Evening star., 1937-05-22
D, c, REAL ESTATE
BILL GETS PLACE
0NH0USE AGENDA
District Board Hopeful of
Passage for Plan to
License Brokers.
COMMISSION RULE
is PROVIDED FOR
Group Will Have Power to Sus.
pend, Revoke Licenses
After Hearing.

The bill to license and regulate
real estate brokers and salesmen in
the District has been placed on the
House calendar for action, and the
Washington Real Estate Board, it's
sponsor, has high hopes that its long
fight for enactment will end in VIC
tory before this session of Congress is
concluded
The original bill, introduced by
Chairman Mary T. Norton OF the
House District Committee, was slight
ly amended and reintroduced Hear
ings were held by the subcommittee
OF which Representative Palmisano,
Democrat Of Maryland is chairman,
during which the Real Estate Board
was represented by Roger T. White
ford, counsel; Morton j. Luchs, vice
president; William l.. Beale and
Charles J. Rush, board secretary.
Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal
stated that the measure had the ap-
proval of the District Commissioners
and the acting director of the budget.
1t Is patterned after bills which have
passed the Senate during the last six
years.
Three Man Commission.
Administrative features covered by
the pending bill provide for the ap-
.pointment Of three-man commits
sion. The District assessor, as ex
ofncio member, will be chairman and
serve without additional compensa-
tion. The other two members, to be
named by the District Commissioners.
may receive annual compensation at
the rate of $40 per seven-hour day,
but not more than $4,000 per year.
One OF the commissioners may have
, been actively engaged in the real es-
tate business within five years i'm
medlately prior to appointment. The
District Commissioners are author
tied to employ secretary and such
assistants as may be required to en-
force the regulations.
No license may be issued to anv
one under 81 years of age, nor to anv
person who cannot read, write or un-
derstand the English language. Ap-
pl1cants will be required to submit
proof OF their competency to trans
act any OF the various phases of the
real estate business. This proof will
not be required of those brokers who
apply within 100 days of the passage
OF the law and furnish proof of two
years experience as real estate broker
OF salesman within the District.
May Revoke Licenses,
Applications shall be accompanied
by the recommendation of at least
two property owners residing within
the District, not related to the appli-
cant, who have known him for at
least six months prior to making ap-
plcatlon. Firms, partnerships,
associations or corporations shall be
required to state the name and resi-
1dence of each officer or member of
the firm actively participating in the
real estate brokerage business. All
applications shall be accompanied by
4 bond in the sum of $4,000 for real
estate brokers and $1,000 in the case
OF statesmen. The annual fee for real
estate brokerage licenses was set at
$50 by the District Committee of the
House and $40 for each salesman. All
brokers must maintain a place of
business within the District.
The commission may investigate
upon its own motion or upon proper
complaint the conduct Of any real
estate broker or salesman Should
the facts warrant the revocation or
g1ISnenSiOn Of tho hroker's or soloc
mans license, the commission may
take such action following a public
hearing. Violation of certain provi-
sions of the pending law may result
IN revocation or suspension OF any
license.