The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-11
BODY
HEAD IS !.
HEARD
Clash Between Wardman and
Whaley EnIiyen Proceedings
Before Committee.

Before Commlttee.
Before crowd of more than
100, the special subcommittee of
the House District Committee to-
day began hearings on the Lam
pert bill continuing the life of
the District Rent Commission.
The principal witness was Rich
ard S. Whaley, chairman Of the
Rent Commission.
Alteration Marks Hearing.
The meeting was marked by an
alteration between Whaley and
Harry Wardman, millionaire apart
ment owner and builder, in which
Wardman attempted to withdraw
testimony which he is alleged to
have given before the District Rent
Commission.
Chairman Whaley declared that
continuation of the rent act is an
absolute necessity.
''It will be a crime If this act il
not continued" he told the commit
tee. Failure of the committee to
enact this bill will bring about the
greatest injury to $4,000 Washing
ton tenants.
Predicts Rent Increase. :.
Whaley declared that unless the
act is continued there will be a
great increase in rents when the
present act expires May %. He
based this statement upon more
than 200 cases which he personally
heard before the commission.
When Wardman was called to
the stand WhaIey questioned him
as to the percentage charged on
second trust notes. Whaley de-
clared that Wardman himself had
stated that his percentage went az
high as forty.
Wardman heatedly denied ever
having made such a statement.
Whaley then read what he stated
was the clerks transcript Of testi-
mony before the commission and in
having said that second trust in
terest went as high as 20 and some.
times as high as 40 per cent.
Rarely Over 10, He Says.
THAT testimony is false" Ward.
man shouted. Y never made such
statement in my life. / have
never told anybody that percentage
went higher than 10 per cent, ex-
cept on very longtime paper"
Whaley then stated that the testi.
mony that he read had been taken
down by the clerk of the commits
sion and that he, himself, had heard
1t. He stated that he had based
much Of his testimony upon this
statement of Wardman's,
Wardman reiterated his claim that
ne had never made such state.
ment, and demanded that the testi-
mony be withdrawn.
Wardman told the committee thet
he had supported the District REM
Commission since it's institution. but
that ne now felt it had outlived it's
usefulness
sit is time we let the law. of
supply and demand function in the
District" he said. Gust let us
alone and we will reach a point
where everybody will be satisfied.
Unable to Make Survey.
Congressman Thomas L. Blan-
ton, of Texas, asked Commissioner
Whaley il the Rent Commission
had made any survey to determine
the number of vacancies existing
In washington apartment houses,
Whaley replied that the commits
sion had been unable to do so be-
cause Of shortage of funs. He de.
clared that the committee should
pass legilation which would make
the Rent Commission a permanent
organization.
This would relieve Washington
tenants of the uncertainty as to
their living conditions. I have no
doubt tEat there are many tenants
prevented from appearing before
the Commission because landlords
have threatened them with conse.
quences when the present Rent
act expires"
Asks Field Engineers.
Whaley recommended that the
Rent Commission be allowed two
field engineers to offset the testi.
mony given by experts hired by
the landlords to boost the valua.
ton of their property.
Commissioner Whaley cited
case in which he said a former
judge of the District Municipal
Court had been convicted of over
charging tenants. He stated that
the commission had set a rental of
$14 and that the judge had for a
period of four years collected SIS.
This Judge, Whaley said, had at
tempted to secure a court order
which would relieve him of the nee
essity Of paying back the excess
rental. The commission, Whaley
stated, had compelled the Judge to
make restitution and pay an equal
amount in fines.
''But that was not sufficient pun
ishment," Whaley said. "That Judge
should have gone to Occoquan."
z LAGuardia Raps Landlords.
Congressman Fiorello H. LaGuar-
dia Of New York. appeared before
the Committee and charged that
Washington landlords would, X
given an opportunity, Profit ON