The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-04
Rem ACT
EXTENSION
ASSURED
Disclosure Of Alleged Plot Of
Realty ring" Expected to
Sway Senate.

1SNANOA~O 1CA0JA16 W LlS CA
lstence of a real estate "ring" in
Washington already submitted to
the Senate District Committee
warrants grand jury action, in
the opinion Of Senator William H.
King Of Utah.
He today declared he was in
favor Of having District Attorney
Gordon proceed against certain
real estate interests as soon as
the Senate investigation is COM
pleted. He was confident that
the facts already uncovered would
be strengthened by q, more thor
Ough inquiry.
A powerful impetus to the extern
sion of the District rent law has
been given by the sensational de-
velopments in the Senate housing
survey.
Supporters Of the law believe
that the opposition will be swept
aside and the extension resolution
forced through both the House9a4atl'
Senate comfortably in advance Of
May %, when the present act ex-
p1res. ,,t K. is
F'avOrs Rent Law
Senator King, one of the strongest
opponents of rent legislation in the
District in the past, today expressed
himself as unQualifiedly in favor OF
the extension Of the present Jaw.
A similar position has been taken
by Senator Sheppard of Texas, who
also opposed the Rent Act two
years ago.
Senator L. Heisler Ball, chairman
Of the Senate District Committee,
personally conducted the investiga-
ton (which, led to startling charges
Of banking and realty combine in
Washington, it was intimated by
Alfred B. Moore, Delaware realty
expert, who made a survey Of the
local housing situation for the
committee.
1t became apparent before Mr..
Moore's signed statement today
that Senator Ball had a secret
probe of the housing crisis in the
District under way at the same
time that Mr.. Moore and his assist.
ants, with the cooperation Of the
Police Department, were checking
up on vacant dwellings and apart.
Inents in Washington.
The secret report which was laid
before the committee late yester-
day, alleging the existence of a
powerful ring Of banking interests
and real estate men here, was in
directly ascribed by Mr.. Moore to
Senator Ball'ss personal investiga-
tors.
MOOre's Work Through.
Mr.. Moore has practically com.
pleted his work, but did not desire
that there should be any misunder-
standing about the nature Of his
task. He issued today the follow
ing statement:
IT have been asked for state.
ment regarding the realty situation
''The investigation outside Of the
survey has been under the per-
eonal supervision OF Senator Ball,
who is out Of the, city. y u
There was no secret signed re-
port. Such facts as have devel-
0ped themselves to-. the Senator
win undoubtedly be known in due
time" FIX
Owing to the absence of Senator
Ball, chairman OF the Senate Dis
trict Committed 1t is not expected
that any effort will be made in the
Senate today to- pass a resolution
providing the additional $4,000 for
inquiry into the alleged ring Y
The resolution is now before the
committee on audit and control and
probably will not be taken up In
the Senate before next Monday or
tuesday,
The matter win be brought to
the attention of the Senate Inn.
rnediatelv by Senator Robinson OF
Arkansas, who succeeded in amend
ing the original Ball housing reso-,
luton so as to provide for the in.
vestigation of the alleged real
estate ring" With the aid and co
operation Of Senator Ball, Senator
Robinson will favor the adj
ditional appropriation of $4,000
asked by the Senate District Com
mittee for the continuance OF the
inquiry and will ask the Senate to
: grant the money.
Real estate interests were caught
completely off their feet by the
trend that the Senate investigation
has taken. Attorneys for these in
terests yesterday stated that they
were responsible for the initiation
of the original survey resolution,
which they expected would show a
vacancy of apartments in the city
ana look towards the discontinuance
OF <lrther rent legislation. ..i.