The Washington times., 1924-11-18
DATA
IN Report
BOARD
MADE
Quotes Recommended for
Appointment Of conmissions
Tenants to Fight

Admission has been made BY
the Wa shington Real Estate Board
for the first time that a housing
emergency does exist in Washing
ton, Chairman Richard S. WhaIey,
Of the District Rent Commission,
declared today.
Mr.. Whaley referred to the
resolutions adopted by the real
tors in which they proposed i
conference composed Of five real
estate men and five tenants rep
resentatives to discuss the sitra-
ton and to prevent extortion by
landlords.
"The Rent Commission today
received a copy of this resc-
lution," said Mr.. WhaIey.
"The Washington Real Estate
Board heretofore has held that
no emergency exists, and has 50
testified before the Congressional
committees.
Points to Commission.
'This resolution is frank, public
and open admission that an emer.
gency does exist. and that the only
solution to the problems Of landlords
and tenants is the appointment Of
board, impartial and unbiased, asl.
thorized by the Congress and ap-
pointed by the President. There 10
no other such board than the Dis
trict Rent Commission"
John A. Petty, executive secretary
of the Real Estate Board, declined
to comment on Chairman Whaiey'e
arrangement of the resolutions
adopted by the realtors organiza.
ton. He declared he had no desire
to get into an argument on the
subject.
Tenants to Fight On.
Establishment Of permanent or.
Ganization of apartment and dwelling
tenants in Washington viii result
from the present activities Of the
Tenants League, leaders in the
movement to check exorbitant re1a.
tails declared today.
The only doubtful element in the
entire situation is whether the body
will be continued as the Tenante'
League with the same name and
the same officers. 1t is certain
that the tenants who have gone
so far in their work will not cesfso
activities regardless of what IS.
sion.
| The rent board is now practically
powerless, due to the recent de.
cision OF the Court OF Appeals in
the Peck-Fink case. Mainly as a
result OF the curtailed powers Of
the commission tho Tenants League
came into existence.
Coolidge Holds. Up Report.
| President Colidge today empl1a.
sized that he had no personal ob.
lection to making public the report
Of District Attorney Peyton Gordon
on local realty conditions at this
time. @
In view Of the fact that Attorney
IGeneral stone thought 1t inexpedi-
ent to make, public the report until
further supplemental data has been
Iobtained, the President has decided
to withhold the report from pub
LEGATION until the entire case has
been put before it and until "a
Icourse Of action has been determined
on by the Department OF Justice.
I While Joseph Low, manager Of
Clifton Terrace Apartments, is in
Boston presumably comforting with
the latest owner Of the property, OF.
ficials Of the Tenants League to-
Iday are deciding what answer to
give the Washington Real Estate
Board on its overtures for amicabIe
settlement of rent differences.
During the absence OF Mr.. Low
lit is possible that the Tenants
League and the Real Estate Board
may arrive at conclusions beneficial
to rent.payers who are suffering
from or threatened with abuse"
I The offer to discuss ways and
means" at a joint conference came
from the realtors yesterday. The
executive committee OF the Tenants
League is considering the offer.
4 SNa III