The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-11-01
DENLY Urges Com
merce Board to Sup
port Loan Society
WILL AID IN
BUILDING HOMES
Increased Rents In
Many Cases Not JUS
tilted, Says Speaker

the Detroit Board Of Commerce
auditorium Tuesday noon. President
Edwin DENLY, Of that organization,
attacked housing conditions In De
truit as rotten and earnestly
pleaded for the support % the
boards $500 members in behalf of
thc Society for Savings. building
and loan association organized by
the board 10 lend money 10 HON"
builders
Mr.. Denbys address covered a
survey OF housing conditions IN De
troit during the two weeks following
sept s. made by Secretary Walter
cole. 81 the Detroit BOARD 81 Com
mcrce. and Ave members on his
.tsn
From their investigation Mr. Cole
and his aides found that rents had
been increased variously from 20
% 50 per cent and in many tn.
stances nothing more than situa-
ton enabling landlords 20 take ad'
vatage OF a crowded housing condi'
ZION WAS the motive.
Mr. Coles report 10 the board,
which Mr.. Denny included In his sd
dress. contained tho following sum
mary
That rents in general in Detroit
arc too high
THAT the tenants in the major.
,y OF cases are dissatisfied and
looking FOR other quarters,
THAT skilled vorkmen and labor
crs with families on account OF
The shortage OF homes and high
rents are leaving Detroit 10 secure
pmplovment in other cities where
houses al reasonable rent can be
secured
THAT skilled workmen and labor
crs with families are sending their
families to nearby cities and vii
lagos and rooming and boarding.
eventually leaving Detroit on az
count OF not being able 10 be with
their families.
That the excuses given BY the
majority OF landlords in regard TO
increased rents are not true.
That the landlords In numerous
,asos have increased the rents on
account OF the shortage OF homes.
THAT a remedy must be provid
ID II the employers OF skilled and
common laborers hope to secure
and keep the most competent
help.
Mr. DENLY said IN part
You Am know what housing means.
We are talking today or lack ~
houses ~ any kind In Detroit FOR a
large number OF our people We are
iaiNlne 20 families that 1--we in tents
With Winfer coming on, and We arc
talking about tremendous advances
IN rent. and one fallacious eNcuH"
often urged therefor. and We are
talking about the number ~ good
men who can't keep their families
here because rents arc So hlRh uT
they can't get houses at all. and who
IN CONSEQUENCE threaten to leave and
are leaving. and we arc talking
about the general proposition -
whether - wouldn't be better 90 en-
courage and 10 help these people 90
get homes 81 their own rather than
let them frCclr in tents or sfUuthcr N
rookeries az high rate per smother.
The HEurcS shall xiv" YOU are
taken from survey covering prac-
ttcall, every r~Elderce district. and
pract'ca'lv every house inveEtleated
rented Tor $40 or less IN o. Ce .,,
tho aggregate rent Tor March. 1918.
was Sass 81 ms against tit0t In
March. 1915 An Increase q 1lls 80.
or . pcr cent That ism So BAL
but listen IN ~ cases the ,g,el
rcnt N March. 'sls was sass
while IN the same cases the rent % n
IN Septen,her. 1916. was t3iS360 ~
iucyeRse ~ $685. or 2t.6 per cent
In a. cases Investigated there was u
increase OF 7st per cent from Mar,N
1919 20 September. 1910
The apartment house situation
seems 20 be even moro aggravated
for hnrs are shown increases from -
- 80 pct cent I'm six months Some
w tents. nan, owning their own
tepta and paving 50 per month rent
Many landlords give - reason
for tci,,rE r"nts the alleged increase
With tho landlords or property own
"ra and I've mo- quarrel with the re7-
son 500 often given-except that 70
isn't true
A. 10 tho tax situation these are
the facts and quote from tho
boa rds report
The tss FOR 1851 is loss than
1900 600 In excess 81 that OF lstS-1s
or. but the tax rate has been reduced
from se5si 20 s1sS7 o. the in
creased assessment. ,5s.s7l 900 was
IN the First ward t+s.ton 37o was
In the second ward. and sib.5io.o ss
was IN the old Seventeenth. includl y
the territory now comprising the
Seventeenth. nineteenth and Twenty
hrst This lesvse nm increase in as
Sessment or only t7s.077.5ot 70 he
distributed over the other is wards
This matter ~ housing. and high
rents has long been one 81 deep con
Germ % our members The directors
~ tho Detroit BOARD 81 Commerce
and the officials Of the Detroit Real
Estate exchange have worked to-
Rether over II many months and
have nnaliy concluded that what We
cRn best do ~ this time ~ IN or-
ganiye society for savings that no
ing form 81 building and loan as
sociatinn and that has been done
~ W not proht making organi1a-
tion. No hope will be held out for
tho payment of dividends in excess
~ rHte 81 per cent which =
merely what money will bring on n
loan The theory is that the horne
seeker will be able ~ borrow from
this society enough money 10 build
his home A. minimum ~ cost on
account ~ the exclusion ~ commits
4Ione and other incidental expenses