Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-10
LAWYER CLASHES
WITH ELLENbOGEN
AT RENT HEARING
Realtors Attorney Refuses
to Testify if Limited
to an Hour.
COMMITTEE ADJOURNS
TO TUESDAY MORNING
Real Estate Dealers Express De.
sire to Appear in Oppose
ton to Bill.
BY JOHN H. CLINE.

A CLASH between q House SuDC0m.
mittee investigating rents in Washing
ton and local real estate men was pre-
cipitated today when a representative
of the latter refused to offer any testi-
mony opposing the proposed rent bill
unless given ample time for his
purpose.
The witness, Roger J. Whiteford,
attorney for the Washington Real
Estate Board. said he did not care to
offer any testimony II he was to be
limited to an hour or so in time.
You are not going to dictate to this
committee" Chairman Ellenbogen.
THE committee will decide how much
time to give you after hearing the ma
ture Of your testimony"
Whiteford pointed out the proposed
bill affects large holdings in real
estate and said sketchy presentation
Of his case would be futile.
"An Right" Says Whiteford.
THE committee will give you such
time as 1t deems necessary the chair
man stated. IF you don't want to
take that it's all right with me-"
ITS all right with me, too." the
attorney replied. Il don't care whether
you give me the time or not. This
is like trying man after you've shot
him"
Whiteford told newspaper reporters
he was speaking for "a number of
real estate men," but did not specify
their names. He said he would need
at least three or four hours to pre-
sent his testimony
The hearing was adjourned until
Tuesday at 10 am. after other real
estate dealers had expressed desire
to be heard in opposition to the bill.
Low Cost Houses Urged.
Creation of Government housing
authority to build low-price houses
for Government workers and alley
dwellers was urged at the public hear
ing.
The hearing was ordered despite the
fact that the House District Com
m;ttee has approved the bill. which
would establish a commission to AK
and control rents.
The committee was told many Gov
eminent workers, unable to pay the
price for living quarters here, are
moving to Baltimore and committing.
Two large apartments in the Mary
land city are bidding for Washing
ton tenants, witness said
Chairman Ellenbogen said he has
heard reports Of a proposal for a
rent strike among machinists at the
Washington Navy Yard.
Ring Says Rents Too High.
In recommending establishment Of
a Federal housing authority. James
Ring. local rent expert, said rents
here are too high and that an emer-
gency exists. He said thousands of
persons are living in squalid, insani-
tary dwellings which breed crime and
disease.
Ring testified that in the second
police precinct disease. vice and
crime engendered by the congested
housing in that area was costing the
District about 100000 a year over
and above its receipts in real estate
taxes from the precinct"
The witness said SPECTATORS should
be eliminated from the Government
housing project, and that a limited
dividend corporation" might be
formed to handle the job if the Gov
eminent should decide not to 60
into it.
Representative Wood of Missouri
asked Ring why there isn't more
building here now.
II don't know" the witness answer
ed. there's plenty of money available
and the demand is strong"
Avoids Conspiracy Charge.
Mr.. Wood asked If he thought there
is a conspiracy among real estate men
to maintain high rents by sitting
building which would increase the
supply of dwellings.
Ring said he would not like to make
such a charge, having no facts on
which to base it.
Well" Mr.. Wood observed, Con-
gress wants to know. Personally, I
think it is a most unusual situation"
William S. Kenney, vice president
of the National Federation of Fed
eral employees, testified he has "some
evidence" of conspiracy to maintain
rents here at high level.
He said he has been told real estate
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