Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 41 Part 1.djvu/320

 The term "owner" includes a lessor or sublessor, or other person entitled to receive rent or charges for the use or occupancy of any rental property, hotel or apartment, or any interest therein, or his agent.

The term "tenant" includes a subtenant, lessee, sublessee or other person, not the owner, entitled to the use or occupancy of any rental property, hotel or apartment.

The term "service" includes the furnishing of light, heat, water, telephone or elevator service, furniture, furnishings, window shades, screens, awnings, storage, kitchen, bath and laundry facilities and privileges, maid service, janitor service, removal of refuse, making all repairs suited to the type of building or necessitated by ordinary wear and tear, and any other privilege or service connected with the use or occupancy of any rental property, apartment, or hotel.

The term "commission" means the Rent Commission of the District of Columbia.

. A commission is hereby created and established, to be known as the Rent Commission of the District of Columbia, which shall be composed of three commissioners, none of whom shall be directly or indirectly engaged in, or in any manner interested in or connected with, the real estate or renting business in the District of Columbia. The commissioners shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The term of each commissioner shall be two years, except that any person chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the commissioner whom he succeeds. The commission shall at the time of its organization and annually thereafter elect a chairman from its own membership. The commission may make such regulations as may be necessary to carry this title into effect.

All powers and duties of the commission may be exercised by a majority of its members. A vacancy in the commission shall not impair the right of the remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the commission. The commission shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed.

. Each commissioner shall receive a salary of $5,000 a year, payable monthly. The commission shall appoint a secretary, who shall receive a salary of $3,000 a year, payable in like manner; and, subject to the provisions of the civil-service laws, it may appoint and remove such officers, employees, and agents and make such expenditures for rent, printing, telegrams, telephone, law books, books of reference, periodicals, furniture, stationery, office equipment, and other supplies and expenses as may be necessary to the administration of this title. All of the expenditures of the commission shall upon the presentation of itemized vouchers therefor approved by the chairman of the commission be audited and paid in the same manner as other expenditures for the District of Columbia.

With the exception of the secretary, all employees of the commission shall be appointed from lists of eligibles supplied by the Civil Service Commission and in accordance with the civil-service law.

. The assessor of the District of Columbia shall serve ex officio as an advisory assistant to the commission, but he shall have none of the powers or duties of a commissioner. He shall attend the meetings and hearings of the commission. Every officer or employee of the United States or of the District of Columbia, whenever requested by the commission, shall supply to the commission any data or information pertaining to the administration of this title which may be contained in the records of his office. The assessor shall receive for the performance of the duties required by this section a salary of $1,000 per annum, payable monthly, in addition to such other salary as may be prescribed for his office by law.