Evening Star Newspaper, May 22, 1925, Page 4

DISTRICT’S RENT COMMISSION EXPIRES AFTER STORMY CAREER Wide Divergence of Opinion Prevails as to Future * i After five and a half years of ac- tivity, during which it has handied 9,441 cases, the Rent Commission of the District of Columbia will be dis- solved today. As an outgrowth of the Saulsbury resolution, adopted by Congress dur- i the war to relieve emergency conditions the National Capltal, the Rent passes today amid mingled expressions of regret and satisfaction. Whether this com- mission is passing from the official iife of the District for all time, or will again be authorized, is a matter over which those interested in Washington rentals are as hopelessly divided as they are in regard to its influence upon the general welfare of the city. Whatever is the ultimate outcome the records of the work of the com- mission show a tremendous amount of labor accomplished and almost un- surmountable tasks tackled. Ex- pending during its life a sum slightly ess than $200,000, the commission, according to officials, brought about vearly reductions in_rents amounting to approximately $200,000 and in- creases amounting to $100,000, thus benefiting both landlord and tenant, according to circumstances. Of the total of 9,441 cases docketed hy the commission, 6,555 came up for hearing. Determinations were made in 6,335 cases, 63 were held up through injunctions, 401 were not calendared for hearing and 464 cases were not disposed of. It is pointed out that the total number of cases does not mean that only this number of rents were affected, as one case very often resulted in the adjustment of an entire apartment house. Predict More Building. Real estate men and many citizens of the District feel that the passing of the commission will result in the erection of more rental properties with the gradual return of the law of supply and' demand brought about through more vacant properties on the market. Besides the actual amounts saved both landlord and tenant by the de- terminations of the commission, offi- cials claim that the law prevented many increases, as they could not be made without the landlord’s appear- ance before that body All the cases now pending in the courts have been turned over to the Department of Justice to handle, as A. Coulter Wells, attorney for the commission, also goes out of office to- morrow. Chairman Metzerott of the commission explained that the De- partment of Justice can only prose- cute those cases in which the commis- sion previously rendered a determina- tion. There are now 400 such cases in court. These cases await the final decision of the valldity of the rent act. Act- ing upon the theory that the rent act was not constitutional, many landlords vefused to recognize the rentals set by the commission. If the Rent Commis- sion act is declared constitutional at the time of the determinations then the landlords will have to refund the excess rent charged by them and un- der the terms of the act be liable for 100 per cent penalty additional. Tt is these cases and other violations of the commission's determinations that the Department of Justice will handle. In the Municipal Court there are 338 cases involving violation of the com- mission’s decisions, in the Supreme Court 44 injunction suits and 28 va- rious other cases and 2 cases in the Court of Appeals. Board’s Hands Tied. The commission has been virtually unable to operate since the Court of Appeals of the District handed down the decision in December, 1924, that the United States Supreme Court, in April, 1924, in the Peck vs. Fink case, had declared the Rent Commission un- constitutional, due to the ending of upon which the bill in Ansell-Bishop & Tarner, Relations of Landlords and Tenants—Nearly 10,000 Dispures Handled by Board. creating the body was based that time officials of the commi state they have recelved many ap. peals, which they have not been able to handle, and have made a survey, which would indicate that rents are still being raised. In opposition to this statement prominent and old-time Washington real estate and building concerns hold that they are now on a competitive basis in the renting field, particularly with respect to apartments. They state that there is now a falling rental market and that they have to offer inducements as the competition is_becoming keener. ‘The Washington Real Estate Board has successfully handled a number of landlord and tenant disputes since the close of Congress and has ar- ranged satisfactory settiements in a majority of the cases. This work will be continued. The majority of people, however, believe that there is bound to be some adjustments fol- lowing the expiration of the commis- sion. While the chairman of the commis- sion states that rentals are being raised at this time, former Senator Ball, @ member of the commission, takes the stand with many others that a wholesale increase in rents will not come about as the commis- sion passes. History of Commission. Probably no public body in the District has been the center of so much discussion. Many congressional hearings, tenant protest meetings, charges and counter charges, law uits and other moves have been in- volved in the life of the mmission, particularly during the latter period of its existence. During the last con- gressional hearings President Cool- idge, the entire real estate organiza- tion of the country, chambers of com- merce, prominent lawyers, local civic bedies and tenant organizations were drawn into an extended fight for and against the extension of the commis- sion’s life. The Saulsbury resolution was adopted in 1918 and was to run until the treaty of peace. This prevented the eviction of tenants by owners even if they refused increased rents, but did not provide a price-fixing commission. On July 11, 1919, this was extended for 90 days. On October 2 1919, the first act providing for a Rent Commission was passed and authorized for two years. On August y 1" 5 Xh!‘ act was ex- tended until 3 Oon M: 22, it was an\ended the com. missioners increased from three to five, and life of the board extended until May 22, 1924. On May 17, 1924, it was extended until the present time, Inc. 0% Never before in history has an offer THE EVENING STAR, efforts failing during the last session to have the act again extended. The late Commissioner Oyster was the first chairman of the Rent Com- mission. He was followed by A. Left- wich Sinclair, Richard S. Whaley and the present retiring chairman, Oliver Metzerott. WIith Mr. Metzerott the tollowing comissioners go out of office: Clara Sears Taylor, Willlam F. Gude, Thomas E. Pheeney and former Sen. ator L. Heisler Ball. Other officials who retire are: A. Coulter Wells, at- Mrs. Grace Hayes, rssistant and Willlam Sabine, jr., secretary. Practically all the present clerical personnel have found employ- ment In other departments. Many, however, were dropped when the court action rendeted the commission im- potent in December. Present Rental Situation. The recent survey made by the commission shows, according to Mr. Metzerott, that of the 1,200 small nd flats selected s places to attract Government work- 535 ralses had been demanded recently or were in effect. Twenty- one decreases were found and b2 places were occupied by the owner. A survey of 500 apartments, also selected, show that 151 rents have been ralsed. § decreased, with 19 vacancies. This, Mr. Metzerott feels, substantiates his statements that rents are now being raised. The chairman of the commission says, however, that he thinks a re- turn’ of the Rent Commission in Washington will not be the result of agitation for it here, but will come about through following the example of other large cities throughout the country, which, he says, will all soon have rent-control bodies. This he & tributes to the great urban trend of population. Despite the fact that the great building boom in Washington is bring- ing about the erectios ef hundreds of houses and scores of partment houses, Mr. Metzerott sa: at this time he does not see any relief for the poor or moderately well off people. He says that he feels that there are a great number of vacant apartments, but the price asked for them is too high. Real estate men blame the commis- slon for the conditions complained of last year, because, they say, the com- mission made it unattractive for in- vestors to bufld rental properties, thus cutting off the supply. They also feel that rental regulation caused many of the reliable owners of the city to get rid of their buildings to speculators. They also feel that the commission stirred up unpleasant relations be- tween the landlord and tenant by hunting up cases where people were satisfled and where conditions were mutually agreeable to landlords and tenants. BALTIMORE PLANS SURVEY. Study Will Be Made to Determine Overbuilding. BALTIMORE, May 22.—A survey to ascertain how many of the houses for which building permits have been is- sued since 1921 have been erected, how many vacant houses there are now in Baltimore, and what sections are short or over-supplied with hous- ing facilities, will be conducted by the officers and members of the Real Estate Board, according to C. Philip Pitt, secretary of the board, Tt is the consensus of opinton among Owing to the death of Mr. Mayer King this store will be closed all day Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24, 1925 KING’S PALACE Both Stores Closed Today and Saturday on account of death of MR. MAYER KING father of Mr. LeRoy King 1005 Pa. A . D.J Kaatman Mzt. Pleasant Music Shop, Inc. VICTOR RECORDS R-E-D-U-C-E-D to practically been made that equals this! Every single-faced Red Seal VICTOR RECORD has been REDUCED ! Your favorite selection is included. Act Quick! Get Yours! SUCH ARTISTS AS THESE geCormick ‘aruso Chaliapin Galli-Carci Gluck Heifits Kreisler Paderewski Rachmaninoff Schumann-Heink and OTHERS P Buy Them at Either of These Shops™ 8% SELL BISHOPs JURNE 1221 Qor Only Shep—Ne Outaide Comnections I NG —— F ST NW. Vietrolas an Records R Open Evenings Mt. Pleasant Music Shop, Inc. Oppesite Tisoli Theater [ 3310 14th St. NW. | WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, many persons in both the real estate and bullding trades that some sections of Baltimore at the present time are overbullt, especlally in single dwell- ings. To make sure is the principal reason of the survey. No survey of the housing situation in this city has been made since early in 1921. Since that time there have been permits issued for the construc- tion of hundreds of houses. As matters now stand, no one knows definitely what the housing situation is, because, Mr. Pitt said, it is well known that the bullding permits is- sued do not furnish accurate infor- mation as to the number of houses constructed. The survey will be made by groups of realtors assigned to different sec- tions of the city. o Frau Von Oheimb is not only the handsomest and best dressed woman ever elected to the German Reichs- tag, but is one of the wealthiest wom- en in Germany. Women'’s MAY 1985, ACCUSED OF MAIL FRAUD. Man Held in Bank Case Faces Ad- ditional Charge. GREENSBORO, N. C., May 22 (®). —F. W. Wilson, alias Frank J. Wil- liamson, arrested in Durham Monday after he is alleged to have sought to defraud a High Point bank of $200 by depositing an $800 draft and then checking against it, was identified in Guilford County jail here today by a post office inspector as the man want- ed at Keyser, W. Va., for using the mails to defraud The amount i $1,400, Inspector N. E. Lynchburg, Wilson 1s said to have claimed to be an attorney for the Louisiana State Railroad Commission while in High Point, and the draft was drawn on that body. He is being held for trial perior Court in June. 22, volved at Keyser is Murray of Footwear 20 high on the ladder of values You'll fing our valyes at the top of the ladder, d“t OUF prices g1, own on ,-h!‘ ground, What Comfor, an are new! or rm.n on flar 1 D The San, A bra; ddl Abrandnew'o in White calf leathar_ M $6.50, 1OW or cubay Dignif Dignifieq Py uty in e o Uit el Simmeq b With whn. k a ysG’ Many, ’"anz/ Other Stvles a sim cheable ang g Of black “‘Dnnmng Patent lea(p, " € fouir and quary, er— ack satin, Y right Ple yet p, ”uw r o kia trimmeq_ 7r $6.50. Ish. Shoa— Kid o $6.30, 1 or White kiq —Cut-oyt € cut-oyt Patent N hee| For half a century our standards of workman- ship and service have been as high as we could raise them. Perhaps that’s why our custom- ers never get “up in the air.” FAMILY/HOE/TORE 310-312 Seventh St. N.W. Over Fifty Years’ Satisfactory Service 720-22-24 Tth St. N.W. BEHREND ENT LADIES’ HOME JOURN A 5 C L, PATTERNS. Saturday Sale of 300 $5.00, $6.00 and $7.00 Summer Dresses Voiles lace, em- '99 Broadcloth {4 roidery and Silkette | ribbon trim- Linen {med and tai- lored styles. Tans, Red, Blue, Green Yellow, Navy, Pink $12.75, $15, $19.75 Georgette, Allover Lace, Silk Crepe Exquisitely lace trimmed, $ fluffy ruffled models. Heavily beaded and medallion embel- lished dresses in white and all the new beautiful Summer col 16 to 48 sizes. SES orings. r======_CLOSING OUT ALL COATS $15.00 to $19.75 Women’s Coats. . . - . $22.50 to $24.98 Women’s Coats. . . . $29.75 to $35.00 Women’s Coats. . $3.00 and $4.00 Girls’ ., WHITE DRESSES § About 240 Showroom Sample Dresses of crisp organdy and voile In lot are ribbon and lace-trimmed panel effects; fluffy ruffled styles and pretty straightline models, in & to 14 sizes. ALL Girls’ $10.00 to $15.00 Coats, $7.95 $2.00 to $2.50 Babies’ === $ 39 | Knitted CAPES | it All'wool and in fancy weaves. }; | .00 85 Just the wrap for these warmer days. P | Il blues, white, etc., with contrasting color fronts i and collars. Our Regular $1.50 and $2.00 Finest Quality PURE THREAD SILK HOSE ¢ Perfect Quality, Fine Silk Hose in every new wanted color as well as white and black Supposed to be irregulars, but no defects are apparent. Every pair guaranteed to give long wear or replaced. $2.98, $3.50, $4.00 Women’s ~ COSTUME SLIPS straps or built-up shoulder style elips. Some have pleated or dion ruffles same color; others contrasting color fancy ruffie: WOMEN REPE WOMEN'S EXTRA SIZE lav> UNDERWEAR Crepe Gowns l" Misees and women, Dox tiy stsles to select 30R&G Sllk Brocaded Corsets 98 Satins Silk of 2 popular models made of good quality silk coutil; 4 garter supporters All sizes. brocaded ) { years well SHIRTS RIBBED UNION SUITS WASH SUITS 98 c 15c Women’s Ribbed | 50c Women’s Knit Gauze Ribbed Union Suits for women. Crochet neck with L l : : 3 7 c sizes. ~ o BOYS’ $10 VEST SUITS cloth in popular vest St_vlv for boys 7 to 17 Smart, Snappy New Styles S======= styles, in 3 to 8 sizes. A KIMONO SALE WITHOUT EQUAL— drawstrings, trimmed armholes. Lace- ‘1 \Iar]c ut <pIcnd|d qualit vl o\ \ Splendidly tailored, Boys’ $1.50 and $2 Diien; Eana. srave, rose ..m white $3.00 and $4.00 1y silk embroidersd. _Pretuls satin band timmed ‘and novelty Japancse EHert PRimonos. ol “Ane "sarpaptine | and ettied mrepe. Beautifal ‘Soral patterns and plain colors. Silk-and-Rayon Blouses Brlnfl New Overblouses and Long 298 Dl colors and oriental or braid trim- med.