Evening star., 1923-06-21
PLAN TO CLEAR UP
RENT BODY DOCKET
Two Members to Hold Hear
ings, While Three Get
Facts, Is Proposal.

Radical reorganization of the sys-
tenn of handling cases will be con-
sidered by the new five-member Rent
Commission upon the advent of the
three new members. appointed yes
terday, 1t was learned today.
The plan embraces a distinct sepa-
ration of the work Of conducting
hearings and the work ofSgoing over
the findings. Mrs. Clara Sears Tay-
lor and William F. GUIDE. the two
commissioners retained, will await
the reorganization of the commission
itself before presenting the plan
which has been drawn by the three
commissioners. including retiring
Chairman A. Leftwich Sinclair, dur
ing the hiatus between the compile
tlon OF the five-comnissioner project
and the actual appointment of the
new commissioners.
When the three new commissioners
-Richard 5. Whaley, Oliver Metzerott
and Thomas e. Peeney-take their
places they will be given the plan
rejection rests upon their own
shoulders.
Division of Work.
The basis of the plan is that fact
finding in handling Rent Commission
cases takes about three or four times
as much attention as the actual hear
tngs themselves. The commission has
S33 cases on the docket with few
exceptions all of them recent cases
There are not many a year old, and
fewer still more ancient than that
The finding Of facts consists of four
distinct processes: Ascertaining val
uation of property, the rate Of the
n he aI fA,
tenance and repairs and the rent
charged. These four angles are the
wrinkle makers for the rent COM
missioners. Beside them the hear
ings are simple matter.
1t is planned therefore, to have
ings, while the other three are at
work on fact-finding research. The
commissioners sitting at the hear
ings could alternate daily. 1t doesu't
the hearing commissioners or the re-
search commissioners.
Apartment Rents Puzzle.
Probably the most intricate task
that rent commissioners have to face
is that of setting rents in an apart
ment house. In a stable apart
building. not only the rent in ques-
ton has to be determined, but also
the rent OF every apartment in the
building has to be recorded, as we'll
as the peculiar desirability of each
apartment, and its convenience to
the renter. personal inspection by
the commissioners In every case is
necessitated.
The Commissioners, by the way,
are burning up their own gasoline
and wearing out their own automo-
bile tires under the present regime
because there are neither automobiles
nor inspectors apportioned them under
the approximations
Oliver Metzerott said he felt that
he would accept the position because
Of the aspect of public usefulness.
Mr.. Whaley is voyaging on the
Leviathan as the guest of Mr.. Lasker
of the Shipping Board. Mr. Peeney,
who is in the office OF Senator Bali
of Delaware, framer of the rent COM
mission bill and who is we'll ac-
commission legislation, Is understood
to be out of the city.
Hope to Clear Docket.
The new compeIssion's goal is to
clear up the docket Of S33 cases be-
fore January 1. 1924. To date the
commission has been averaging thirty
hearings a day. In case the proposal
Of dividing up work is taken favor
ably. it Is felt that this average may
be heightened
While Mrs Taylor and Mr.. GUIDE
were being congratulated today on
their denomination to commissioner
ships, genuine regret was being ex-
pressed for the loss of Chairman Sin
clair from the board. Especially his
colleagues and employees of the com
mission are announcing their regret
at his departure.