Evening star., 1941-09-17
New Rent Bill
AsksCeiIing
AT 1910 Level
Realty Mems PIon
Would Apply Only TO
Existing Structures

BACKGROUND
The irfuT OF Government
workers and the rising cost OF
liuing has focused attention on
the housing situation here. The
House District Committee already
has before it ttOo rent control
bills One provides for creation
OF a commission to fir and con-
troll rents; the other tUould g1Ue
the President control NTH potDer
to delegate authority to an dd-
miriStrdtor Of his choosing.
A bill calling for establishment
of maximum rents in the Capital at
September, 1910, levels. with super
vision of the ceiling" by an admin
istrator named by the District Com
missioners, was introduced in the
House today at the request Of Dis.
trict real estate owners and opera
tors.
The bill would apply restrictions
only on rents in structures already
existing in Washington and would
authorize the administrator to all
low increases in these upon show
ing of increased operating costs and
new capital outlays.
In introducing the measure. Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee said that hearings on 1t
would be held by the committees
special defense subcommittee at 10
| am. tomorrow.
The bill was submitted to Mr.. Ran
dolph by E. Barrett Prettyman,
counsel for the Joint Defense Hous-
| ing Committee, which consists OF
the Washington Real Estate Board.
the Washington Building Owners
and Managers Association. the oper-
| ative Builders Association, the Dis
! trict of Columbia Building and Loan
League and the Washington Tax
| PAYERS Association. Mr.. Prettyman
and other representatives of the
joint committee are to appear at to-
morrow's nearing.
Different From Earlier Bill.
Supporters of the bill said that IL
followed a set of principles outlined
to the subcommittee by the WASH
ington Housing Association.
One difference between the new
bill and measures suggested by Fed
eral Price Administrator Leon Hen
derson and the Housing Association
in previous hearings is that the new
| LII ,tefr
machinery set up by the District
Commissioners, while Mr.. Henderson
and the Housing Association would
grant this power to the President.
Also, in proposals to date no
definite recommendation had been
made regarding the base period.
The new bill would cover all
buildings or rooms offered for rent,
excepting hotels used mainly for
transient occupancy. To encourage
construction of new apartments and
houses to relieve the housing situ-
alton, the bill would allow operators
or owners to get whatever rent they
could the first month. The first
months rent figure would auto
matically become the maximum
rent thereafter.
Premium for Building.
| Proponents of the bill said that
this, admittedly. would give builders
a sort of premium" for putting up
badly needed housing units and, at
the same time, established a ceiling
and prevent subsequent rent in
creaSeS.
Landlords found guilty of violat-
/ ing the regulations would have to
refund tenants double the amount
of excess rent collected plus $50 to
cover attorneys fees.
Apartments and rooms now rent
ing for more than September 1870
rents would be reduced to the last
years figure under the bill. but there
would be no refund of amounts in
excess of the September 1910 levels
collected by operators since that
time.
The administrator would have the
power to make upward revision Of
rents to allow for increased op-
Grating costs and new capital out
lays. The administrator would be
named for a three-year term at an
annual salary of $1,000.
Services Would Be UNCHANGED.
Landlords would be required to
provide the same type and quality
of services that were offered In Sep
tember. 1910.
The September 1910 level was Sc
lected. according to supporters of
the bill. because the Labor Depart
ment's index of costs indicates that
month was normal" and that the
rush of defense workers to the Capt.
tai had not begun.
Landlords or tenants not satisfied
with decisions of the rent admins
traitor would be able to appeal to the
Districts Municipal Court. This.
supporters of the bill say, would be
more efficient than having such ap-
peals made to the District Court OF
Appeals, as proposed by some wit
nesses at earlier hearings.
Proponents said they favored
having the Commissioners name the
administrator because % they think
the Commissioners should have
more power and responsibility than
they are now given by Congress;
and (2) the whole matter covered
In the bill is local rather than ma
tional in scope.