Evening star., 1925-02-07

Deanwood School for construction
and for playground purposes.
Another amendment calls for the
construction Of an eight-room addi-
tion to the Hine Junior High School
Still another provides for the construc-
ton OF an eight room addition to the
Cardozo, on land already owned by
the District, including the combina
tion gymnasium and assembly hall
for the Randall High School Other
amendments and the entire fve-year
school building program as recon-
mended by both the Senate and
House committees has already been
published in full in The Evening
Star.
Reports ReAt Act.
Representative F1orian Lampert of
Wisconsin also introduced his report
on the District Of Columbia act to
regulate rents, to prevent fraudulent
transactions respecting real estate
and to create a real estate commits
sion. -.--
Representative Thomas l. Blanton
Of Texas has submitted a lengthy re-
port Of 25 printed pages covering his
views in opposition to the proposed
development of hydroelectric energy
at Great Falls, Nd. on which the
House committee was agreed with
the single exception of Representa-
tive Blanton.
representative A. H. Gasaue of
South Carolina has submitted re-
port from the House District COM
mittse on the bill regulating steam
engineering and boiler inspection in
the District of Columbia, so as to
make the act of 1887 conform with
modern conditions.
mt
Representative Lampert's report
on the rent bill reviews the work
done by the joint committee on rent
legislation relating to regulation and
control of rent and to prevent fraudu-
lent transactions in real estate and
relating to the licensing of real es-
tate brokers and real estate sales
men
He reviews the testimony given at
hearings on the measure and states
the approved bill has the backing OF
a majority of the House District OF
Colum bia committee.
This bill is divided into three titles
The first extends the rent law of Oc-
tober %, 1919, as amended, to May
%, 1927. 1t amends the existing law
to take effect on May 22, 1925, and
after that date the law will be based
OH lHS pOitcc power Ol SOHSTeSS over
the District in pursuance of its
power to exercise exclusive legisla-
tion over the seat Of the Govern
ment.'
Finds Emergency Exists.
Representative Lampert says the
committee finds the emergency with
the respect to rentals Of dwelling
properties in the District of Columbia
still exists; that increased rentals
have been and are being continually
demanded of tenants accompanied
with threats of eviction and in sew
eral cases actual eviction for refusal
to pay the increase demanded
He says that vacancies in dwellings
and apartments do not exist in suffi-
cient number to allow voluntary leases
between landlords and tenants; that
the law of supply and demand Is still
imperative and that because OF the
scarcity of vacancies in modern and
1ow-priced apartments freedom of con-
tract does not exist and that leases
have, in many cases, been made un-
der compulsion amounting almost to
duress.
Title two of the act to prevent
fraudulent transactions respecting
real estate makes 1t unlawful to COM
bine to prevent full and free competi-
ton in the renting of real estate. 1t
requires that trusts shall be num-
bered and recite the full amount of
prior trusts. 1t makes simulated sale
of property with intent to increase its
value or the execution Of a deed of
trust which does not represent a
bona fide indebtedness unlawful. 1t
provides fine of $1,000 or imprison-
ment for one year or both for viola
tion of this provision. The object
fictitious sales and the making of
fictitious trust deeds on property, and
is for the protection of investors in
notes, secured by such trust deeds
Provides Commission.
The third title Of the bill provides
for a real estate commission for the
District consisting of seven members
to be selected by the President from
a list Of names submitted by the
Federation OF Citizens Associations
OF the District, the Washington Board
of Trade and the Washington Real
Estate Board. 1t provides for ncens-
ing real estate brokers and statesmen
in the District and for the regula-
tion and discipline of persons engaged
In the sale or rental of real estate
or loans secured by trusts thereof.
Representative Lampert says that
a decision by the Court Of Appeals
of the District has rendered condi-
tions for tenants intolerable and
urges immediate legislation for THAR
relief.