The Washington times., 1924-03-07
EXTENSION
PRESSING
NEED
WhaIey, Commission Chair.
man, Says Landlords Already
Are 'BuIIdozing' Tenants.

Forty-fve thousand Washing
tonians, representing 10000 fam
lilies, whose rents have been ad-
justed by the District Rent Com
mission, will be shorne of the Sc
curity they have enjoyed during
the past four years after May %,
it Congress decides to permit the
Ball rent act to expire.
See Chaos Coming.
This declaration was made today
by Chairman Richard S. Whaley of
the Rent Commission, who pictured
the resumption of chaotic rental
conditions in the District" unless the
Rent act is extended. =.
''It is not only the future that is
involved" Chairman Whaley re-
minded, but the past also. Killing
of the Rent Commission will make
null and void all of its conscientious
determinations of the past four
years and throw every Washing
ton tenant back on the mercy Of
landlords"
That the landlords Of the District
have tenants "bulldozed" was con.
tended by members of the Rent
Commission who delved into rec
ords to show that as the date Of
expiration of the commission draws
near, tenants are timid to avail
themselves Of its facilities because
they are afraid of being put on
go al 10 ls.
are charged with keeping for fu-
ture reference.
1868 Complaints Filed.
Figures compiled BY the COM
mission and made public today
| show that since the Rent Commits
sion was first created in 1919 that
1858 complaints have been filed,
involving 21,915 families or approx.
| imately $4,000 Washingtonians.
The number of persons to a family
is computed from the Department
of Labor finding that the average
family in this city has AS persons
in it.
In short, it was pointed out to.
day, one out of every four persons
in the city has been affected by
determinations of the commission.
This, Of course, does not include
the landlords, themselves.
1t was further estimated at offices
Of the commission today that no
less than 10000 persons here have
had verbal relations with the
body which has resulted iE their
being advised of the most effective
manner in which they should meet
abnormal demands" of landlords.
Data of Activities.
w. T. Sabine, jr., secretary of
the Rent Commission, has complied
the following comprehensive survey
of the activities of the Rent Com
mission in anticipation of its per-
usal by Congress, which was made
public today:
Complaints filed between January
%, 1920, and January /, 1924. 1855.
Cases disposed of in laSt-men-
toned period, 8,051.
Cases pending January 1, 1924,
512.
Complaints filed since May %, 1922
date Of last extension), to January
1, 1924, 2,226.
| Cases determined from May o.,
1929, to January l, 1924, 1897.
| Apartment buildings on which de.
Examinations were rendered, 1874.
Two-family houses on which de.
Examinations were rendered, 90.
One-family houses on which deter.
limitations were rendered, 500.
Total buildings on which deter.
limitations were rendered, SAP.
Aggregate valuation Of buildings
on which determinations were rem.
dered, $12,075,031
Rental units involved, 3,032.
Rental units, rents increased, $50.
Rental units, rents reduced, 1,716.
| Aggregate yearly reduction in
rentals, $213, 32O.64.
Aggregate yearly increase in
rentals, $106, 437.72.
Rental units, rents unchanged,
| 266.