Evening star., 1925-02-05
stated that he was forced to raise
rents by the real estate organization.
Heursay Evidence Alleged

stated that he was forced to raise
rents by the real estate organization.
Hearaay Evidence Alleged.
AN explanation was Immediately
demanded of the chairman by the
counsel of the board, and the chair
man admitted that the statement was
based on hearsay, and through the
remainder of the hearings he failed
to submit any evidence to prove It's
correctness, although his statement
became a part of the record in the
face of objection.
Another statement featured by the
chairman aid later by the local press
was the one furnished by the Rent
Commission in respect to reported in
creases in rent. This statement was
skillfully prepared by the Rent Com
mission. 1t was supposed to give
the total number of instances of rent
increases reported to the Rent Com
mission over period of time. How
ever. much of this information was
reported to have been received by
telephone calls, anonymous communf-
cations and otherwise and from other
hearsay sources. 1t was headed by
the total number of apartment units
In all the buildings on which these
promiscuous reports had been noticed.
This number of units was stated as
$3.50, which led the papers to feature
$3.50 instances of rent increases,
whereas the list printed In the official
record of the hearings, which list
was certified to by the Rent Commits
sion, shows by actual count AL prop
critics noted by the Rent Commission
in the haphazard manner indicated.
Decreases Here Listed.
we furnished the committee with
55 affidavits giving positive and COM
plete detailed information in re-
spect to zoos voluntary decreases
in rent. This information furnished
by us was received from 81 rental
agents and one property owner. We
were allowed only "a hours in which
to obtain the information, whereas
the Rent Commission had several
weeks. in which to prepare it's fig
ures. If all the rental offices and the
individual property owners had been
given an opportunity to furnish facts
on voluntary decreases in rent it is
obvious that the number reported
would have been much greater. How
ever. the affidavits submitted by us
substantiated our statements that
rents were being reduced.
THE evidence we furnished the
committee in respect to vacancies,
decreases and increases, eVictions
building construction, etc, was
based on absolute facts that can be
easily verified, while most of the
testimony given by the handful Of
tenants was exaggerated and dis
torted and based almost entirely on
hearsay 1t was frequently initmated
as an excuse that the tenants were
intimidated and were afraid to
testify, yet with the insistent de-
mands of the members of the commit
tee for definite evidence Of this in
timidatfon not a case of this charac-
ter was proven or definitely disclosed.
Notwithstanding these facts, the
committee has reported a combina-
tion bill featuring an extension of
rent control for two years. Property
owners in the District of Columbia
and those in all parts of the country
who happen to own real estate in the
Nations Capital will have their fun
damental rights jeopardized and de-
stroyed by this legislation, yet the
proposed bill completely ignores this
fact
"LOose Talk" About Combine.
Much loose talk has been heard in
recent years during the various dis
cussion of rent legislation relative
to real estate combine. Such talk
has led many to believe that such
combine actually exists. 1t is
charged with fixing and maintaining
high levels of rent. Congress, the
District attorney and the Department
of Justice have all had hand In the in
vestigation Of this matter How
ever, no evidence has yet been pro-
duced to justify such a charge and
we have consistently denied that it
does exist
In it's investigation. the Depart
ment of Justice detailed one of it's
men to examine the Washington Real
Estate Board. He spent the greater
part Of one or two weeks in the office
of the board, searching through the
letters, records. files, minutes, etc.
During this investigation we offered
every facility and aided it in any way.
AS reference to this so-called ring Is
frequently made in connection with
realtors, the exclusive title of the
members of the Washington Real Es-
tate Board. we feel that the Depart
ment of Justice should publish its
findings in respect to our office and
organization. We, therefore, have
requested the Attorney General to
make a statement in this connection"
The letter to the Attorney General,
which was drawn up and delivered
today, reads as follows:
Ask for Justice Report.
During the past few years and
more, particularly during the periods
Of agitation over rent-control legisla-
ton. reference has been made to the
existence Of a real estate combine to
fix and maintain the high levels of
rent Frequently such references are
coupled with realtors. the exclusive
title Of members Of this board, and we
believe the public, to a large extent,
feels that our organization represents,
or Is, this so called combine or ring
I'm justice to the members Of this
board who are engaged in a legfti-
mate and necessary business, we feel
that the public should be informed
as to the truth or falsity of such
statements.
LAS a representative of the Depart
ment of Justice spent considerable
time in our Office examining our COM
plete records, files, correspondence
and minutes, your Office Is in a posi-
ton to state whether or not this
board is operating to. fix rents or to
accomplish any other unlawful pur-
pose. Furthermore, your department,
by reason of its investigation, is in a
position to state the real purpose Of