The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-20
Lease on the Building Expired
First of March.
WAS PAYING S2O4 MONTHLY
Several Points of Controversy
Have Arisen.
May Lead to Clubs Removal to
Other Quarters.

A demand made Saturday by l.. NJ.
Crawford for more rent for the quar-
terS occupied by the Comm ercia1 club
on the fifth floor of the building at
612-14 Kansas avenue may cause the
board of directors to seek other quar-
ters. according to an announcement
made this morning. Decision on a fu-
ture course of action will be reached
in a few days when a meeting of the
board of directors will be held.
Late Saturday afternoon, Mr.. Craw
ford appeared at the office of the Sec
rotary of the Commercial club and
presented a 1904 check mailed to him
by the club for the March rent. Mr..
Crawford stated that he wished more
rent 1t is contended by members of
the club that failing to make known
his demand on Feb. 1, thirty days be-
fore the lease automatically expired,
Mr.. Crawford has automatically re-
newed the lease for another year.
However Mr.. Kelley took the check.
Moved in 1909.
The Commercial club occupied its
present quarters in 1909 and rented
them for $1,000 year. At that time,
1T ID asserted, the building was vacated
altogether on the first floor and many
other rooms now filled were vacated.
The next year $2,10 was paid and
on March 1, 1913, the club leased the
quarters for two years at $2,4O0 a
year. Rent has been paid each month
with 81 added for gas. No notice was
given by Mr.. Crawford on Feb. l, 1915,
or on Feb. 1, 1915, that new lease
was needed and the club has continued
to pay rent the same as in the past.
1t is asserted that Mr.. Crawford should
have notified the club on February l,
1916, if he desired to terminate the
lease and that his failure to notify
automatically continues the lease un-
til March l, 1917. William Stephenson
of Stephenson & Webb, who has
charge of rentals for Mr.. Crawford re-
fused to discuss the matter this morn
ing.
Reason for Action.
However. it is known that several
circumstances have given rise for Mr..
Crawfords action. In the last two
years he has been forced to put d
new roof on the building and only i
few months ago the hotel commits
sioner condemned the building for
improper fire protection. To offset
this, Mr.. Crawford was obliged to
erect more and costly fire escapes.
Also he complains of members of the
Commercial club opening windows
and wasting his heat.
While Commercial club officials do
not feel that Mr.. Crawford has not
repaired the building they do contend
that despite the new roof there is still
trouble when it rains and that many
other drawbacks are faced in retain
ing the quarters. Other quarters have
been under consideration and it is
considered probable that the Com
mercial club will terminate it's lease
and move.
Another contention of Mr.. Craw-
fOrd's is that the quarters are not used
for Commercial club purposes alone,
that other clubs use the rooms. The
Commercial club asserts that all meet
ings held there are in line with Com
mercial club work.
1.-THE lease has run out and I am
simply asking for a new one said
Mr.. Crawford. Further than this Mr..
Crawford had nothing to say.