Evening star., 1932-06-24
The Investigation of Rents.

There Is nothing to be lost and there
N certainly something to be gained by
Senator Capper's proposed investigation
OF rents this Summer. Senator Cap
per's friendly intercession on behalf OF
the tenants is characteristic and he is
guided by the best motives. 1t is his
belief that rents here are too high, and
there is no doubt OF the fact that,
unless the rental level is lowered In
some proportion to the reduced pur-
chasing power of the tenant class re-
suIting from the Federal salary slash
ing, many tenants. held by lease to
contract written in other days, will
suffer. 1t is believed that this level
will lower itself automatically. But an
Investigation by a subcommittee OF the
Senate would at least serve to produce
the facts and center the weight OF
public opinion on remedying any IN
equities so revealed.
The Federal employe whose earning
mower has been reduced and whose
chances for continued employment at
living wage have been rendered pre-
carious by the various budget-balancing
economy moves of Congress this year
needs a friend in court and one. VINO
nossesses a powerful voice. The matter
r,f rentals is not the greatest OF his
worries. If he is hone owner and has
entered into a financial contract tor the
purchase of his home, he is facing the
unaltered terms Of that contract as to
the payments that must be made and
will find no relief in the size of his tax
bin. The cost Of living has gone down,
hut the cost Of taxpaying has gone up.
If there Is no change for the time being
IN his local taxes the Federal tax bill,
hy direct or indirect application, will,
az course. hit him. II he is a tenant
his rent should be reduced. But at the
same time one cannot forget that the
landlord, also deserves consideration.
Landlords are merely human beings who
have invested in rental properties.
They are not all gougers. Too
many of them already have gone
into bankruptcy. They must also
pay OF obligations incurred in an
other period and they must also pay
taxes. One method Of reducing their
fixed charges, of course, lies in reducing
the pay and the number Of their en-
ployes, and this. unfortunately. viii be
one phase Of the vicious circle set in
motion by wage-cutting. They must
also content themselves with less profits,
and this win result whether or not the
landlord chooses. The reduction Of
profits in all lines of business is one Of
the most familiar aspects Of the de-
preston, and the rental business is no
exception.
The real value OF an investigation
this Summer will. therefore. not only
lie in protecting the tenant, who should
be protected against exorbitant rentals
in those few cases where he does not
have the remedy in his own hands,
but in sitting the rather generalized
charges against the landlords and, on
the basis of facts, determine whether
there are any individuals who have laid
themselves open to violation Of law
and whether there are any Of them,
who, keeping within the law, are VIC
thinking their tenants.
There is no occasion, on the other
hand, to consider the drastic procedure
Of the Government during the war, when
leased dwellings in the District were, in
effect Communicated and when lawful
owners were deprived Of their control.
The situation then was entirely differ
ent. The city was greatly overcrowded.
Money was plentiful. Prices were high.
The Federal Government was forced to
take measures to deal with an un-
paralleled emergency. No such condi-
ton prevails today.
Nobody defends a profiteering land
lord, and those who prohteer should be
exposed. They cannot be exposed un-
til the facts are known, and for this
reason the actual facts regarding the
rental situation In Washington should
be obtained.