The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-09-12

For Instance. hoes the dsaftine n.
the lessee terminate the lease at the
I option Of the lessee or does Il sus-
pend the lease Cor the period that the
lessee is In the army II the latter.
Is the lessor at liberty to lease the
premises to other parties during this
suspensiohs And u 80. does the drafted
~leases again become entitled to the
premises upon his return from SER
lviees
The most important phase OF the
subject is the question whether or not
the drasted lessee remain liable TO
pay rent, under hls lease. Unless the
situation is altered BY legislation. lead
ing authorities hnld that his obilsation
contInues.
on the other hand. unless positive
lleRlsln,icn Is "a aesermlne the question
drafted iessecs. when sued for rent for
Ia period during which they are scrv-
ing In the conscripted army. may set
up ms defenses that their continued
OCCUPANCY of M premises would be
contrary 90 the. seiectlve draf, law and
consequently Illegal. that the lease
was therefore voIded M they enter
ed the army.
Another very important question
which is bound to arise. and which
should be solved in some way as soon
as possible IN order TO avoid the In
evitable chaos and confusion which
otherwise wouid be bound 10 follow.
Is this; Is q draftcd business a
owing thousands OF dollars 10 cred
itors. who would be found perfectly
solvent II given sufficient time to
carry u contracts which he has on
hand. but who eannot carry out these
contracts because OF his having beea
drafted into service. expected to find
no other remedy than bankruptcy OF
as matters now stand. he Is
bound 60 fail in business unless has
creditors hold back from motives Of
patriotism or OF generosity. Is II then
to he expected that our business men
are ia be forced to the wall through
no fault OF their owng Cannot some
thing he done TO avoid such Illogical
and unjust Consequences
II Is clear that this situation can
be cured only a moratorium In favor
OF drafted men.
Then we have the question as 10
real estate mortgage on property
owned by drafted men. Certainly
the property owner was for
merry earning a substantial salary,
or was in receipt " a substantial in
come. which salary or income is now
superseded by a soldiers salary Of
sac per month. he cannot be expected
10 keep up the payment of interest
and other charges ACQUIRING under his
mortgage. In attempting TO answer
This. Il might he argued that the in
ONE OF the properly should be suf-
to carry the mortgage. hut
the property brings no In
come. Suppose II is unimproved prop
Suppose II Ia residential prop
lrty upon which the drafted property
owner himself resided. and for whicn
can find no lessee while he ~ away
Such cases are bound TO arise in in
numreable quantity. Is the drafted
property owner then 10 lose his prop
Is II possible that there are
steps contemplated TO protect
hose who are serving our country IL
L 10 be expected that our drafted
property owners. having come into
possession OF property through years
N conscientious labor. are 20 return
from service in the army only to find
themselves In runiation and with no
other curse to pursue than once
again 20 ut the bottom OF
he ladder?
or course. there are numerous kim
bred questions which are bound TO
But they are all branches OF
same broad, general proposition:
How shall We protect and conserve
the property and affairs OF those who
are serving us?" II would certainly
be u manifest absurdity to say In
answer to the above. "No man is GO
to force q drafted soldier 70 the
wall; or, Patriotism will solve ell
these questions" The hct remains
something should ~ done im.ns-
diately.