Evening star., 1932-06-26
CAPPER REPEATS
WARNING TO CUT
RENTS IN DISTRICT
Kansas Senator Says Forced
Action Will Be Worse
for Landlords.
AUTHORITY FOR INQUIRY
EXPECTED DURING WEEK
Committee Will Not Have to Re-
main in Capital While Inves-
tigator Launches Work.

Another warning to Washington real
estate interests to reduce rents yolun-
tarty or else face an exhaustive in
Vest1gation was issued last night by
Senator Capper of Kansas, chairman Of
the Senate District Committee. In a
radio speech broadcast by WMAI,.
The District Committee, Senator Can
per said. wants actions, not alibis."
Rents must come down." he de-
c!ared. They are too high. In othef
cities rents have decreased considerably.
In this city all other factors in the cost
OF living have taken big drop. Rents
nave stayed up too long Thousands of
Washingtonians will get a salary re-
duction July l. They cannot stand
these high rents.
Expects Power This Week.
"If the real estate interests of wash
ington want to hold of to see whether
we are serious, so much the worse for
them. The District Committee is going
10 the bottom Of the real estate situa-
ton. The only way for landlords to
escape this inquiry is to reduce rents"
Senator Capper expects to get both
authority and funds from the Senate
this week for conducting his proposed
investigation. An authorization for
$4,000 was sought, but it is doubtful
II any more than $2,500 will be granted
because Of the insistence of the Senate
IN trimming all requests for funds in
the name of economy.
AS soon as the Senate acts on SEN
ator Capper'S resolution for funds, he
Will designate three members of his
cOT1rnittpa m roy1dYYnf fI1a fpo,,Ir1,
Scope of Probe Broad.
The Senator himself will not remain
In Washington this Summer nor will it
be necessary for the investigating COM
m1ttee to remain here. The special in
veStigator will make reports from time
TO time, it was said, and the only neces-
sity for the presence of the committee
Is When some vital matter arises which
must be given immediate attention.
Senator Capper, who Is one of the out
spoken foes of high rents. will not be
member of the subcommittee.
Ine resolution is SO broad In its SCOPE
that the inquiry can extend into every
phase touching on the rent situation.
even indirectly. Chief attention will be
given to the financing Of second and
third trusts on the larger apartment
buildings, which the District COMMITTEES
planes as responsible more than any
thing else for continued nigh rents.
Members Of the committee felt that
the real estate dealers and landlords
IN the Capital will take the hint and
voluntarily lower rents before the COM
mittee makes its recommendations TO
Congress.
Discusses Other Bills.
In his radio talk Senator Capper aI-o
touched on the 1888 District appropris-
ton bill, now in the House awaiting
approval of the conference report. the
plans OF Senator Blaine of Wisconsin
TO have the Senate appropriate funds
out OF the Federal Treasury ror relief
OF the Bonus Expeditionary Forces in
washington, and the credit union bill
recently signed by President Hoover.
>, senator Capper said he did not think
the $7,750,000 Federal contribution car
RED in the appropriation bill "is
enough" but expressed the hope that
congress would give the District more
generous treatment next year.
regret also was expressed by Senator
Capper over the failure of Congress to
allow more than $780, 900 In the coming
nscal year for emergency unemployment
relief.
The appropriation bill, he said. carries
aItOsetner more than SAL 100000. ''It
mas been cut to the bone" he declared.
DO not thing the bill provides for a
single unnecessary improvement"
Explains Credit Union Law.
Senator Capper went into detail in
explaining the new credit union law.
pointing out that IS States have similar
laws.
1T is interesting to note" he said,
that credit unions have weathered the
depression remarkably well. There have
been few reports of credit unions In
financial difficulties"
The real good that the credit union
does. he explained, is that ''it helps the
small wage Garner to put aside what he
can for a rainy day."
IF a member of a credit union Is
faced with a sudden emergency" he
said, he can get a loan from the
union"