Evening star., 1924-02-28
SENATOR CLAIMS
COMBINE CONTROLS
RENTS IN CAPITAL
Robinson Declares Group
Sets Charges on Practical
Iy Every Apartment.

Rentals in the District Of Coiunl-
bia arc fixed by a combination of
property owners and dealers, Senator
Robinson of Arkansas, democratic
leader of the Senate, charged on the
floor of the Senate today during con-
sideration Of the Ball resolution pro-
viding for an inquiry by the Senate
District committee into the rental
and housing situation in Washington.
Senator Robinson declared that
prices are arbitrarily fixed by such
combination on practically every
apartment that is for rent in the city
of Washington. He declared his will
lngness to go before the committee
TO testify in connection with his
ton, he insisted, was to keep up
rents. After this combination deter
mines upon rental price, he said, the
owner or lessor of the property is in
formed what rates he can charge.
IF he lowers the rates fixed by the
then he must face the resentment of
the others, and he doesn't do It,"
Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis
erice committee. urged the adoption
to provide the Senate with all
necessary information to determine
whether the present rent act should
be continued or not. The resolution
provides that tho District committee
shall make the investigation and
District Commissioners and of the
District Rent Commission in carry
Ing. on the inquiry. The resolution
authorizes the expenditure of $4,000
Senate to conduct the investigation.
Argue Over Cost.
Senator Couzens of Michigan sug-
gested that the investigation should
not cost more than $1,000 If the Rent
Commission and the District Commits
sioners are to aid. He said, indeed,
that he thought the Rent Commission
could we'll furnish all the informa-
tion necessary. Senator Robinson re-
piled, that, If the investigation is to
be worth anything at all it will GER
tainly be worth s2,500, and added,
"if ut does cost $4,000 it will be the
cheapest investigation ever made by
the Senate"
Senator Robinson offered an amend
ment to the resolution directing the
committee to ascertain If there is an
organization of real estate owners
and dealers in Washington attempt
l.,
and, If so, what methods are used by
the combination. Senator Ball ac-
cepted the amendment offered by Sem
ator Robinson and offered an amend
81 the time in which the committee
may make its final report to the
Slnate.
Senator Ball said it might be
charged If the Rent Commission
alone was relied upon to furnish in
nj Cd
being given. He urged that the in
vestigation must be Independent and
said that he thought $4,000 was little
enough to expend on 1t.
there were a large number of apart
ment houses in Washington; that
many new ones had been constructed
recently and that many apartments
now unoccupied could be filled If it
were not for the eXorbitant rates
charged.
He said that on account Of the ar
bitrary fixing of rentals by a combf-
nation these apartments remain va
cant month after month. He referred
to one new apartment house on 18th
street south of u street and said that
one five-room apartment had been Of
fered for rent at S225. A prospective
tenant, he said. offered $3.50 for It
and was informed that his offer
could not be accepted, because the
been fixed by agreement"
Says Rates Extortionate.
THE rates charged are SO extor-
tionate." declared Senator Robinson,
that persons of limited means are
unable to avail themselves of the
apartments now vacant
Senator Stanley of Kentucky declared
that if the committee should establish
the fact that combination exists in
Washington to fix rental charges It
would be the most important finding of
the inquiry
Senator Jones Of New Mexico sug-
gested that the resolution be further
amended so that the committee should
inquire as to whether a combination
exists also to fix prices Of property
for sale and the cost Of construction
in Washington
Senator Hefin Of Alabama announced
himself in favor of the resolution, saw
ing "The people in the District Of Co.
lumbia certainly need some relief. The
real estate sharks are eating them up."
1t is expected that the resolution will
be adopted by the Senate.