Evening star., 1934-05-31
ID. c. HOUSING LAW
URGED ON SENATE
by UTILITIES BODY
General Declaration Against
Rent Increases Included
in Final Report.
FEAR FURTHER HIKES
WITH PAY RESTORATION
Commission Believes Act Would
Avoid Future Periodic Waves
of 0verdevelopment.

A recommendation for the enact
ment Of a comprehensive District
housing law for the District and a
general declaration against rent in
creases at the present time are the
high lights of the final report Of the
Public Utilities Commission on its
housing and rental investigation sub
mitted to the Senate today.
Another objective of such q law,
the report states, would be to avoid
in the future periodic waves Of over
development and in general to form
the basis for establishing better rela-
tions between landlords and tenants,
buyers and sellers of housing property.
Fear Further Increases.
In conclusion the report stated that
the per cent pay restoration to
Government employees recently has
had the effect of stiffening rents at
the 1888 level. The commission then
declared that it has heard reports
that the restoration Of another per
cent of the Government pay cut July
l is likely to be followed by rent
increases.
Commenting on these reports, the
commission declared that, in the
light Of the investigation it has just
completed. it believes the raising of
rents at this time is, in the main,
unjustified.
The report transmitted to the Sen
ate today covers nearly 800 pages,
rrraSav1ffn0 O nf cfofiSfinc and
historical information on the distri-
button of housing properties over the
various sections of the city, the
density of population in certain areas,
the need for going ahead without de-
lay on the elimination of alley dwell
ings as we'll as inadequate street
housing in certain areas.
The report suggests that low cost
apartment facilities for Government
workers could be developed to ad-
vantage in areas close to the down.
town district by limited dividend cor
porations, if the Government itself
does not wish to undertake such
projects.
The report was taken to the Cap
itol by James Ring, under whose
supervision the information on which
the report Is based was assmbled.
Urge Sanitary Conditions.
In its conclusions and recommended
tions, the commission said:
q. Steps should be taken to pro-
vide the low wage Garner with sani-
tary living accommodations within
his means.
20. Dilapidated housings. lacking
sanitary conveniences, in the alleys
and in congested area, are occupied
by thousands Of Washingtonians.
While in many instances the actual
outlay of cash for rent is small, in
reality it constitutes an exorbitant re-
turn on the actual value of the
buildings.
IS. The commissions study Of
housing conditions in the second pre-
cinct shows that they are of vital
concern to the taxpayer. Millions are
spent by the District annually in the
congested areas of Washington in the
prevention and detection of crime.
treatment of disease, care of juvenile
delinquents and enforcement of san
itary and building laws.
The prevalence of crime, vice and
disease in the heart of the city is ag-
gravated by the great numbers Of
poorly paid workers who can find no
better accommodations at reasonable
rates.
This costly and dangerous condi-
tion can best be remedied by the de-
struction and complete elimination of
the breeding ground. The land can
be put to excellent use. Government
employees would welcome the erection
in the downtown area of modern,
well-built, low-cost apartment houses,
rented and managed under such con-
ditions as to make continued resi-
dence attractive.
Such disposition, however, cannot
be accomplished II the buildings are
erected under speculative conditions.
and the management subordinated to
the selfishness of speculative or pro-
motional interests.
THE taxpayer has a deep interest
in remedying these conditions, and
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