Evening star., 1941-09-27
Man Who Testified
AT Rent Inquiry Loses
Buckingham Lease
Richter Says Notice
Come Doy After He Cove
Committee information

A charge that a tenant protest.
ing higher rents before a con-
gressional subcommittee had been
"victirnized" by his landlord and
asked to move today was in the
hands of Representative Randolph,
chairman of the House District
Committee.
Irving Richter, an employe of the
Wage-Hour division of the Labor
Department. received notice yes
terday that his lease at Buckingham
Community in Arlington County,
Va, which expires November 30,
will not be renewed by the manage
ment. Thursday, Mr. Richter ap-
peared before a House subcommit-
tee conducting hearings on rent
control legislation for the District
and charged tenants who protested
unfair and unjustifiable rent in
creases' were "purged" from the
nearby Virginia apartment project.
Frank Arbello, general manager
Of Buckingham, called the notice
to Mr.. Richter a coincidence" and
said there was no connection be-
tween the Labor Department en-
ployes testimony and the apart
1ent management's notice that he
must move out.
Two Others Refused Renewals.
Mr.. Richter said there have been
three rent raises at Buckingham
since the first units of the apart
ment project were completed. Sub
Sequently, Mr.. Richter declared, the
Buckingham Civic Association con-
Quoted an investigation of the in
creases and protested to the man.
agement. Thereafter two presidents
of the Buckingham Civic Association
were refused renewals of their leases
although each lived in Buckingham
for about two years, Mr.. Richter
said.
He listed the two presidents as
DR.. Earl Beckner, first president OF
the organization, who was forced
to move with his wife, two children
and father, and Joe Egert, whose
lease recently expired. Mr.. Egert
talked with Miss Harriet Elliott OF
the consumers division of the La
Dor Department on the rent raises
Mr.. Richter is a member of the
Buckingham Civic Leagues Execu-
tive Board, which will function un-
til a new president Is elected tc
succeed Mr.. Egert.
Believes Testimony is Cause.
The Labor Department employe
said he has little doubt that he
failed to obtain a lease renewal
after living in Buckingham two
years. because of his appearance be-
fore the congressional subcommit-
tee. He said he first appeared as q
witness Tuesday but was not called
on to testify until Thursday. He
added that the notice he received
in the mail was dated Tuesday ano
the envelope was postmarked with
Thursdays date.
Mrs. Jean Claus, executive secre-
tary of the civic group, last night
sent the following telegram to Rep
resentative Randolph:
Irving Richter of our Executive
Board, whose rent testimony was
given before the District COMMITTEES
yesterday, was given notice today tt
vacate apartment in Buckingham
Respectfully urge your assistance ir
preventing victimization of congress
sional witnesses"
Will Seek Investigation.
The association will seek an in
vestigation OF the incident by thu
| Office of Price Administration anC
the Northern Virginia Regional De.
fense Council, Mr.. Richter said.
Mr.. Arbello issued the followini
statement:
The fact that Mr.. Irving Richie
received notice that no renewal o
lease would be given him at tn,
expiration of his present leas
shortly after he appeared befor
the House Committee is purely co
incidental. Office records plu
| United States Post Office registered
mail receipts show that this motto
was filed before Mr.. Richter's ap
pearance before the House com
mittee investigating rental increases
ut has been necessary since tn
inception of Buckingham to refus
renewal of leases to some tenants
Out of 1880 families it Is onl.
natural that some few would b.
denied renewal of leases.
THE rent increases effective II
Buckingham were officially ap
proved by the Federal Housing Ad
ministration over year ago. Afte
an investigation by the Virginia De
fense Council a few months ag,
these increases were considered no
out of line"