Evening star., 1935-05-16
LUSK IS ACCUSED
AT RENT HEARING
Witness Is Charged With
Twisting Facts in De.
niaI of Emergency.
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Continued From First Page)
there exists an emergency IN the houS-
ing field depends on four points.
/. Whether there is q shortage of
living accommodations.
2. Whether rents are unfair.
3. Whether owners have realized
exhorbitant profits.
4. Whether creation of a rent COM
mission viii prove remedial in nature.
Figures Attacked.
The witness started with a chart
designed to show living accommoda-
tions have expanded faster than the
increase in population and the ac-
curacy Of his figures was Immediately
attacked by Chairman Ellenbogen.
Lusk said the increased population
in Washington since 1882 is about
10000, while the chairman said 1t was
nearer 35, 900, not including families of
many workers.
Lusk replied 1t was unfair to COM
pare housing accommodations with
families not here, but Chairman Ell
lenbogen replied the families would
be here if they could find places to
live.
II believe men and women working
here are entitled to have their chill
dren with them," the chairman de-
clared.
Lusk submitted the following points
In his atatempt to convince the sub
committee there is no housing emer-
gency in the District:
/. To have conditions today at all
similar to those of 1919, when the
Rent Commission started, would mean
the population would be at least
630,000 no one has estimated present
population at more than $4,000.
2. AT least 1000 dwelling units
for rent are now or will be available
by June /.
LOO Units Under Way.
8. More than 1,7oo houses and
apartment units are now actually
under construction in Washington and
the metropolitan area: more than
three times as many being built dur
ing first four months of 1885 than
during the same period of 1894. From
500 to 1000 more are planned. Con-
struction at the present rate means
that during 1885 housing will be pro-
vided in Washington and vinicity for
almost $4,000 persons.
4. An emergency such as the bills
proponents say exists should boost
rents; between January, 1894, and jan
uary, 1885, rents in II 900 apartment
units rose on the average one-fifth of
l. -.zI- 4
figure. but includes buildings that in
creased their rents as well as those
which declined or remained stationary
5. An alleged emergency should
produce not only high rents, but ex-
orbtant profits. Earnings on assessed
value averaged in 1884 less than S
per cent during year when buildings
were more than 95 per cent full.
Comparison Offered.
6. In 1888, when the salary reduc-
tions were in effect and rents were
higher than today, Government en-
ployes paid from IA to Is per cent Of
their income for rent. Wage earners in
20 OF So cities where the Department of
Commerce analyzed the figures paid
as much or more than this amount.
z. Every advocate of rent control
urges more housing. The surest way to
discourage building Is to tell a builder
that board composed of those who.
by the very terms of the Ellenbogen
bill cannot be familiar with real estate,
will control his property.
Toward the end of the Rent Com
mission residential building scared, in
creasing so per cent the first year
and 100 per cent the second after
the commission ceased to function,
Names Realty Group.
The witness asserted rents now are
lower on the average than two years
ago. At this point the committee ad-
journed for 80 minutes to answer a
roll call in the House.
Lusk said the members of the COM
fnittee he represents are:
E. c. BaltZ, William L. Beale, H.
Clifford Bangs, Frank Bell, Morris
Cafritz, T. D. Carson, Harry K. Boss,
H. E. Doyle, William j. Flather, jr.;
Robert V. Fleming, Maurice Griest, C.
Clinton James, Morton j. Luchs, Lanier
p. McLachlen, William c. Miller,
James Med. Shea, Charles ]. Rush,
Arthur Harnett, August Gumpert,
Roger Whiteford, counsel.
Before Lusk took the stand, Cathryn
Wood, representing the Tenants Pro-
tective League, Endorsed the bill
She said rents here are worse than
Highway robbery" and explained her
organization proposed to furnish ten
ants legal advice.