Evening star., 1942-05-15
u. ). Dfaftinq
Spare Room
Rental Plea
Patriotic Response
By Owners Seen os
Housing Thousands
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

to rent, thus relieving, at least to a
large extent, the acute housing sit
uation, it was learned today.
The plans are being worked out
by officials of the housing priori-
ties branch of the War Production
Board, in cooperation with civic
leaders, and those who have in
vestigated the housing problem es-
timated that fully $4,000 rooms
would be thrown on the market If
owners and lessees of private homes
would open their available rooms
to the Federal employees who still
arrive in a steady stream.
While the possibility of asking
Congress to pass law requiring
householders to share their space
has been discussed, j. Anthony
Marcus, special assistant admins
traitor of the housing priorities
branch, the officer who is directing
efforts to work out voluntary hous-
ing, does not believe such a meas
ure Is necessary.
Sees Patriotic Response.
"1 think the patriotic citizens OF
Washington will be glad to share
their homes with war workers. he
said
But Mr.. Marcus and others who
have studied the problem realize
there is a serious difficulty in the
District landlord-tenant law. A pro-
vision of this law, recently clarified
by the Emergency Rent Control
Act, requires a landlord to give 80
DAYS notice and obtain a court
order before ousting a tenant, and
such an order Is not to be Ssueo
without what the Municipal Court
regards as ample cause.
Many of those who own or rent
private homes, it is pointed out,
would hesitate to let rooms II they
would be unable to get rid OF un-
desirable tenants without going into
court. Hence, Mr.. Marcus explained,
1t is hoped to amend the local law
by exempting the private home
owner, who does rot make a business
of renting rooms, from this par
ticular provision.
Lawyer Suggests Plan.
A Washington lawyer widely ex-
perienced in landlord-tenant rela-
tions expressed belief that the rent
control law and any previous laws
protecting tenants would have to be
amended before even a voluntary
agreement between a war worker
and householder for termination
of the tenancy could be made bind
ing. He suggested that the law
might be amended to allow one
renting out only a few rooms-four
or less, for eXample-to enter into
an agreement with a tenant for
ending his stay after due notice.
The rent control law. he explained,
was intended to freeze tenancles as
well as rents and to protect those
renting apartments or rooms from
being ousted, except for such causes
as maintaining nuisance or dis
orderly conduct, and those charges
have to be proved in court.
While Mr.. Marcus agency, which
Is headed by Sullivan Jones, is not
directly concerned, Mr. Marcus feels
that all existing space should be
exhausted before any new buildings
are put up.
Threat Over Construction.
In this connection, it was recalled
that the drastic Order L-41, which
the w. P. B. issued early last month,
gives Director Donald M. Nelson
authority to halt all "non-war" and
"non-essentiar' building While some
private construction has continued
mostly that which previously had
been contracted for-the urgent
need for critical materials to supply
war needs may stop all such build
ing.
On the other hand, Mr.. Marcus
explained, repairs to private dwell
ings and apartments are encour-
aged, because this means maintain
ing housing space and perhaps, by
minor adjustments. making more
available.
Hereafter" he added, "the test
will be-does your building con-
tribute to the war effort? If not,
forget it for the duration"
Another contribution which war
workers coming to Washington can
make to housing is not to bring their
families along, Mr.. Marcus pointed
out. There is no more reason for
a girl coming here for war work to
fetch along relatives than for SOL
der to have his family follow him
to various posts of duty, in Mr. Mar
Gus opinion.
The housing problem affects
Washington primarily because it's
the hub of all war plans, but defense
production centers face a similar
situation, and in some it Is more
acute In Baltimore, for instance,
hundreds of production workers are
living In trailers.
Sees Conditions Exaggerated.
Yet Mr.. Marcus is convinced that
conditions in Washington have been
greatly exaggerated and can be
solved if those who have rooms to
spare will cooperate. Even the
alleged lack of commercial rooms
has been exaggerated, ne declared,
pointing to a total of 1000 available
ones listed by the Housing Registry
on a recent day.
washington" he added, lis 60
ing through a similar experience to
New York's during the Worlds Fair
They gave New York black eye at
that period by heralding supposed
shortage of hotel rooms, high prices
and so on Thus many girls are
afraid to come to Washington now
because they've heard they can't get
rooms and that living conditions are
very bad. The true picture is not
nearly so dark"
Mr.. Marcus expressed hope and
confidence that those in private
homes -'ould avert housing crisis.
He pointed out that in England
there was no observation-disclosures
in defense areas had to billet work.
ers sent them. 1t would be much
better, he said, for home dwellers
here to do it voluntarily, and, in
many instances. they could pick