The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-21
HOUSING NEEDS
HERE STILL
GREAT
Congressman Hamer Scores
Conditions and Urges
Rent Act Extension.

At least 10000 residents in the
District Of Columbia are made
quately housed and because OF ex-
orbitant rentals are crowded into
dangerously congested quarters
Congressman William G. Hammer
OF North Carolina declares IN a
statement which he has inserted In
the Congressional Record.
Congressman Hammer IL O men,
Der of the House subcommittee ap-
pointed to consider q bill to extend
the District Rent act and Is one
Of the strongest advocates OF rent
legislation in Congress.
He declares that Washington
tenants are forced to give up
much that life holds dear to them
in order to fill the pockets of a
few rent profiteers."
Fears Epidemic.
It is also charged by the North
Carolina Congressman that certain
local landlords are led by q spirit
Of greed to let their buildings fall
into q condition of decay and filth
that menace the public health.
III an epidemic, or conflagration
should break out" he states, 1T
would be very difficult to stop it."
Conditions since the war do not
justify Congress in allowing the
rent act to expire. he declares.
Groups Of clerks in some Of the
Government departments in which
low rate Of wage is paid have
been forced to crowd together in
single rooms because Of insufficient
~ hA AAYa0VndC nf
property owners.
Rent Act Justified.
IAN investigation Of the city
shows that fully 10000 people are
living in crowded. insanitary dwell.
ings for which they are forced to
pay ex0rbitant rent" Mr.. Hammer
says. "No houses are being built
that will meet the requirements Of
the moderate salaried. The hous-
ing congestion is still great enough
In houses renting for less than $50
per month to menace public welfare,
health and morals"
The statement covers the history
OF rent legislation in the District
and compares conditions locally with
those in other cities. He closes by
outlining the provisions Of the Lam
bert bill, which is now pending be-
fore the House District Committee.
THE need for high-priced dwell.
ings and apartments has been ade-
quately met" he says. "However,
it must be noted that, although high.
priced dwellings are on the market.
the floor space has been decreased
to such an extent that even in this
type OF dwelling there il insufficient
room for family Of more than two.
Small Apartments Plenty.
There is an adequate supply of
apartments containing one room and
bath, and one room, kitchenette and
bath. Like sheep, Washington build.
ers have followed a rev leaders and
have cut up their floor space into
hundreds of these small bachelor
apartments.
"A cheap deal table and two
chairs. costing about $12, and with
two cubhards. consisting of three
cheap little shelves. a silly little
stove and other insignificant little
furniture and you have one Of
those so.called room-and.bath apart.
ments. The realtors call this two
rooms, although the only partition
there consists OF two misplaced
! shelves.
add to this little cubbyhole a
9 by IL living room with a bed
and a door that swings into the
only closet and then the agent
hypnotizes the someseeker into
thinking this is a three-room.and.
bath apartment, and induces him
to pay from $50 to SIS q month for
it.
''Washington's greatest need lie
for apartments and houses in which
a family Of moderate means can at.
ford to live" Hammer declared.