Evening star., 1909-09-11

Reform legislation or regulation with
regard to the landlord and tenant laws
Of the National Capital bids fair to be
one of the most discussed subjects of the
ensuing autumn season. Already pre-
liminary steps have been taken to secure
the support Of both the Board of Trade
and the Chamber of Commerce, and so
strong Is the Endorsement which Is prom
ised for the movement that 1t Is prac-
tically a foregone conclusion that these
bodies will take whatever action Is neces-
The principal cause Of dissatisfaction lies
In the operation of the law which en-
ables any one tenant by single act
of delinquency to destroy the entire
yearly profit of the owner of property.
Furthermore, there is objection to the
usual methods Of enforcement Of the ex-
emption law, and still further reform
will be urged, SO that habitual delln-
quents in the government service will be
forced to meet their obligations.
Explanation in detail of the changes
which will be urged was secured from
]. Louis Willige, president of the Willige,
Gibbs & Daniel real estate corporation,
which conducts one Of the largest rental
agencies in the city. Mr.. Willige ex-
pressed himself In most vigorous man
ner on the subject.
Some Troubles Of the Landlord.
THE greatest difficulty with which we
have to contend in our business" said he.
rs the growing disposition on the part of
tenants to regard with difidence the
agreements for the payment of their
monthly rents. One would gain the inn
preston if he examined into the affairs
of our local real estate offices that the
laws of contract had in many cases been
entirely wiped from the statute books
and that contracts were entered into only
for the purpose of being abrogated at any
time at the whim or caprice of the
tenant. And at the same time there
would appear to be no class of obliga-
tions which should be more strictly en-
forced by operation of law than the
agreement which a man makes to secure
adequate compensation to the owner of
the house which gives him shelter. With
the exception. perhaps. of the claims of
the doctor and the undertaken there
would appear to be no stronger claim to
rightful consideration on the part Of
one individual against another than that
Of compensation from the tenant.
Operation of Exemption Laws.
Il am strongly convinced" continued
Mr.. Willige, that this laxity on the part
of a considerable portion of the communi-
ty is due in the first place to the more
than generous manner in which our ex-
emption laws are interpreted. the deputy
marshals refusing to levy on goods and
chattels unless representing perhaps $1,000
in value, when the law specifically ex-
empts but $500. and to the further fact
that so large a part of the local public
is comprised of office holders under the
Federal and District governments. whose
salaries cannot under the law be at
tached or garnisheed While / am hearth
ly in sympathy with the statutory enact
ments which have thrown safeguard
about the unfortunate paterfamilias so
Hhnt 1n nil 14 10. t1xr ov>l
actually thrown into the street, feel that
the time has come when such security
should be discriminative and that our
laws and departmental regulations should
be so amended as to protect the worthy
and at the same time remove the oppor-
tunity-and, indeed, the inducement-for
fraud on the part of a large number Of
renters who use this protection as
shield against the payment of just and
voluntary obligations.
mo better testimony could be adduced
to the prevalence of this practice than the
fact that printed forms have been very