Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-11-11
RENT HEARING PUT
OVER I DAYS AMID
FREQUENT CLASHES.
Senate Subcommittee Coun-
sci Charges Lack of Re-
SPONGE by Realty Dealers.
BOARDS OFFICIALS
CITE EFFORTS TO AID
Fairness Promised by Copeland in
Request for Data-Hearing to
Be Carried Through.

Frequent verbal clashes between wit
neSSeS and Oscar H Brinkman, sub
committee counsel. enliVened a two
hour session yesterday of the Senate
subcommittee studying rents in Wash
ingtOn. An adjournment was taken
until November %.
Brinkman complained he was not
getting complete responses from all
real estate men to whom requests for
information were sent. Several wit
neSSeS took issue with him, questioning
the practicable of complying with
some of the requests.
Officials of the Washington Real Es-
tate Board declared their Willingness to
give BrInkman access to minutes of the
organization, and explained the board
has sent out a QUESTIONABLE of its own,
seeking information from its members
to be furnished to the subcommittee.
Senator Copeland Democrat, of New
York. who conducted the hearing. de-
Clared the subcommittee would carry on
the investigation to a conclusion. He
sail the subcommittee would be fair in
weighing the arguments on both sides,
and urged real estate men to give the
subcommittee counsel the data asked
for in order to complete the inquiry as
soon as possible.
Tells of Obstacles.
The first tilt yesterday came when
ATTORNEY Brinkman said he met with
obstacles Wednesday when he called to
examine some of the records of the
WASHINGTON Real Estate Board. Brink
man said he was told that H. Clifford
Bangs. president of the board. would
have to consult with other officers re-
garding examination of the records.
James P. Schick, vice president, and
Charles J. Rush, secretary OF the Real
Estate Board. took the stand and told
Senator Copeland the board wanted to
cooperate and that there was no OBJ
lection to Brinkman'S request. They
explained that Mr.. Bangs and the other
officers were elected only month ago
and that they had merely wanted to find
out from the old officers what the
understanding had been with regard to
furnishing information to the SubcOm-
mittee counsel.
Later in the meeting ]. F. M, Bowie,
former president of the Real Estate
Board and vice president of the H. L.
Rust Co. declared the real estate men
are entitled to have Mr.. Brinkman
prove or withdraw a statement he made
last June that there is combination
Of real estate dealers for the purpose of
eliminating competition among them.
Mr.. Brinkman at that time referred to
an envelope he had which, he said, con-
tanned proof of the assertion.
Accusation Called "viIe"
Mr. Bowie declared at yesterdays
hearing that Mr.. Brinkman had made
"a vile accusation against the real
estate men in Washington. I most en-
phatically deny it. 1 think now We are
entitled. inasmuch as you are asking
us to cooperate with you and help
YOU in this matter and we are willing to
do it. that he either retract that state
ment or open the envelope and prove
what he accused US of"
Mr. Brinkman replied that cts not
withdrawn" and went on with the
questioning Of witnesses.
Prior to this, Brinkman said some
of the questions on QUESTIONABLE he
sent out had not been fully answered.
Mr.. Bowie replied that considerable
amount of the information asked for
had already been furnished to the JUS
tice Department some time ago, and he
offered the subcommittee a copy yes
terday of the data he had furnished that
department.
Mr. Bowie also said later in the meet
ing that he would supply Brinkman to-
day with certain information that had
been asked for. In the report pre-
viously prepared, Mr.. Bowie said rent
reductions were shown for the period
from 1928 to 1882 One of the ques-
lions asked by the subcommittee was
that the figures for 1882 be presented
separately.
H. E. Doyle, vice president of the
Thomas j. Fisher Co., who testified
briefly. tod the subcommittee apart
y,oSa ut ant orc
approximately IA or Is per cent, whereas
they formerly averaged or 8 per cent.
Mr.. Doyle said his firm would submit
the QUESTIONABLE data this week.
Lacks Time to Answer.
T. F. SCHNEIDER. who said he owns
or controls { number of apartment
houses. told the subcommittee he has
not answered the QUESTIONABLE because
he has not had time. Mr.. Schneider
said he did not question the right Of
the committee and is willing to open
hie books to any one sent by the COM
Inittee Senator Copeland told Mr..
Schneider to return for the next meet
ing of the subcommittee on Novem-
Der %
Robert w. Savage. manager of several
apartment houses. testified he had not
replied to the QUESTIONABLE because he
has been waiting Tor reply TO a 4elter
he wrote the subcommittee counsel ask
ing for information as to the legal eff
feet of the QUESTIONABLE. Mr.. Savage
also emphasized that he has not refused
to answer. but was waiting for reply
to his letter. He also was told to re-
turn for the next meeting.
Secretary Rush of the Real Estate
Board said the boards own question
naire, seeking data for the Subcommlt-
tee has been sent to IS firms and that