Evening star., 1924-06-01

TtSli oii SoNS iAa
two typical cases before it. the Dis
trict of Columbia Rent Commission
now faces the most far-reachlng at
tack yet launched upon it in the
courts in the petition filed yester-
day for an injunction which would in
effect enjoin the commission from
all activity and thus end it's life.
The injunction asked by George W.
Linkins. realtor, and taxpayer, will
be vigorously fought by the COM
mission, whose counsel, it was indi-
Gated last night, In all probability
will be Joined by the Attorney Cen
eral of the United States and the cor
poration counsel of the District of
Columbia. Justice Stafford set June
6. when the commission must show
cause why the injunction should not
be granted
IndOrsed by Coolidge.
The assault yesterday upon the life
of the Rent Commission comes short
ly after Congress had passed the Ball
bill, extending the commission for
another year. to May %. 1924. after
the President had affixed his sigma
,th the and ,n
the nominations had been confirmed,
Justice Stafford in issuing temporary
injunction against the commission in
the Bates Warren and Harry Nor
ment cases was made last week, and
the fight In these two cases VIII De
carried to the Court of Appeals, it
was indicated last night, with even
greater earneStness on the part of the
government In these two cases, the
Rent Commission was joined Dy the
ATTORNEY General who on behalf of
trict of Columbia, interceded. asking
continuance of the Rent Commission
for protection of their rentals
Three Injunction Cases.
In all three Injunction cases--bates
| Warren, Harry Norment ana Georee
w. Linkins-the complaints nave re-
| ferred to the recent decision or tne
Supreme Court of the United states
| in the ChastletOn case, in when tha'
| court referred to the possibility tha'
the housing emergency for Which tnt
| rent commission had been created
| may have passed
| "In our opinion," said the supreme
| Court in the Chastleton case, 1T II
open to inquire whether the eXtgencS
| still existed upon which the con.
tfnued operation of the law depended
Without going peyond tht
limits of judicial knowledge. we car
| saw. at least that the plaintiffs allie
| cations cannot be declared offhand tt
he unmaintainable and that 1t is no
| impossible that a full development
of the facts will show them TO p'
true"
| Petition Filed Yesterday.
| Specifically, the petition filed yes
| terday by Mr.. Linkins, asks that tn
| members of the commission oe re
| strained from functioning In disputed
| cases between landlords and tenants
and that the federal and District o,
| Columbia fiscal officers be en)olnet
! from spending any funds for the sup
| port of the commission, either In th'
| way of salaries for the commission
| ers. cleck hire, or any other expenses
The petition referred to the Chastle
| ton decision by the Supreme Cour-
charged that the commission was al
| Illegal burden on the taxpayers %
| the District and went eXtensiVels
| into statistical reports from govern
ment agencies as to the housing slt
uation and cost of living in Washing
ton. ,.
District Assessor William P. Rich
ards. 1t was stated by counsel To-
Iinkins. had reported to the District
Commissioners advising against eX-
tension of the rent commission as tnt
emergency had passed.
Building inspectors Records.
Records from the office of the IN
spector of buildings of the Dfstrlct
of Columbia for the fiscal years 1872
and 1923 and for part of 1924 We're
quoted by the petition to show the
amount of building here for reslden-
tial purposes during that period.
Some of these figures were as 1oi-
lows.