Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-29
RENT
BODY ASKED IN BILL
Ball Measure, PIentifuIIy
Supplied With Teeth, Would
Cover All Buildings.

Creation Of a permanent District of
Columbia rent commission because of
the conditions dangerous to public
health and burdensome to Govern :
ment employees" is provided in bill
introduced today in the Senate by
Senator l.. Heisler Ball, chairman of
the Senate District committee.
Sponsored by President Coolidge
and drafted by Richard S. Whaley.
the bill is expected to make constitu-
tional the workings of a commission
to determine rent in the National
Capital
With the present commission ex-
piring in May and its work declared
unconstitutional by the courts, the
new bill is designed to eliminate diff
ficulty encountered in the past.
Although the original rent act was
made necessary by an emergency in
the housing situation in Washington
the new bin provides simply that a
in the interest Of public health ITO
relieve the government of embar
rassment for It's employees on account
Of high rent"
All Buildings Included.
For this purposhe the bill clothes
all buildings in the District with a
public interest"
Under the terms of the bill five
commissioners are to be appointed
with terms from l TO years. No
commissioner is to be directly or in
directly interested in real estate. Their
salaries are fixed at $4,000 per annum.
Two assistant attorneys, a secre-
tary and treasurer. field engineer
and an adequate number of clerks is
also provided. The commission shall
Sol he
judicially noticed.
Among the provisions in the bill
are standard form of leases; no ten
ant shall sublet his apartment at a
rate higher than he pays as rental
without consent of the commission
the commission shall have the power
to examine the books and accounts
of owners and TO subpoena witnesses.
Contempt Action Provided.
In case a subpoena is not answered
the commission IS empowered to in
woke the aid OF the District Supreme
Court, and in case Of conviction the
witness shall be deemed guilty OF
contempt of court.
The bill ALSO provi,es that com
plants may be filed bS tenants re
gardless of leases; that the com
mission determining the value Of
property must take into consideration
character OF property and service
rendered; Accommodations OF contract
between landlord and tenant shall
not prevent either party the right OF
hearing and that In case of any
increase in rent the tenant shall pay
the commission the increase and the
owner or landlord the regular rent
until the commission shall make
known its ruling.
Penalties Are Listed.
The commission is authorized tc
bring ANY action OF appeal 1t may
deem necessary from the decisions Of
the court without payment of costs
Out OF sums received from any sucf
recovery the commission shall PAY
to the tenant amount of excess paic
by him and the balance to the Treas.
ury Of the United States to the credit
of the District.
The commission shall promulgate
rules governing maintenance and op
Grafton of properties as will tend tc
promote peace, welfare, health ant
comfort of the community. Violator:
of these rules shall be fined not ex
ceeding s25 for each day violations
are allowed to continue.
The bill provides that If a LANDLORD
knowing the rental rates set on hi:
property by the commission charges
tenants in excess of these rates shall
be guilty OF a misdeneanor and upoI
conviction fined not more than $1,00
or one year in Jail, or both.
The provisions of the new act shall
take effect Immediately.