Evening star., 1941-04-13
Boarding House
.0vercrowding
To Be Probed
Rent-ControI Hearing
Friday Will Study
Health Conditions
BY JAMES E. CHM.

Sanitary and general health con-
ditions in Washingtons overcrowded
boarding and rooming houses are
to be considered by the special De-
fense Subcommittee of the House
District Committee when it resumes
public hearings Friday on bill pro-
viding for creation of commission
to control rentals here.
DR. George c. Rutland. District
health officer, and his staff have
been summoned as the principal
witnesses.
Representative Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia, sponsor Of
the rent control bill and also chair
man of both the House District
Committee and its special Defense
Subcommittee, yesterday called the
second hearing on the proposed
legislation for 10 am. Friday.
CrOwding Held Health Menace.
AT our first hearing" he said,
"it was indicated there was over
crowding in boarding and roominG
houses with resulting serious health
complications. In view of that tes-
timony. I have requested DR.. Ruiz
land and his staff TO appear for a
meeting Friday and tell the con-
ditions as now exist and make rec
concentrations they believe are
necessary. Perhaps their testimony
will occupy most of the time
The Defense Subcommittee, at its
initial hearing on Mr.. Randolphs 5
bill more than a week ago, was told
that in some rooming houses there
is only one bathroom for IS occu-
pants, and that there are as man.
as seven beds in a room. Over
crowding of these places, it was
testified, is due to the influx here
of national defense workers who
would rather live within walking
distance of the Government depart
ments than in private homes in
Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase and
| other similar residential sections,
where 5000 rooms are available.
Citizens to Give Views.
Chairman Randolph also plans
to give representatives of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations an
opportunity at Fridays hearing to
outline the organization views on
the proposed rent control legisla-
ton. The Federation has gone on
record as opposed to the plan.
Resumption of hearings on the
rent control bill is only one of the
local issues scheduled to be given
attention this week by House men,
bers. The Fiscal Affairs Subcom-
mittee of the District Committee is
expected to meet before the end of
the week to consider proposed
amendment to the Oyerton fiscal
formula bill that would make the
Federal Governments annual pay
ment toward municipal expenses
available primarily for capital out
lays. President Roosevelt has in
dicated he would favor such an ar
rangement.
Five Bills Up Tomorrow.
The House itself is expected to
take action tomorrow on five COM
paratively minor local bills on its
calendar. None of them is regarded
as controversial
One of these measures would au-
thorize the American Red Cross to
replace at its own expense a recrea-
ton building on the st. Elizabeth's
Hospital reservation which was de-
stroyed by fire in February. The
Red Cross, it was said, has planned
to spend $4,000 on the new build
( ing. 1t would be fireproof and Of
1 brick construction. The destroyed
| building was frame
/ The other bills would:
Authorize the property clerk OF
the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment to settle disputes over owner
ship of recovered stolen goods.
Give a retirement status and re.
| tirement pay to Charlotte E. Hunter,
who taught in the District public
schools from 1895 to 1918
Authorize the Federal Security
Administration to accept gifts for
Freedmen's Hospital.
Authorize issuance of a special
congressional automobile tag to
Hans Jurgensen, jr. tally clerk of
| the House.