Evening star., 1924-02-14

sentative Stalker Of New York. a MEM
ber Of the investigating committee,
said. What We want is Spet Ific
grievances rather than general petit
tions from those who would naturally
desire to have the Rent Commission
continued
Russell B. King, representing the
agents for the kalorama apartments,
refuted statement made by a wit
ness at last nights hearing that the
landlords had definitely assigned her
to a place on the street
He said that the question of rent
had never been raised with this
woman since the present owners took
that her rent had been reduced by
the Rent Commission prior to that
date. In reply to a question from
Representative Lampert as to whether
he thought rents would be raised If
the Rent Commission passed ou, of
existence. he said that speaking for
that particular concern he represents.
they would be glad to rent the same
apartments after July for the same
figure as now.
Mr.. King impressed upon the COM
mittee the injustice done to landlords
by delays in hearings by the Rent
Commission; especially when an ap-
saying that while il reduction is al
lowed, the tenant can easily recover,
because the property is there. where
as. If increases are allowed the
property owner or landlord has ex-
impossible to recover increases dur
ing the past eleven months.
Delayed by Appeal.
p. Dormsn. formerly an enlisted
man in the Navy. living at 2017 Cliff
ton terrace. says that for two years
he has been paying a rent which is
excessive in comparison with other
apartments in the same neighborhood
and throughout the city. and yet he
can get no relief because after hear
ings before the Rent Commission the
owner has appealed to the Supreme
Court.
c. II. Adams said that 1t has been
demonstrated at the hearings before
this committee that the landlord and
real estate owners In the District are
attempting 10 profiteer in rents" He
said he expressed the views of 95 per
cent of the workers in this territory
in advocating that the Rent Commits
sion be made a permanent institution.
Answering questions by Representa-
tive Hammer of North Carolina,
Mr.. Adams said that he did not be-
lieve that the building owners out
OF humanitarian motives would re-
duce rents until building costs came
down, and that as a building trades
artisan he had every reason to ex-
pect that building activities, to catch
up with the shortage, would continue
for at least two years.
Representative Stalker raised the
question that In cases OF dispute over
| increases in rent the proposed in
crease should be deposited until q
determination of the case, when 1t
should be paid to the property owner
or refunded to the tenant, which ever
. at
! planned that this was not the prac-
tice at this time.
Value OF Moral Effect.
William F. GUIDE, a member of the
rent commission, urged that the life
of the commission should be indefl-
nitely extended If for no other rea-
! son than the moral effect on the
people who do not come in contact
with the commission Mt all.
He gave specific instances of pro-
posed increases In rents in the wy.
oming apartments, which the owners
did not attempt to justify before the
rent commission when the commits
sion advised the tenants to tell the
owners to come to the commission
| for the inquiry. AS an illustration
| of how rents are still being increased.
Mr.. GUIDE told of one apartment which
formerly rented for $50 and which
| for several years has been rented for
$S3, and when the party moving out
desired to turn the apartment over to
a friend, the latter was told he would
have to pay $9l.
Mr.. GUIDE was asked by Mr.. Dean
| il he would be satisfied with per
cent profit in his own business and
Mr. GUIDE said he would not on ac-
count of the risk. Mr.. Dean argued
that there was considerable risk in
real estate and Mr.. GUIDE replied,
Every little. especially in comparison
with glass houses" In reply to an
other question he said his percent
10 per cent" qualifying this by say
Ing that it was small in percentage
to the risk.
Asks for Survey. ~
The hearing last night was attend
ed by more than zoo persons. most OF
them tenants.
Representative thomas L. Blanton.
democrat, of Texas, a member OF the
subcommittee conducting the hearing,
! announced that as businessiike
basis for the proposed legislation 1t
would be necessary to determine just
how many tenements and apartments
are vacant or will soon be available,
and that he will introduce resolu-
ton for such a census to be taken by
the members of the police department.
A resolution for such survey was
introduced in the Senate YESTERDAY by
| Senator Ball, chairman Of the Senate
District committee.
| Representative Blanton challenged
his democratic colleague on the sub
committee, Representative william c.
Hammer es North Cay0l3oAs - SooNs