Evening star., 1942-01-22
New Rent Act
Adopted,
Go Into Effect
Hundreds of Cuses
Will Be Speeded
By Regulations

Dy NeSuiUtlOHS
Clearing the way for decisions by
Rent Administrator Robert F. Cogs-
well on hundreds of questions Of ad-
justments OF rents above or below
levels of January /, 194t. the Board
Of Commissioners today adopted e
comprehensive set of regulations to
implement the District Emergency
Rent Act. The rules are effective
at once.
One of the most vital, in the opin-
lon of Mr.. Cogswell, is that provid-
ing for satisfaction" of case whefe
the landlord and tenant agree to
an adjustment. 1t calls for the
tenant to sign a notarized statement
that he was under no coercion or
misapprehension of his rights. In
addition there is saving clause
permitting the rent administrator
to reopen the case If and when he
finds any need to do so.
Literally hundreds of cases, where
In it was declared rent adjustments
were warranted because the owner
had provided improved or enlarged
facilities, have been awaiting decl-
sion. This was delayed until the
rent regulations could be drafted
and promulgated and until the
necessary legal forms could be print
ed. Some of these forms were sent
today to the printer.
New Apartments Affected.
In somewhat the same situation
have been the cases involving legal
rent to be charged for apartments
in buildings erected or completed
since the beginning Of last year
Heretofore the rent administrator
and his staff merely have been ad-
vising owners and tenants. of their
rights under the law, pending adop-
ton of the rules.
Mr.. Cogswell announced that be-
ginning Monday his staff no longer
would operate the question and
answer clinic for parties calling at
the rent-control Offices at 1740 Mas
sachusettS avenue NV. With the
adoption of the regulations, he said,
an orderly system would be in
voked.
Callers will be sent first to Charles
Stofberg, public relations officer, and
he will route them to other staff
workers, except in cases where the
complainant is to be directed to fill
out the normal complaint form.
Mr. Cogswell cited q typical case
which now can be handled under
section 16 OF the regulations. It deals
with an apartment once rented un-
furnished for $50 . month, but
which during taAe past year was
equipped with 5000 worth OF furni-
ture and other fittings, after which
the owner asked and the tenant was
willing to pay~$l65 a month. How
ever, because Of the stih penalties
for violation of the Rent Act, the
tenant refused to pay the high rent
until the agreement was sanctioned
by the Cogswen Office The rent ad-
ministrator said there were hun
dreds Of cases of this kind on which
action now will be taken promptly.
No Costs for Filing.
Another section of the rules pro-
vides there will be no costs for the
filing Of petitions for adjustment
Mr.. Cogswell explained, however
that there is a charge to cover the
cost Of registered letters which must
be sent to the respondent to each
complaint.
Another section provides that no.
tice given respondents shall be made
returnable not less than 10 days
from the date of issue, but that the
notice shall be served at least five
days before the return day.
If the respondent fails to appear
for hearing scheduled by the rent
administrator or to file a written
statement in answer to a petition,
the case nevertheless will proceed,
under the rent regulations, and the
examiner after hearing parties
present shall make findings of fact
and recommend an appropriate or
der, for the approval of the rent ad-
ministrator. If both parties to a
case fail to appear, the examiner
may return the case to the files or
order the case dismissed, or make
such other disposition of it ''as JUS
tice may require"
May Demand Data.
The examiner is given authority
to administer oaths and aff1rmations
and may require by supoena or
otherwise the attendance and testi-
mony Of witnesses, and the produc-
ton of documents, inspection of
housing accommodations and other
wise may obtain necessary facts.
Another section provides that
petitioners for adjustment and
respondents may appear in person
at hearings, but that no one except
a member of the Oar Of the District
Court shall be permitted to appear
at hearings ''in representative
capacity" except to obtain con-
tinuance. Mr.. Cogswell said this
meant rent agents could not act as
attorneys in the conduct of a hearing
unless they were members Of the
District bar.
The staff of examiners was COM
pleted today when the oath of office
was administered to Ernest Francis
Williams, 46, Of 4451 Albemarle
street NV, for many years prac-
ticing attorney here who in recent
years has been associated with the
District Lawyers and Washington
Title Co.