Evening star., 1943-04-19
DC. Rent Control Unit
Ready 10 Order Cuts in
Hiqh S|um Area Rates
But Tenant Must File
Complaint in Some Cases,
Administrator Says

The District Rent Control Ad-
ministration is prepared to order
reduction of exhorbitant slum
rents, but unless the rent has
been raised since January /,
1941, must await the filing of
complaints by the individual
tenants, Robert F. Cogswell. Dis
trict rent administrator, declared
today.
Forms on which these complaints
should be filed are available at the
Rent Control Office, 1740 Massa-
chusetts avenue NV, he pointed
out.
At the same time Ernest F.
Henry, general counsel for the Dis
trict rent office, disclosed that he
made personal visit yesterday to
several houses in Kings Court re-
ported as outstanding examples of
high rent slum properties. These
houses were included on one of the
two lists of blight area" properties
released Saturday by Chairman
D'Alesandro of the Public Health
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee.
Calls for Lower Rentals.
MIR. D'Alesandro, in a statement
accompanying release of the lists,
called on the District Rent Control
Administration for a downward re-
vision of many slum rentals.
Mr.. Henry said that by talking
with tenants at the several houses
he visited he found that in nearly
all cases the rent has not been
raised since January l, 1941. This
means, he pointed out, that in most
of the cases referred to by Mr.
D'Alesandro, the District rent Office
does not have power to lower rents
until petitions for adjustment are
filed by the tenants.
Only in cases where rents have
been raised above the January /,
1941, level-at which they were
frozen by the District Rent Control
Act-does the rent administrator
have authority to order reductions
on his own initiative and in the
absence of complaint from the
tenant, Mr.. Henry said.
In any case where he believes the
rent charged is too high, the tenant
may file petition for adjustment,
even though there has been no in
crease since the freeze date.
Can Order Repairs Made.
The rent control office will in
vestigate all cases in which petitions
are filed, Mr.. Henry said, and where
repairs are necessary to justify the
rent being charged, the rent ad-
ministrator will order them made
If the landlord pleads inability to
obtain priorities or lack of funds to
make repairs the rent administrator
will order reduction of the rent, the
attorney further explained.
One of the lists of slum-area prop
critics, made public by Mr.. Dale
sandro and under study today by
District rent control authorities, was
prepared by the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority; the other by inspectors Of
the District Health Department.
The Health Department list re-
ported the following "insanitary or
blight spots" and named the follow
ing persons as responsible for the
properties:
LOGAN COURT, between North
Capitol, First, L and Pierce streets
NV:
Floyd E. Davis responsible person
for houses numbered /, 3, 5, 7, 8,
II, 13, IS, II, 10, 81, 20, %, "a, 26,
%, 30. 80, 50, "a and 86.
G. A. Snow, responsible person for
houses numbered 68, 10, u, "A. rs,
78, 80.
R. A. Humphries, Nos. 88 and 80.
Myrtleo Bell, No. 90.
H. H. Carter, Nos. 18A. 18B, 20 and
| 20A on Pierce street (rear).
Hartman Realty, Inc, No. AZ.
| SHOWS COURT, between Twenty
fourth, Twenty fifth, I and K streets
NV:
| Washington Loan & Trust Co.,
Nos. 2421, 2423, 2425, 2427.
| E. M. Aiken, Inc, Nos. 2405, 2403
2401 and $50.
D. H. Nash, Nos. PASS, 2437, 2439
2l41, 2443, 2445, 2447. s37, 93e, 2440
fsee sLuN RENTS. Pase 3-xJ