The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-07
CONGRESS
GETSNEW
BILL ON
RENTS
Measure, introduced by Lam
pert. Would Put Ban on
Fictitious Sales

Declaring that the situation Of
tenants IN the District is I'm
tolerabler and that immediate leg
isIation for their relief is neces-
sary. Congressman Florian Lam
pert, of Wisconsin, today submit
ted to the House the new rent
bill and urged its speedy passage
without amendment.
Congressman Lampert, in his
report on the bin, declared that
tenants are being threatened with
eviction for failure to meet ex-
orbitant rent increases and stated
that there is shortage of dwell
lings and apartments which forces
tenants to comply with unjust
demands made upon them.
Finds Emergency
Your committee finds that the
emergency in respect to rentals OF
dwelling properties in the District
of Columbia still exists. he states
Ia the report.
Increased rentals have been and
are ueang continuously demanded
OF tenants, accompanied with
threats of eviction. and in several
cases actual eviction for refusal to
pay the increase demanded.
Vacancies in dwellings and
apartments do not exist in suffi-
Gent numbers TO allow voluntary
T. A. Ia ,v1A
ants. The law of supply and de-
mand is still imperative.
Because of the scarcity of va
cancies In moderate and low-priced
apartments, freedom of contract
does not exist and leases have. In
many cases. been made under COM
pulsion. amounting almost to
duress."
Would Prevent Fraud.
Congressman Lampert explains
that the new bill, i'm addition to
extending the present rent law.
with certain notifications. con-
tains new provisions to prevent
fraudulent transactions involving
real estate, creates a real estate
commission. and defines. regulates
and licenses real estate brokers and
statesmen
The most important modification
Of the existing rent law is to-
change its basis from an emergency
act, he explains. to law based
upon the police power Of Congress
over the District Tin pursuance Of
its power to exercise exclusive
legislation over the seat of the
government"
little III of the, act. to prevent
fraudulent transactions respecting
real estate" his report continues.
makes it unlawful to combine to
prevent full and free competition
in the renting of real estate. II
requires that trusts shall be mum
bered and shall recite the full
amount of prior trusts. It makes
simulated sale Of property. with
intent to increase IT'S value or the
execution Of a deed of trust which
does not represent a bona fije in
debtedness, unlawful and provi5es a
fine Of $1,000 or imprisonment f'r
one year or both for a violation Of
its provisions.
Bans Fictitious.
1.-The Object of this title is to
prevent fictitious sales and the
making of fictitious trust deeds
on property and is for the protec-
ton of investors in notes secured
by such trust deeds.
little III provides for a real
estate commission for the District
of Columbia to consist of seven
members selected by the President
from a list of names submitted hy
the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations of the District, the Wash
ington Board OF Trade, and the
Washington Real Estate Board; it
y1rovfd1a for Licensing real estate
brokers and statesmen in the Dis
frict and the regulation and disci-
pline of persons engaged lin the
sale or rental OF real estate or loan
secured by trusts thereof.
1.-THE situation which arose after
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