Evening star., 1942-06-14
Owners Denied
General Rise
In Board Rates
Rent Official Holds
Need Doesn't Exist
At Present Time

Pending further study of informa-
ton filed by 30 per cent OF the
Districts boarding house operators,
no general increase in rates will be
permitted, 1T was announced yes
terday by Ernest F. Henry, general
counsel to Rent Control Admins
traitor Robert F. Cogswell.
The administrator had been asked
by IS leading boarding house own
ers to approve increases ranging to
a maximum of 25 per cent for food
and 1914 per cent for room rent.
The IS owners said they house and
feed 1000 persons.
Yesterday Mr.. Henry told a press
conference:
There is no present need for
public hearing to consider raising
room and board rates.
Individual Petitions Asked.
Owners able to justify an in
crease in rates based on increased
operating costs for services and sup
plies between January, l941, and
March, 1912, are invited to file in
dividual petitions for upward re-
visions.
Mr.. Henry said further that it is
quite likely prosecutions will be
started soon against the few pro-
prietors who violated the law by
increasing their rates without Sc
curing approval from the Rent Con-
troll Office
Only 526 landlords out of total
Of 1.223 compiled with a request to
file, not later than June II, sched-
ule of comparative costs, and only
100 of these 526 owners furnished
the information requested.
Mr.. Henry said these facts indi-
Gated the bulk of the boarding house
proprietors revealed lack of desire
or necessity" for rent-board in
creases. He emphasized he was not
prejudging Administrator Cogswell's
attitude, inasmuch as Mr.. Cogswell
acts in judicial capacity.
Many Statements Unsworm.
Nearly 200 proprietors in their
answers omitted January, 1941,
comparative operating figures. An
additional so landlords failed to
make a breakdown between costs of
meals and maintaining rooms.
More than 100 landlords failed to
notariZe their statements.
IF they don't believe their own
figures enough to swear to their
accuracy, we shouldn't" Mr.. Henry
commented.
An analysis of the 1870 returns
which supplied complete informa-
ton afforded a good cross section of
the city. Mr.. Henry said Out of
this total. one proprietor served
breakfast only, and two served din
ner only.
Fifteen proprietors serving 159
boarders charged less than $40 per
month for meals, the prices ranging
from $l4 to $3.50 per month. A
group of 127 operators, serving
1881 boarders. charged from $50
to $25 per month for meals. The
norm or average was $3.50.
Eighteen proprietors reported they
charged between s25 and $35 for
meals.
Segregation Difficult.
From a practical standpoint, it
Is difficult to segregate food and
rent charges where proprietors
serve meals, Mr.. Henry said.
The failure of more than one
half of the proprietors to answer
the rent control quiz, and failure
of all except 100 to supply the full
information desired, left the Rent
Control Administration wondering
about the necessity for any general
price increase. Based on their re-
plies, the landlords did not
strengthen their overall case, Mr..
Henry said. However, he added, the
regulatory officials feel those cases
meriting increases should and will
receive careful study by authorities.
In their petition asking a general
increase, the 35 proprietors asserted
that rs per cent of Government war
workers, or approximately 10000
persons, live in boarding houses
here. The Rent Control Act speci-
fies as a boarding house any resi-
dence accommodating more than
two paying persons.
The law gives boarders who have
been over-charged the right to enter
suit in Municipal Court to collect
twice the amount of such over