of disconnected tenants, &C
cusing their landlords OF imposing
exorhitant rentals, failing to keep
their homes in repair and making
other complaints, are on the COM
missions calender for disposition.
Cases Date Far Back
Many Of these complaints were
filed with the commission more than
Gix months ago. One case heard
this week was filed as far back as
last August.
With its crowded docket and the
many complaints received from pc
titiOners against the delay in having
- considering plans whereby the
calender may be cleared. Under the
oct creating the commission, each
member may sign subpoenas, adj
minister oaths and affirmations,
summon and examine witnesses,
conduct hearings and receive evil
0ence touching any matter which
the entire commission is authorized
- consider or investigate.
PIan Separate Hearings
with this authority invested in
che commission. each Of the three
present members, "A. Leftwich sim
aiair, chairman; william n. GUIDE
and Mrs. Sears Taylor, may hold
separate hearings on the 500 petit
lions which are now choking up
the docket and quickly dispose, of
them. However. the Individual
members have no authority to per-
sOnaIly to dispose OF the cases.
Copies Of the stenographic report of
the testimony would have to be
passed upon by the commission as
q whole, the majority deciding.
Body to be Increased.
With the extension Of the rent
act by Congress in May last year,
provision was made for two addi-
tional commissioners. 1t was
thought President Harding would APP
point the additional commissioners
before he left for his vacation in
Florida However, he failed to do
20. 1t is expected the appointments
will be made as soon as the PreSi-
dent returns to the White House.
The commission has only been able
to keep abreast of the petitions
which are daily pouring in from dis
satisfied tenants. While the COM
mission has been able to dispose of
an average of twenty-five petitions
a day. some of the cases brought be-
folr 40
This particularly was the case when
petitions of the tenants in the Merid-
ian Mansions and the Chastleton
apartment house were heard.
Often Visit Properties.
In determining the cases brought
before them, the commissioners fire.
Quently visit properties complained
against to get first-hand information.
In fixing rentals, regardless of a
lease or other contract between
tenant and owner, the commission
considers allowance for maintenance,
repairs, taxes, service and all other
expenses to the landlord. 1t ratio
Of profits to the landlord the rentals
run from to net per cent.
The rent act specifically states
that 'the commission shall promptly
hear and determine the issues in.
volved in all complaints submitted
70 It,"
Efforts Are Vain.
I'VE try to give prompt hearings
20 all petitioners" said Mr.. Sinclair
yesterday. "but we find that we get
almost as many complaints q day
rs we dispose Of. The docket was
crowded before we were able to get
into action. We were handicapped
from the beginning. But / feel that
plans will soon be facilitated where
by we can expedite the cases that
are now crowding our calender"
Congress last year appropriated
$4,000 for the operation of the com.
mission. The appropriation runs
until i. Should the commission
hold separate hearings Of the 500
petitions that have piled up, 1t will
pe necessary to employ a larger Of
ice force. At present the commits
sion has eleven clerks and stenogra-
piers. secretary, an attorney and
W. r. Richards, District assessor,
also IL on the payroll. Waldo T..
Chapman is secretary OF the com.
mission and Chaplin Brown Is secre-
tary.