Evening star., 1932-06-18
COMMITTEE PLANS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ON RENT SITUATION
Charges Made and Denied
That Realty Men Have
Entered Combine.
TESTIMONY OF ATTORNEY
DRAWS FIRE AT HEARING
Copeland Says Wartime Commits
SIGN May Have to Be Revived
to Force Reductions.

to Force Reductions.
Confronted with charges and denials
that real estate combine exists here
to maintain the high level of rents, the
Senate District Committee, after
stormy session late yesterday. decided
to go more thoroughly into al matters
relating to the rent situation in Wash
lngton at an executive meeting next
week.
The charge CT rent-fiXing was made
by Oscar H. Brlnkman, a local attorney
and former investigator for the COM
nit. after J. F. NJ Bowie. president
o. the Washington Real Estate Board
had denied emphatically such a combi-
nation exists among local realtors.
Chairman Capper, at the conclusion
OF warm dispute that arose over Mr
Erinkman'S charges. declared that there
Is ro question but what apartment rents
IL Washington are higher than in any
Clher city of similar population.
Backed by Senator Copeland of New
York and Senator King CT Utah. the
chairman contended something will have
: to be done to lower rents in view of the
4d(G llldU NUNtIIlIllCIlU tIllp4OSSS are
facing decreased salaries.
Offers Evidence of Pact.
Charging that the 1924-25 investiga-
ton of the Department of Justice into
the rent situation had been a white
wash for the realtors, Mr.. Brinkman
dramatically held up an envelope IN his
hand.
Il have here a sealed envelope" he
said. containing uncontrovertible writ
ten evidence that there is a combina-
ton Of real estate dealers here to keep
rents up
The report CT the Department of JUS
tice at that time, he said, quoted real
estate men as denying the existence of
any such combination. with a result
that there were no prosecutions.
That is the kind Of an investiga-
ton you would have now by the De-
partment of Justice" he declared.
Brinkman stated Furthermore that
the agent who had made the investiga-
ton later went into the employ of
local real estate firm
Both Bowie and Senator Austin of
Vermont leaped to their feet at the con-
CluSlon Of Br'nkmanS sensational teS-
timony after Senator Copeland had
moved an executive session of the COM
mittee They denounced his method of
bringing scaled evidence" before the
committee. They resented also his
charges against the Department of JUS
tice and demanded that he reveal the
contents of the letter then and there
Withholds Envelope.
"Is he to be permitted to keep that
envelope in his pocket?' Bowie gloWered
Brinkman, however, was unwavering
in his determination to withhold the
letter until such time as a proper in
vestigation was made.
The Department of Justice, if it
makes this investigation honestly, will
find out the same information" he
angrily retorted.
Unless rents are reduced in WASH
ington and reduced substantially Sena-
tor Copeland contended, the wartime
powers of the Rent Commission would
be revived. He agreed with Brinkman
that a national emergency, such as de-
clared by President Hoover and Justice
Brandeis of the United States Supreme
situation. That emergency, they con-
tended, warrants Congress to exercise
police powers to reduce rents.
A motion by Senator Copeland to
appoint a subcommittee to investigate
rent conditions in Washington was
temporarily sidetracked. IT. was also
contended by some members of the
committee that rental real estate might
be placed under the jurisdiction of the
Public Utilities Commission as one
solution of the problem.
In Public Interest.
Senator Copeland declared there was
no doubt IN his mind that the regula-
ton of housing and rents is in the pub
lie interest.
II shall propose the appointment OF
subcommittee to investigate the sit
uation, to formulate legislation. and to
let the landlords and the people of the
city know that there is a God in
Israel" he said. He added that there
is no question of the 'eXtortionate rent
level in the city"
Brinkman invited the committee to
go to the Municipal Court and there
see for themselves the records of hun
dreds of eviction cases. condition, he
said, that is still continuing.
Next Winter will be the worst the
country has ever seen in my opinion, -
Senator Copeland reminded. The land
lords must not think they can make
ss much money as before. The owners
of property in the District, too, must
net think they are immune. They will
not be permitted to hide behind the
law of supply and demand or of con-
tracts We expect to have cooperation
from the landlords there
will be distress here"
Vacancies Have Doubled
Mr.. Bowie. who said he also repre-
sented the H. L. Rust Co.. had earlier
testified before the committee that
rents have come down in Washington
within the last few years. The Rust
Co, for example, ne said, has reduced
rents in virtually all of its IS apart
ment properties At the conclusion of
his testimony, he added: There has
been no reduction in the salaries of
employees in apartment houses. I be-
lieve this is generally true all over
Washington
Bowie declared that apartment va
cancies had doubled. When Senator
Kean of New Jersey inquired into the
matter CT three months free rental
for tenants, the witness described it as
an evil that tenants had been able to
demand and exact from landlords.
A number OF letters were read by
Senator Capper from tenants showing
there had been no rent reductions for a
number of years.
Just what the District Committee will
determine to do in the matter of full
investigation is uncertain ct this time.
1t was brought out by Senator Capper
that no Senate funds are available now