Evening star., 1925-01-20
WASHINGTON LAGS IN SOLVING
RENT PROBLEM, COMMITTEE TOLD
Other Cities Haze Obtained Reductions Without
Legislation, Declares National
RealtOr Official.

by the testimony Of representatives
of the local board.
In reply to questions by Senator
Copeland regarding the so-called
bread decisions of the Supreme Court
and other courts, Gen. MacChesney
said that none Of the laws upheld by
the courts had fixed prices at which
bread should be sold. These laws,
he said, only prescribed the standard
weight and character of the ,loaves,
and the courts sustained those laws.
Cites Warehouse Case.
In the case Of Mum VS.. Illinois. re-
latlng to warehouses and the law for
their regulation, Gen MacChesney
pointed out that the owners had only
to withdraw the warehouses from
public use" TO be free from regulatory
legislation. He said that In his
opinion a private house offered for
rent was not put up for public use in
the same sense that warehouse was
offered. To support this contention
he cited a decision of the Supreme
Court in the Terminal Taxicab Com
pany case. Asking the public to buy
or to rent--does not mean that
a person has to sell-or to rent-nor
does it give the right to regulate he
said.
the Mum case it was brought out
that the warehouse constituted prac-
tically Il monopoly. He contended that
the elements of individuality are found
in rental cases.
Isn't II fact that the real estate
people here have a monopoly of ware
housing the government employees"
suggested Senator Copeland.
Senator Copeland asked Gen. Mac
I, 1fv,rr 30 !, ut
housing was not effected with a pub
lie interest.
The witness replied he was unwill-
ing TO make a general statement to
that effect, but he differentiated be-
tween the public interest which at
taches to a railroad, for example, and
that which may attach to houses.
Senator Ball wanted to know If it
would not be possible to pass a bill
guaranteeing a return on property "as
in the Whaley bill
The witness pointed out that the
Whaley bill does not guarantee a re-
turn.
UphOlds License LAW.
Il am not welded to this bill" de-
clared Senator Ball. 81 am anxious
that the law OF supply and demand
shall operate again in the District.
but l do want to help relieve the
housing situation here"
The witness replied that the enact
ment of a license law would go far
to meet the situation.
Mr.. Hagner took the stand at the
conclusion of Gen. MacChesney's tes-
timonY. and, after the committee had
passed a vote of thanks to Gen. Mac
Chesney for appearing, Mr.. Hagner
said that Senator Ball had frequently
announced that the law of supply and
demand would meet the situation here
If fraud and crooked financing could
be eliminated. Mr.. Hagner continued
that the enactment Of a law creating
a licensing commission and making II
necessary to specify on all deeds of
trust just what was covered and
what other Indebtedness was on the
property would eliminate all fraud.
The witness read TO the committee
a sample deed OF trust handled by
his own office. which carried on its
face the Indebtedness on the prop
erty and what part the deed of trust
had in that Indebtedness. He said
that he had been using such a form
for several years.
Much Home Financing.
Mr.. Hagner laid before the committee
many advertisements Of houses for sale
and pointed out that no new houses
were advertised for rent. Two real
estate operators here, he said, durin &
the last year had financed the con-
struction Of 1853 houses TO sell and
% apartment houses.
isn't that a desirable thing, to
have the people own their homes?"
asked Senator Copeland.
1T is a desirable thing for real
estate agents. but not for people who
wish to rent" said Mr.. Hagner. He
pointed out that many people are
forced to break limits to raise money
| to make payments on houses they
are compelled to buy and that 'some-
| times they lose the equities in the
houses because they can not keep up
! these payments"
| Representative Blanton asked II
Mr.. Hagner believed a law should be
enacted compelling the insertion of
| the true consideration in all deeds of
| sale.
The witness replied that he did not
| He gave as his reason for opposing
such a measure that 1t would set up
method by which crooks could
| place wrong valuation on property
and give it the semblance of law
| Mr.. Hagner said further that fire.
| quently trades were made for real
estate and that it would be impos-
sible to give the true values in such