Evening star., 1943-04-18
Housing
,Continued From First Page

trlct officials and has been made q
part of our committee records.
IN view of the laxity which we
ourselves observed in the manner in
which these properties are main
tanned, we believe it to be in the
public interest to release this ma
terlal from the records of our public
hearings.
"Ownership of slum property
changes hands rapidly very often.
but these lists which we are releas-
ing were checked only week ago.
We feel in the light of what we
have learned that there is room for
considerable downward revision of
rentals on many of these proper
ties. The responsibility for taking
this action rests on the shoulders
of the District Rent Control Ad-
mlnlstratio d,
Calls for Law Enforcement.
AT the same time the District
officials should enforce all the laws
on the statute books to compel
owners of these properties to make
repairs when their properties vio-
late health or building regulations.
The building inspectors Office
must cooperate to the fullest ex-
tent with Health Department Of
| flclals in making inspections of
these dwellings and seeing that
regulations are enforced. Every
agency of the District government,
In fact, must bear it's share of the
burden of this work.
Il regard it as an unsound argu-
ment to say that such repairs would
cost the owners too much money in
view of the enormous profits all too
many of them are reaping.
Neither we will be put off with
any subterfuge that priorities for
repairs will not be granted by the
War Production Board. Only re-
Gently Maury Maverick, chief of the
governmental division of WPB. as
| serted that the health and SANTA
ton OF war communities must be
sateguarded and that priorities
would be granted for such efforts,
Washington is the nerve center OF
the United Nations. OF course we
can get materials for necessary re-
pairs on these dwellings. We won't
get anything unless we fight for it.
Absolves Tenants.
"One more thing. am not en-.
tirely absolving tenants of these
properties of responsibility. They
must do their utmost to prevent ac-
cumulationS of garbage and rubbish
and silence any arguments that
these tenants wouldn't take care of
a decent place if they had it.
Our committee is determined to
40 Its job in cleaning up situation
which menaces the health Of every
District resident. With SUFFICIENT
public interest, and with the CO.
operation which we know we will re-
celve from District officials, we are
sure our task will be successful"
Kings Court Area Survey.
Mr. D'Alesandro's demand for
slum rent reductions was prompted
by the survey of the Kings Court
area, made by the Alley Dwelling
Authority in July, 1910, and checked
during last week by District au-
thorities. This list showed names
of the owners of records" and gave
description of the property, to-
gether with the assessed valuation,
annual tax, and monthly rental
charged. Names of owners were
compiled by the ADA from the
Lusk's District Assessment Direc-
tory.
Included in the ADA list were such
properties as the following:
Two 2-story brick houses at 43O
and 432 o street NV; reported as
old, 4 rooms and a bath each, with
out heat, lights or running water,
Occupied by i've families including