Evening star., 1942-06-07

With but one dissenting vote, the
Federation of Citizens Associations
last night at it's final meeting of
the season adopted a proposal to
amend the District Emergency Rent
Act in order that "a backlog of
$4,000 Washington homes" might be
opened to accommodate the city's
growing war population.
Designed to make it conductive to
renting rooms in the residential area
without forcing the householder
into the landlord business" the pro-
posal would amend the act so that
the renting of accommodations up
to four persons would be permitted
and assuring householders reason
able freedom in. controlling who
shall and shall not occupy such
facilities"
The resolution carrying the
amendments to the act, proposed by
James A. Crooks, chairman of the
Law and Legislation Committee,
urges action by Congress as speedily
as possible.
Text Of Addition.
To define such accommodations,
the association approved the fol-
lowing addition to the act: The
housing accommodations are nom
housekeeping. furnished, accommo-
dations located within a single
dwelling unit not used as a room
ing or boarding house as defined
by this act and the remaining por-
ton of which dwelling unit is occu-
pied by the lessor or his immediate
family"
In addition, the Federation pro-
posed revision of the term rooming
or boarding house to p.ean a house
in which living quarters are rented
by the householder to more than
four persons" Under the existing
law, a place renting to more than
two persons is defined as a rooming
establishment.
Householders who have never
rented rooms to strangers before
often are apprehensive of results
even when they desire to do their
part in these times, Mr. Crooks said.
Many have heard of experiences
Of others who have rented their
rooms only to find they are un-
able to get rid of undesirable ROOM
ers without becoming enmeshed in
lengthy and complicated require
ments of the rent control law and
Municipal Court procedure" he
stated.
Not in Rooming Business.
1T must be borne in mind that
these people are not in the business
nor do they desire to assume the
responsibilities of a business enter
prise-they are simply householders
who occupy their premises as a
private home in which several rooms
are available"
The solution lies, Mr.. Crooks said,
in making it as easy as possible
within proper limitations for a
householder with one or two spare
rooms to rent them to desirable
persons suitable to the owner. Such
eSAioiiIy, liC duOCu, SliOulu Dc per
mitted to be terminated under the
usual landlord and tenant law
without regard to Rent Act restric-
tionS.
1t was stressed, however, that the
amendment would retain the safe
guards of the Rent Act pertaining
to rent ceilings, minimum service
standards and the powers of the rent
administrator.
In unanimous voice vote, asso-
citation delegates gave their support
to the present coroner's Office, which
Senate bill now being considered
would revise drastically. They took
the stand that the bill would elm
mate the efficient coroner's jury
system" and would entail expendi-
ture of an additional $4,000 a year
to operate the revised office.
Office Best Run" in U. s.
''Why pay that much more money
annually to conduct coroner's Of
flee, which already is the best run
in the country?" DR.. C. B. Camp
bell, chairman Of the Public Health
Committee, asked.
c. D. Calvert, Lincoln Park dele