Evening star., 1933-07-09
LOW WAGE CLASS
FIRST IN SURVEY
OF DISTRICT RENTS
Conditions of Those on Re-
lief Rolls Also to Be
Probed.
COMPILING COMPLAINTS
is TO BE UNDERTAKEN
Public Utilities Commission Issues
Instructions for Guidance of
Parties in Inquiry.

The survey of rented housing con-
ditions being conducted by the Public
Utilities Commission at the behest OF
the Senate will deal particularly with
the situation facing tenants in the low
wage class and those on the relief roll.
This was revealed in a series of writ
ten lnstructionS outlined by the COM
missioa for the guidance of its rent
survey research assistant. James Ring
which were made public late Yesterday
The efforts to establish the extent
OF low cost sanitary housing for families
IN the low-salary class and those sup
ported by relief agencies will be a spe-
cial part of the survey side of the COM
missions rental study. Another i'm
pOrtant chase of the work will be the
compiling Of complaints from ten MS
and an effort to seek adjustments in
worthy cases.
Wide Information Sought.
The commission said it is desirable
that the survey include all pertinent in
ectS begun OF contemplated here. as
well as a statement of the possibilities
for construction of rented premises
along modern housing lines.
Ring was directed to make his sur
vey report comprehensive and to include
facts concerning rent levels for the six
months period up to next January, in
comparison with those year previous.
Vacancies. profits from rental operations
and conditions in financing of rented
properties also are to be compared IN
the same way.
Facts also are sought concerning
leases, real estate taxation, cost OF con-
struction of rented properties and prac-
tees of real estate agents and owners.
Sources Of Data.
Ring was directed to collect all avail
able pertinent data from the Bureau OF
Labor Statistics, the Housing Division
of the Department of Commerce, the
Bureau of the Census. the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion. Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton. the United States marshal, as
well as various District government
departments.
He is also to contact the following
organizations: American Federation OF
Government Employees. American Fed
Grafton of Labor, National Federation
of Federal Employees, Washington Real
Estate Board, Operative Builders AS
soclation. Vernon Owen and Adam
Weschler, auctioneers: the general man
aper of the Century of Progress Expo
sition. Chicago; Bureau of Govern
mental Research, Detroit, and the Ma
tional Conference on Slum Elimina-
ton, Cleveland.
AS to complaints by tenants against
rental conditions, the commission Will
act after Ring has completed complla-
tion of needed data in each case.
Procedure Explained.
"On determination by the commis-
sion of the issue of complaint the IN
structions read, the agent and the
tenant shall be promptly advised OF
such action, and in the event CT the
refusal of any of the parties to ac-
cept the decision of the commission,
the commission shall take such further
action as it may deem advisable"
In cases where the tenant has not
consulted the agent about the SUBJECT
of his complaint, the tenant will be
instructed to do so and to inform tne
commission of the result of such an IN
terview, the statement continues.
The commission ruled that all mate
rial for publication in the press or for
public addresses shall be approved first
by the commission.
The commission will entertain no
complaints about home buying or FORE
closures, since the survey Is limited to
housing in rented premises, and it Will
take no action on complaints when
parties thereto are engaged in litlga-
ton.