Evening star., 1924-12-06
Agrees to Use Weight of Of
flee for Remedies, After
Talk With Ball.
FAVORS TRAFFIC COURT,
HE INFORMS SENATOR
Blanton Asks Gordon Removal at
House Committee Traffic
Hearing.

Convinced that the rent situation
and traffic conditions in the District
of Columbia have reached a point
where some immediate remedy should
be afforded. President Coolidge let il
be known today that he will use the
weight of his office in an endeavor to
bring about some form of relief.
This was learned following a con-
ference at the White House today be-
tween the President and Senator Ball
of Delaware, chairman of the District
committee OF the Senate and author
of the Ball rent act. The latter said
after his talk with the President, dur
ing which time he outlined the rent
situation here and described traffic
conditions on the streets Of the Dis
trict, that the President expressed
himself in favor of a separate Traffic
Court for this city and said that the
Department of Justice should make
every effort to prosecute any local
real estate dealers alleged to be re-
sponsible for high rentals because Of
fictitious property valuations and
other manipulations.
VIII See Stone.
Senator Ball said that he will per-
sonally confer with the Attorney Gem
eral regarding this, and that he hopes
the department will expedite it's ac-
tion in this direction.
Senator Ball left with the Presi-
dent some written data concerning
these subjects. He said that he told
the President the advancing rentals
in the District OF Columbia have
reached the point where they are be-
yond the means of the poor employees
of the Federal Government. In his
opinion. there is no housing emer-
gency existing in the District of CO.
lum bia, as was the case when he had
enacted his rent act, and he told the
President the only emergency exist
ing. in his mind, concerns the abiI-
ity of the Federal employe to prop
erly house himself and his family in
the face of the rents for apartments
and houses.
| No Housing Shortage.
! Senator Ball said that he does NOT
| believe there is any shortage in
houses and building and that the
| shortage is in places to live where
| the rents are within reason. He said
real evil is brought about by ma
nipulations OH the part of unscrupu-
lus real estate men who by fake sales
and fictitious valuations have been
trusts. 1t is to break up this alleged
fraudulent practice. Senator Ball said.
that the Federal Government will
direct its attacks.
William J. Donovan. special assist
ant attorney general who has been
assigned to the handling of the in
| vestigation of the rent situation here
! by the Department of Justice as a
| result of the report made several
1
| States Attorney for the District, is
| understood to be of the opinion that
there is what might be described as
an evil condition existing but he feels
| that it would be difficult to get at
| the core of it.
AS a result of this feeling on the
i part of the Department of Justice,
| Senator Ball said today that 1t is
| proba BILE that he will introduce legis-
| lation which will give the Govern
ment the authority it wants to pro-
/ ceed properly and promptly in break
! ing up alleged real estate frauds in
| this city.
Senator Ball said that the President
was specially well informed regard
| ing the general housing situation
here, and gave every evidence of be-
! ing deeply interested and of wishing
to bring about the much-needed re-
| lief.
Senator Ball said the President was
not quite so well informed regarding
the actual traffic conditions here The
Presidents knowledge was only gen.
eral, but after hearing the Delaware
Senator describe these conditions he
/ readily agreed that a special traffic
court, with an extra judge to pre-
side over it, while 1t may not totally
solve the problem, would go a long
way as a remedy.