Evening star., 1925-01-16
PLANS BILL TO BAN
TRUST PYRAM|D|NG
Senator Ball Seeks Measure
to Prevent Fake Sales
With Boosted Values.

Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis
trict committee; Senator Jones of
and II. L. Underwood,
special assistant to the Attorney Cen
eral. were in conference today re-
garding the drafting of bill to pre-
vent the pyramiding of values of
real estate in the District, as dis
closed in the investigation of hous-
ing conditions made by the Senate
District committee last session.
Senator Ball said that he contem-
plated offering such a measure, but
that he was not prepared at this time
to say what its provisions would be.
He is determined, II possible. to put
an end to the pyramiding Of values
fake sales and additional
It is likely that severe PEN
alties will be provided for violations
of the proposed act.
1t was announced today that not
only would there be a hearing on
the rent bill Monday morning, but
that a hearing would be held Mon
day night by the joint congressional
Zach side has been allow
ed eight hours to discuss the Whaley
bill and other measures dealing with
the rental situation before the joint
committee. The proponents of the
bill so far have consumed five hours,
and the opponents, two hours. This
leaves a total of nine hours of hear
ings still to be held. The opponents
of the bill will continue on Monday
morning.
Bill May Be Speeded.
When the steering committee of the
Senate holds its next meeting, prob
ably next week, Ii will consider the
matter of placing the rent bill upon
its legislative program. This was in
timated today by Senator Curtis of
Kansas, chairman of the steering
committee, following a brief talk
with the President at the White
House
Senator Curtis is of the opinion that
that If the rent control bill is al
lotted a place on the program, the
chances of its enactment would be
very good. The fact that President
Coolidge is strongly in favor of such
legislation Is considered to be suffi-
cient inducement to bring a favor
able response from Senators who are
now either Indifferent or opposed to
the proposed legislation.
Foes of Bill Gather.
realtors are converging upon the Ma
tional Capital from all parts Of the
country. with the purpose of ex-
pressing to Congress and the sub
committees handling the proposed
rental bill their opposition to any
such measure.
This morning Lee Thompson Smith,
president of the National Association
of Building Owners and Managers,
returned to Washington and held
a long conference with President
Green of the American Federation of
Labor. 1t Is understood Mr.. Smith
discussed with the new labor presi-
dent the results. as far as labor is
that would be brought
about by the enactment of the Whaley
bill.
Charles Edwards of New York City,
president of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards; Brig. Gen
Nathan w. MacChesney, general
counsel of the association and H.
r. Brigham, Boston lawyer and
housing expert, wired from Dallas,
Tex, that they are on their way to
Washington to oppose the bill and
will arrive here Sunday They were
>
diately from the convention of the
National Association of Real Estate
Boards.
Many Come From Far.
The Baltimore Association of
Building Owners and Managers has
wired Representative Fred Zihlman
asking him to arrange for 1t to
be heard before the full House and
Senate committees on the District
of Columbia within the next s or 6
days.
kilograms have been received from
Philadelphia and cities as far west
as Milwaukee that members of build
ing owner associations are leaving
for Washington to present their
views on the proposed legislation.
Finishing touches on the proposed
law to be submitted
by the local real estate men at the
next hearing Monday are being made
by Roger ]. Whiteford, local attor-
ney. 1t is understood the bill will
provide that one of the members of
the license commission prescribed in
the act shall be Assessor Richards Of
the District