Evening star., 1924-02-18
OWNERS PRESENT CASE.
Offer Evidence at Rent Board
Hearing.

Washington real estate dealers to-
day began the presentation of their
side of the housing case in the Dis
trict, arguing that the interests of
the people do not require indefinite
extension of the life of the rent COM
mission.
John F. Bowie. vice president Of the
II. L. Rust Company, gave the COIN
mittee more than a score of specific
instances of houses for rent in the
District of Columbia at moderate
charges which have had to be adver-
tiSed for tenants and which have lain
idle for months.
He compared the rentals in the
District with those in other cities
showing that of ffty-two cities re-
ported by the Department of Labor,
the increase from 1913 to 1928 showed
an average of 66h per cent, while the
cent. or about one-half the normal
increase. He told the subcommittee
of the House District committee
which is conducting the hearings that
only two cities had a smaller increase
than Washington
These were Portland, Me-, 321a per
cent, and Jacksonville. Fla, 1874 per
cent These two cities have no rent
legislation. he pointed out, while IN
New York state, where there is rent
legislation, Buffalo showed II per
cent increase and New York city 81
per cent.
Quotes From Decision.
He quoted from the opinion of the
Court of Appeals in the Meridian
Mansion case, which showed in favor
of the landlords on the ground that
the rent fixed by the Rent Commission
amounted to practically confiscation
of property. He called attention of
the committee to the fact that the
rents were fixed on the basis of 100
per cent occupancy.
While he was quoting specific in
stances of apartments and houses
which have been idle for months, al
though the rent asked was relatively
small, he was interrupted with ques-
tions by Oliver Metzerott and Mrs.
Clara Sears Taylor, members Of the
Rent Commission. Representative
Thomas L. Blanton of Texas, objected
to the questioning of the witness
until he had finished his statement.
and the committee supported Mr..
Blanton's protest.
Mr.. Bowie called attention that the
pOpuldIlOn OIL the blStIiCI VI SoAohiuio
is at it's height at this season, and
what accommodations now are avail
able will be doubled or tripled dur
ing the summer, he said.
Competition for tenants has been
so great, Mr.. Bowie said, that real es
tate interests have to keep the prop
critics in the best of shape and do
liberal advertising and would proba-
bly, have to offer one months rent
free to secure tenants under con-
tract.
Under such conditions no tenant Is
obliged to pay an unreasonable rent,
he argued. The supply of quarters in
the District, he said, now is adequate
and rents are coming down.
He denied that landlords are intimi-
dating tenants. The shoe is on the
other foot, he said, and recalled many
cases where threats of tenants to go
to the rent commission had resulted
in voluntary reduction by the land
lords because they knew that the rent
commission had, as illustrated above.
fixed rentals that were practically
confiScatory or rendered no adequate
return on the property investment.
Rents will be advanced on about
one-fourth of the properties renting
at $50 a month or under, Mr.. Bowie
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