Evening star., 1924-04-16
DECLARES RENT BILL
LOADED WITH J0KERS
Ben johnson Calls Lampert Pro-
posal "host Vicious Ever In
troduced in Congress"
ABSOLUTE, POWERS CITED
Analyses "Kest Amazing Pro.
visions Contained in Measure.


A whole minstrel show Of jokers has
been uncurtained in the Lampert rent
commission bill by Representative Ben
johnson of Kentucky. former chairman
Of the House District committee for
eight years and the originator of rent
legislation in the National Capital
In fact. Representative johnson finds
this "the most amazing. preposterous
and most vicious piece OF legislation
that was ever introduced in the
American Congress"
Here are some Of the ''outs" that he
has found in this measure. and which
he proposes to call vigorously to the
attention Of his colleagues when the
bill comes up again in the House:
No doubt those who relied entirely
upon the newspapers for their in
formation entertained the opinion that
what came to be called the bill to
extend the rent commission was no
more and no less than that expressed
by its title" he says. Contrary TO
the opinion of those who had not seen
the bill, that II was no longer than
twelve or fifteen lines, it contains
thirty-hve printed pages.
Exempts Apartment Houses.
One provision of the bill exempts
apartment houses from the provisions
of the bill, If such apartment houses
were erected after the passage of the
act. This is equivalent to saying that
a footpad might not hold up man
with an old gun and rob him, but tina
it was perfectly legitimate for him to
hold-up.
"It has been the order of things
since the adoption of the Constitution
that the President could make nomi-
the appointment was complete IL had
to have the consent OF the Senate.
The rent bill reverses this order ana
provides that the Senate should ad-
ment Of rent commissioners and that
thereafter the President would ap-
prove them. .
"The bill is so worded that If all
the members of the Rent Commission
except one should die that one could
continue to transact business just as
though the commission had quorum
left.
Would Bar Home Owners.
Another provision provides that
any person who. even indirectly or
in any manner whatever. Is connect
ed with real estate should not be
eligible to place on the commission
Ina1 WOulQ 0cUaT d llhI laOiAa LiSh~
bership on the commission K he
even owned his home.
Another provision of the bill au-
thorized the commission to appoint
a secretary at salary OF
s3,S00 per year. The duties spe-
officially imposed upon this secretary
treasurer were to be the custodian
OF the seal of the commission and
of its books.
THE bill gives the Rent Commits
sion power to rent as many houses
as Il chooses to rent, regardless OF
the purpose for which they might be
used. There is nothing in the bill
to prevent one or other of these
commissioners, IL they chose to do
So. from renting residences for them
selves and having the rent paid out
of the public treasury.
@SI 900 900 n Year"
in addition, the bill authorizes
the commission to buy whatever it
pieases, regardless OF quantity or
price. It also authorizes the commits
sion to employ as many clerks or
agents as il pieases. regardless of the
number, and also authorizes the COM
mission to pay those clerks or agents
just as much as the commission might
be pleased to do. regardless OF amount.
Under the bill the commission would
have just as much right to pay a
clerk a hundred thousand dollars or
a million dollars year as 1t would
have to pay a thousand dollars or
less 81 year.
provision is adroitly made in the
bill to put IL beyond the power of
the President. OF the controller
general, of the director of the budget,
or even Congress to stop the payment
of an extravagant or fraudulent war
rant which the commission might
draw upon the Treasury. The COM
mission is the sole agency to audit
reasonableness or their integrity.
It would not be necessary for
this commission to call upon Con-
gress for an appropriation for it's
expenses. for the bill plainly pro-
vides that the director of the budget
shall have nothing to do with It's
affairs; that ft shall not be bound
by the rulings or opinions OF the
controller general
els Cunningiy Written"
More than that. il has been cum
ningly written into the bill that when
the rent commission expired in May,
1925, those who make up the commits
sion would be automatically retired
to another commission with all its
stupendous powers, without any Spe-
cific work to be done, and those po-
sitions to be OF life tenure.
whenever Congress wishes infor-
nation from the President of the
United States or from the Secretary
of War or from any of the other
cabinet officers il always asks for IL
with the proviso that the giving out
CT the information be not injurious to
the nation. Under this bill any officer,
any clerk, any agent even the tani-
tor would have the right to compel
the President Of the United States,
without Limitation or qualification, to
surrender any papers that he might
have.
"Under another section any suit
pending in any court of the United
States involving any question arising
out of the Relationship between land
property would be tried in accord
ance with the regulations OF the Rent
Commission Of the District of Colum-
bia.
The bill also authorizes the COM
mission to compel or coerce the sub
mission to the commission for compro-
mise all such disputes as might arise
between landlord and tenant, even
though either or both were unwilling
for such compromise.
"If the bill should pass and become
law the people Of the District of Co.
lumbia would accomplish nothing ex-
cept a transfer from a possible exr
tortioner into the hands of COM
mission clothed, without limit or re-
striction, with full authority to put
up to the elbows, with everybody who
the provisions Of the bill"