Evening star., 1933-01-15
FURTHER RENT CUTS.
URGED BY CAPPER.
Congress May Be Forced to
Act in District, Says
Senator.

Again expressing the view that rents
In Washington have not come down as
much as they should, Chairman Cap
per of the Senate District Committee
said in a radio address last night he
believes that If further reduction5 arc
net made Congress will recognize the
emergency character of legislation on
the subject"
Speaking from Station WMAL. Sena-
tor Cappsr reviewed the history Of the
rental inquiry conducted by q Senate
subcommittee during the past six
months. He said the committee has
gathered all available information and
is studying the data preparatory to
filing report with the Senate.
As the result of our Investigation,
the Senator said, 'it is clear that some
reduction has been made in the rents
of many apartments in the District.
The reduction has by no means been
universal and the average reduction
made SO far is certainly not suflcie1t
to meet the situation.
Other Cities Compared.
'Ths fact is as pain as it was las
Spring. that rents in Washington are
entirely out Of line with rent reduc-
tions in other comparable cities. They
are likewise remaining at too high a
level when compared with other COM
mcdities.
The representatives of the real
estate interests have repeatedly stated
that when rents are too high in an
apartment or dwelling house the people
will move to cheape- quarters, and thus
force the rent down. The figures Of
the Washington Real Estate Beard
shcw that this has not been the case
IN this city.
1.-THE reductions that have been made
In rental properties in Washington do
net even begin to meet the increase in
vacancies The Real Estate Board made
2 survey Of apartments in November,
1881, and found vacancy rate of 7.9
per cent. In June, 1892, the board
checked up again and found the rate
had nearly doubled, being in excess of
II per cent. Then again in November
another survey was made and showed
vacancies still going up, with IT'S per
cent as the final figure.
There is no indication that vacan-
cies have diminished since then. If
anything, they are still increasing
Nevertheless, the rents for those same
properties have dropped only per cent,
and that does not mean that reduc-
tions were made in ell cases.
Emergency Recognized.
"The Board of Directors Of the
Washington Resi- Estate Board, in e
resolution adopted on the 7th of this
month, recognize that an emergency
exists. They have recommended to the
members of the board to cooperate
with each other and with owners to
reduce rents wherever possible. The
Real Estate Board deserves commen-
dation for this action.
"I am fully aware of the fact that a
large number of owners are under
heavy expense because OF interest
charges. Almost every day see ad-
vertisementS of forced sales of prop
erty, including apartment houses. We
all know of the large number OF fore
closure sales that have been held in
the last year. These naturally bring
down the cost Of owning an apartment
house end should be reflected in rent
reductions to tenants"
Senator Capper said the proposal to
revive the Rent Commission Is a mat
ter requiring a good deal of thought,
pointing out that among lawyers there
Is a difference of opinion as to whether
a new rent commission law would be
constitutional.
The Senator also reviewed the testi-
n1ony of Leroy Halbert, director Of
emergency relief for the District, re-
Earding the number of families being
aided through the relief program.