Evening star., 1935-06-04
Maintains That Local
Rentals Are Equitable


The congressional committee that
investigated rents in the District
showed little or no knowledge Of local
or national conditions. Some Of the
proponents Of the proposed legislation
have been here but q short time and
were IN no position to draw fair COM
parsons. It may be true that local
rents are higher than some other
cities, for which there are justified
reasons.
One representative of q govern
mental group appeared before the
committee and stated that rents here
have increased 40 to so per cent. The
absurdity Of this remark needs no
refutation.
One OF the congressional committee
mentioned that small homes in his
city can be had for $65 to SIS per
month. Many here are 80 rented. 1t
is true because Of improved conditions
many are not available. To meet this
condition. more building is going Cn
now than for several years. Included
in the new construction are many
fats to rent for $3.50. The COM
mittee inquired II the owners had
combined to keep down construction
to push rents upward. Governmental
statistics show that the District ranks
third in construction in the country.
Construction would be further In
creased II Congress had not failed
to appropriate suficient funds for
sewer facilities.
Many properties here in the past
few years were rented for less than
a fair rental. Tenants were then very
dictatorial. Congress took no action
to make tenants pay an equitable
amount so that many owners might
nave avoided foreclosure.
II the newcomers in the city are
imbued with the idea that rent law
will decrease rents. they are reminded
that the last one did not-rents were
higher then than at any time. In
the main, it only gave the undesirable
tenant an opportunity to beat the
owner out OF additional rent, for the
owner was unable to dispossess within
a reasonable time.
Another charge Of this group was
that over hundred machinists at
the navy yard find 1t cheaper to live
In Baltimore Every native Washing
tonian familiar with the navy yard
knows that there always have been
and always will be, regardless OF
local rents. some local employees who
prefer to live in Baltimore, just as
some local residents working in Balti-
more prefer living here. Past expert
ence at the yard has shown that an
employe does not know when ne Is
secure In his position. There are
many new employees there as in the
N. r. A. 1t might be very unwise for
several reasons for a few hundred
native Baltimoreans working in the
District to move here.
Comparing local rents with other
localities is stupid without taking into
consideration the costs Of ground and
construction and prevailing wages.
Internal revenue figures indicate that
the District of Columbia led the whole
Nation with 14.9 per cent OF its pop-
ulation filing income tax returns with
an average for the country of $40 per
cent. with New York State the nearest
competitor with only Sal per cent.
The proponents of the measure sub
mitted no figures contradicting own
ers' figures showing less than l per
cent increase. And 1t should be borne
in mind that when salaries were re-
duced two years ago, many owners
reduced rentals. which were. at that
time. at the lowest ebb for several
years.
When Congress passed legislation
abolishing alley dwellings, no provision
was made for the rehousing of these
unfortunates. the majority OF whom
are on relief. The average rent for
such dwellings is $3.50 per month.
! am wondering If Congress will expect
the property owners of the District to
meet the situation when these tenants
are forced into their new and better
houses.
ARCHIE MITCHELL