Evening star., 1932-12-17
RENTS SEX0RB|TANT
IN D. C., ATTORNEY
TELLS SENATORS
Apartment and Dwelling
Prices Higher Than in SIM
liar Sized Cities.
BRlNKMAN REPORTS.
TO SUBCOMMITTEE
No Perceptible Reductions for
Workers in Two or Three
Years, He Declares.

The Senate subcommittee investigat-
ing rents was told today by Oscar H.
Brinkman, its attorney and investigator,
that he has reached the conclusion that
many apartments and dwelling rentals
in Washington are "exorbitant and eX-
tortionate"; that apartment and dwell
ing prices are higher than in cities of
similar size: and that rents paid by
perceptlbly in the last two or three
years.
These were the first three of list
of conclusions contained in lengthy
report Brinkman prepared for the sub
committee. When the subcommittee
met today, there was an extended pre-
liminary discussion regarding proceed
ure, it being finally determined to have
Brinkman read the summary of his re-
port. amplifying each conclusion as he
went along.
Broad Reply Expected.
Representatives of the Washington
Real Estate Board, accompanied by At
torney Roger j. WhitefOrd, were pres
ent to hear the conclusions of the SUBJ
committees counsel, and it is expected
they will reply later.
Hardship on Many.
Mr.. Brinkmans first conclusion,
namely that many rentals are "exorbi-
a statement that these rentals place
hardship on many people. In this
connection Brinkman cited the num-
ber of landlord-tenant cases filed in
court this year, which he said num-
bered 38 8S4 up to November
During a discussion of the first three
conclusions, Mr.. Whiteford, speaking
for the real estate men, said: We con-
cede there are plenty of people who
cannot pay rent and who have lost
jobs but We do not concede that rents
have not gone down perceptibly"
Other conclusions in his report which
Brinkman had reached at noon were:
That there are many thousands of
people in Washington unable to pay the
regularly excessive rents demanded
with resultant evictions. suffering and
hardship. that justify Congress in de-
claring an emergency and regulating
rents
That the alley-dwelling situation in
Washington is still national disgrace.
Figures Held Unreliable.
That the figures submitted by the
Washington Real Estate Board show
ing low rate of return to owners on
apartment house properties, are wholly
unreliable and do not accurately reflect
the actual profits
In the discussion which took place
before Brinkman began reading his re-
port, Senator Copeland brought out
that some of the statements in the re-
port were based on information Brink
man had collected during his four
months Of study of the question, but
some of which had net been made a
part Of the record through testimony
Senator King Democrat, Utah. asked
If it would not be better to have all of
the evidence in before the report was
received and made public.
Brinkman suggested that members of
the committee could designate those
parts of the report on which further
evidence is desired and then seek tes-
timony On those points.
Mr.. WhitefCrd pointed out that the
real estate men have not seen the re-
port and he suggested that time might
be saved if he and counsel for the sub
committee could go over it and ascer-
tain those sections regarding which
there would be controversy 1t was
finally decided to have Brinkman read
his summary of conclusions to1ay. After
each conclusion he indicated the mate
rial on which he based his statements,
and, following the first conclusion, he
read to the committee figures regard
ing some additional specific rentals and
some letters he had received from
tenants.