Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-14
REALTY LICENSE LAW FOR D. C.
OFFERED IN SENATE BY CAPPER
Measure Sponsored by Washington Real
Estate Board Patterned After Act
Drafted by National Association.
BY con S. WARREN.

BY con S. WARREN.
Enactmen. OF a real estate license
law for the District Of Columbia. pro-
viding for the licensing and regula.
ton of all real estate statesmen ana
brokers operating here and designed
to enforce high standards of practice
on all employed in real estate bust
ness in the National Capital. is pro-
vided in a measure introduced in the
Senate by Senator Capper of Kansas.
This measure. Tow before the Senate
District committee. is sponsored by
the Washington Real Estate Board.
which has asked Senator Capper TO
assist in passage of the bill. the
measure was transmitted to the Kan
sas Senator last week in the name OF
the board by Roger ]. Whiteforu. ITS
general counsel, who had part IN ITS
preparation.
The license act proposed by the To-
cal realtors is fashioned closely after
the McChesney act. drafted by the
general counsel o. the National ASSo'
citation of Real Estate Boards. which
has been used as the basis OF license
laws now in effect in % States OF this
country and Canada. the constitution
Atty of which has been upheld by nu-
merous State courts and by the Su'
preme Court OF the United States.
The proposed act would create
real estate commission of the Dis
trict of Columbia to license all real
estate statesmen aid brokers operat-
tng here. sets up high standards Of
practice for al; in the business, pro-
vides for the post ng OF a bond OF
81 900 by each applicant for a license
prescribes rules for refusal or revoca-
ton OF a license and sets forth penal
ties for violation of the act.
Regulation Not Contemplated.
While prescribing high standards
Tor applicants of licenses. however. the
measure does not contemplate regu-
lation Of the real estate business it,
self. a principle vigorously opposed
universally by business interests who
protest against government in bust
ness
The bin proposes that a license
"shal be granted only TO persons who
bear a good reputation for honesty,
truthfulness and fair dealing, and are
competent to transact the business Of
q real estate broker or a real estate
salesman in such a manner as to safe
guard the interests Of the public"
4Ie law wOufu OS(OiIlS SnC[NNS
after July 1. 1928. and after that date
II would be unlawful for any person.
copartnership. association or corpora
ton to act as a real estate broker or
real estate salesman. or to advertise
or assume to act as such, without a
license issued by the Real Estate Com
mission. Every member or officer Of
real estate corporation active in
brokerage work would have to be
licensed as prerequisite to &. e icens-
1ng of the corporation
The measure proposes ere <fion or a
real estate commission. collapsed OF
three persons having 10 years OF ex-
perience in real estate sales or broker
age work. 10 be appointed for periods
Of one, two and three years. .respec-
lively. whose SUCCESSORS would serve
three years each. Each member Of
the commission would receive com.
pensation Of SIS for each day spent on
The work. and in addition his actual
and necessary expenses incurred in
performance Of his duties.
Would Employ STAFF.
The commission would be empow-
cred TO employ and, at its pleasure.
discharge a secretary and necessary
Assistant and make provision for an
once and its equipment. Records Of
the commissions activities would be
kept. and IL would publish at least
seni-a nnually a list OF the names and
addresses of all licensed statesmen and
brokers, as well as those whose
licenses had been suspended or re-
voked within one year and other in
formation deemed OF public interest.
Euch lists are 10 be filed at the Dis
tr5ot Supreme Court an public records.
The real estate commission would
be self-supporting. The total expense
incurred for all purposes would be
limited TO the amount Of the total
fees and charges collected from the
operation of the law. All fees and
charges accrued would be paid into
the Treasury Of the United States to
the credit Of the District Of Columbia
Each broker or salesman would ap-
ply 20 the commission for a license.
the application 10 he accompa neid by
recommends tons Of at least two citi-
zens, property owners. not related TO
the applicant. certifying that the ap~
plicant bears good reputation for
honesty. fruthfuiness, fair dealing and
competency, and recommending that
the license he granted.
The applica nj for A saiesman's
HcshSe would be required 10 state his
business and residence address. .giv-
ing present and former employers.
etc. including length Of time engaged
1r real estate business and d statement
Of approval by his employer. similar
provisions apply 10 applicant brokers.
$1,000 Bonds Required.
Iach appIica uon would have 70 he
s0;o1npan4G by bond II 1900. exc
cg,eG by sufficient securities and
against which any person aggrieFed
by violation of the art would have &C
ton Ia eiy1i s1it. The original fee for
q brokers license would be $40. with
sn annual renewal fee Of s., and the
fee for d NJ .esns would be ~, with
q renewal fee .. 81 In the css@ III
ceFpJration OF association, one mem
Der would psy a fee of SO. with q
renewal II g.. while other members
would pay fes III ~. with renewal
5sA " 81
Each iicenses would be required ~
notify the commission of any change
81 principal; business address ~
change IN employment. II q ha lesna u D.
~neFeupou "A new license would H.
ISSUED. ch3ng u business location
without mobilization would result In
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