Evening star., 1936-01-08
MRS. NORTON ASKS.
RENT CUT TO AVOID.
CONGRESS ACTION
Chairman of House D. c.
Committee Charges Ten
ants Gouged.
WARNS OF ELLENBOGEN
MEASURES REVIVAL
Content to Give Reasonable Time
to Landlords for Voluntary
Reductions.

Chairman Norton of the House Dis
trict Committee warned Washington
property owners today that unless
rentals are voluntarily reduced ''to
a fair and reasonable basis" Con-
gress would force them to do it.
A bill is now pending on the House
calendar to revive the wartime rent
commission.
Members of Congress and great
many residents in the District" Mrs.
Norton declared, "are being gouged.
Something has got to be done to rem
edy the situation"
Mrs. Norton issued her warning
during her first press interview since
Congress convened She said she did
not intend to propose congressional
investigation of the rent situation,
representative real estate men, ten
ants and property owners in an effort
to bring about "rectification" with
out congressional action.
Complaints to Be Received.
Mrs Norton also said she would fix
q time and place where tenants may
come and submit their complaints
against rents in confidence.
IF the information that has come
to me concerning the rent situation
here is correct" Mrs. Norton de-
clared, something has got to be done.
Rents in the District are out of all
proportion to the taxes charged and
the cost of upkeep for the property.
II have heard of specific cases
where rentals have been increased
above what they were last year, and
! think it is outrageous Simply be-
cause there has been a demand for
living quarters is no reason Why real
estate interests should take advantage
of the situation and increase rentals
On the other hand, I should think
real estate interests would be glad to
keep the apartments and houses filled
"a situation which real estate men
in other cities have not been so for
tunate to enjoy-and keep the rents
down.
Expects to Delay Bill.
"I believe if the Ellenbogen Rent
Commission bill now pending in the
House is called up the next District
day, there would be great favorable
reaction to it. However, don't think
1t would be wise to call it up then,
but let it remain on the calendar until
after I have had an opportunity to
confer with the real estate men and
tenants to determine what remedial
action can be taken without legislation.
If the real estate owners do not
voluntarily reduce rentals, feel con-
fident Congress will force them to
do it."
Mrs. Norton pointed out that the
hotels In Washington, despite an un-
usually large business this year, had
been fair and square" and had not
increased charges for accommodations.
Mrs. Norton also expressed the
opinion that the long pending airport
problem would be solved at the cur
rent session of Congress. She said,
however, she wanted to be better in
formed about the proposal of the De-
partment of Commerce to establish
two airports before she formally pre-
sented the proposition to her COM
mittee.
She declared the Commerce De-
partment proposal looks to me as a
proposition designed to please two
different factions"
Within the next few weeks Mrs.
Norton said she would confer with
Chairman King of the Senate District
Committee in an effort to work out
a bill to increase the authority of the
Commissioners in an effort to give
them reasonable power"
at is time we gave our Commis-
sioners power to function" she said.
"As soon as the Commissioners are
appointed their hands are tied with
red tape and they cannot function"