Evening star., 1942-01-02
Rent Control Office Swomped by Requests
From Tenants and Landlords on First Day
Most Coses Held Up
Until Fucts Can Be
Stated in Writing
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

"A woman Win d 1-mOnCn-OlC
baby, who, she said, became Ill be.
cause the landlady turned OIL the
heat in an avowed attempt to "freezt
US out" was the first complainant
heard todayl by Administrator Rob.
ert F. Cogswell as the District emer-
gency rent control law went into
effect. The law freezes rents and
services at the level OF January 1
1a4l.
The woman, Mrs. Robert P. Smith
rents an apartment on North Capt.
tol street, where she resides with
her husband and son. Last fall Mrs
Smith, a registered nurse, took in
a destitute mother and baby, who
had been deserted by the husband
and father. Several weeks ago, she
said, the landlady ordered them to
move, saying she wished to fix up
the apartment and raise the rent
When Mrs. Smith refused because
there was mo place to co." the
landlady threatened TO freeze them
out, she said. For the past two
weeks, Mrs. Smith continued, they
have had no heat or hot water. The
landlady refused them heat, but
said the water heater was broken,
she added.
Earlier In the fall, Mrs. Smith
related, the friends baby became
i'll with pneumonia and nearly died
The child has been sick since then
and Mrs. Smith has nursed it while
the mother works as a waitress
Yesterday, Mrs. Smith told Mr.
Cogswell, the landlady threatened
to throw us out bodily. We called
IN police who told her she had no
right to do So"
Told to Pay $40 Rent.
Mr.. Cogswell is investigating the
ease. He told Mrs. Smith to pay
the $40 January rent which the
landlady previously had refused to
accept and she need have no fear
of eviction.
The rent administrator qualified
today for the title of busiest man
in Washington. His office is quar-
tered in the old Force School, 1740
Massachusetts avenue NV. The
building is in a bad state of repair
and workmen are hurriedly trying
to put it In livable shape. Desks
and chairs are streWn all over the
building and the complete personnel
of the rent Office has not been
named.
The telephone rang constantly
this morning in Mr.. Cogswell's pri-
vate Office, which was dirty and
bare except for a new desk and
chair. as many of Washington s
100000 tenant families and thou
sands of landlords called to register
claims. In each case Mr.. Cogswell
listened to the complaint and then
told the caller to put it in writing.
In week or so he hopes to have
printed forms for compliments to
fill out and file.
In addition TO those who tele-
phoned or called in person, Mr..
CogsWell had more than hundred
letters, mostly from dissatisfied
tenants, waiting for him. Many of
them were iliegible The admin
lstrator said complaints were piling
in from persons in all walks of
life. From the very well-to-do and
the very poor as he put 1t.
Mrs, Smith was accompanied to
Mr.. CogsWells desk by Mrs. Mar
garet Roberts, who occupies an
apartment in the same building.
Mrs. Roberts said her family, con-
sisting of her husband, son and
daughter, also has been ordered to
vacate and had received the same
treatment as Mrs. Smith.
Orders Rate Restored.
On the humorous side, Mr.. Cogs-
well was called by landlord who
said he had raised the rent of a
young couple in his building be-
cause they had an addition to the
family" The man said he did not
intend to reduce it. More children,
more rent" the administrator quoted
him as saying Mr.. Cogswell told
him the rental would have to be
restored to the lower figure.
The first landlord to file a claim
for increased rent was Earl w.
Bailey. builder and real estate man
OF 1885 Meridian place NV. He
said he raised rents on some houses
during l94l to what he considered
a fair level. Recently, he added, he
notified tenants their rent for this
month would revert to the level of
a year ago. Mr.. CogsWell will hear
his request for a further increase.
mo. madam, you will not be
evicted If you pay the same rent you
did for last January" Mr.. Cogswell
told a worried tenant, one of many
with the same problem. Just pay
the same rent and he can't make
you move. We will hear the request
for raise when we get to it."
A number of persons living out
side the District in Virginia and
Maryland called to ask If they were
affected by the rent law. Mr.. Cogs-
well told them they were not, but
that the Government is working on
legislation to govern rents in all
defense areas.
Landlord Assailed.
Mr.. Cogswell described as "un-
considerable and vicious" the action
OF a landlord in raising the rent
OF two young women who called
him today. The girls said they
paid SIS for an apartment which has
only the bare necessities" In the
way Of furniture. On December /.
they related. they received notice
the rent was to be raised on jan
uary ! to 500. The landlord gave
them until December 26 to agree
10 the increase, the girls said, and
oHHnd fhof hn