Evening star., 1924-05-31
BLANKET RENT BOARD
INJUNCTION SOUGHT
G.. W. Linkins Attacks Validity of
Law, Would Stop Pay of
Members of Body.
REPLY DEMANDED ON JUNE 6
Chastleton Case Basis of Suit Filed
Today.

Attacking the validity of the joint
life of the Ball rent act until May 22,
1925, George W. Linkins, a taxpayer,
owner of real estate and realty
broker for thirty-seven years, today
asked the District Supreme Court for
a blanket injunction against the Rent
Commission from proceeding to hear
any cases involving disputes between
,lanafor1s and tenants. @.ssz--i
Mr.. Linkins also asked that the
government pay officials be enjoined
from sending any funds of the United
States or of the District of Columbia
in payment of the salaries of the five
members of the Rent Commission or
for clerk hire or other expenses
Justice Stafford issued rule on
the defendants to show cause June 6
why the injunction should not be
granted.
ID. c. Assessor Named.
Named as defendants, besides the
Rent Commission, are William p
Richards, district assessor, who acts
with them in advisory capacity
Chaplin Brown, attorney for the com
mission; Daniel J. Donovan, auditor
of the District; James r. Lusby, dis
bursting officer Of the District; Frank
White, treasurer of the United States
Through Attorneys Charles Linkins
George r. LinkinS and William H
Linkins the plaintiff says he brings
the suit in his own interest and in
behalf of and for the benefit of all
others similarly situated.
@rrta hnf sya h.
Chastleton case the United States Su-
preme Court took judicial notice OF
the passing Of the emergency on
which the original Ball act was based
and stated that the act had ceased
to operate on April 81. 1924, and prob
The plaintiff claimed that without an
emer gency the joint resolution OF
May II, 1924, is unconstitutional and
void and was beyond the power OF
Congress to enact and was never
operative or had any validity what
ever" and that the attempted ap-
pointment Of Whaley and his asso-
ciates on the Rent Commission was
void and of no effect
Cites Whaley Statement.
In spite of this. it is alleged
Whaley, as chairman of the commits.
sion, has announced that he is goine
to proceed Will iLcdk AhSS ehhS sAA1S ~
will take more than 500 injunctions
to stop US"
Salaries OF the members of the COM
mission and the expenses of conduct:
ing the hearings with clerk hire and
the like, are paid from taxes 1t is
stated, derived from residents of the
District; and the plaintif asserts thai
he and other taxpayers will be serl-
ously affected If the pay officials OF
the District and federal governments
are not enjoined from making these
alleged illegal payments Auditor
Donovan has informed him. the plain.
tiff says, that, unless restrained by
court order, he will continue to pay
the expenses, salaries of the commits.
sion, and q like view Is said to be
named.
Asks Resolution BE V0ided.
The court is asked to decree the
Joint resolution extending the life Of
the commission to be null and void
to restrain permanently the opera
tions of the commission in all cases
and to prevent any attempt by the
Rent Commission to enforce any rul-
ing or order made by 1t since Apri
81, 1924, when the United State:
Supreme Court decision was rendered.
Testimony before the Senate COM
mittee, it is stated, showed that there
are sufficient properties vacant in the
district of Columbia of all classe.
to meet reasonable demands of pros
pective tenants, and that the rea
emergency existing is "the fact. thai
the limited States government is pay
ing its employees in the District o1
Columbia insufficient salaries