El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-20
last YEAR HIGH
ELPAS0
John M. Wyatt Says Off
GERS Charged Too Much
for Residences.

said charges had been brought that
/ FL Paso had held up" soldiers last
year on prices; but that legitimate
merchants had not done this, and
said charges of a similar nature were
made wherever troops we're stationed
He suggested the appointment Of
| grievance committee TO take up and
Investigate all complaints OF the
military regarding OyercharEeSs he
believed this would soon sIft things
down to q more satisfactory basis
George LeBaron offered a resolu-
/ ton advising this and pledging the
support and cooperation Of real
estate men to the FL FasO chamber
Of commerce. The motion was carried
unanimously.
High Rents Last Year.
Mr. Wyatt said he believed the real
estate men as class were as honest
as any men in FL PaSO, and praised
them for building Up the city. and
said the chamber of commerce had
not meant to criticise the real estate
men but citlZenS-nU matter what
their occupa tion-who were securing
options on houses with a view TO
making money by renting them for
higher rate to soldiers and officers.
He said he believed this had been
done by certain people-at least that
they had tried TO secure such leases.
He said il was a fact that eXOrbi-
tant rentals were charged officers
last year when they were here, and
asserted that a bungalow on Mchln-
ley avenue was rented to MAJ Whit
ney at $40 a month, when II was not
worth half the price" Furthermore,
he charged that the major had been
forced to take a twO-year lease on It
Z don't know who charged him this
rental but II was too much, said
Mr. Wyatt. when q man is treated
that way you can't blame him II he
knocks the CITY"
Too Many RumOrE.
W. II. Austin said the owners Of
houses fixed the rent and that real
estate men only acted as agents IN
collecting IL He thought too many
rumors were given circulation ana
said people always circulated Jne
false rumors fastest He said there
was too much Jealousy in FL Paso
among business men.
a. H. Anderson thought the cham
Der Of commerce should refer all
complaints TO the Realty board II
they touched real estate men.
NJ Wyatt said the chamber OF
comnerce was doing its best for II
PasO and tried hard TO be Just 10
everybody. Our main idea" said he,
'is TO see that the soldiers who come
here are treated right; that they get
nlaCeS 10 i've at LGd5l4Adu4G -eNL--7s
that they buy supplies at reasonable
rates. We do not believe you real
I estate men put up rentals Dut We
ask you as agents 10 help US keep
them down by advising your cllenls
of the harm they are doing when they
demand eXOrbitant prices know
that all the legitimate merchants o.
FL PasO have but one price 70 all II
there are any overcharges oy DINERS
il is the duty OF all Of US TO SQueich
It. The army deserves the best We
Not such a Demand Now.
c. II. LeavelI did not think there
would be 4 great demand for houses
this wear. as the officers and soldiers
are SO busy drilling they have little
time for anything else. he said; ana
he did not believe many families
would be brought here However, ne
said the real estate men had al"ay s
cooperated to build UP the city ana
would continue 10 90 so
ii. B. Stevens said the real estate
men were honest and wanted to help
the city in every way. as their ma
teriaI interest lies in building up the
CITY i'm a stable manner He resented
{ criticism Of real estate men Eeuer-
ally because certain citizens OF II
Paso had been reported to be secur-
/ ing options on property with a 80
TO renting Il later at an increased
rate.
g. A. Martin, J. W KirkpatrlcS and
Otis Coles for the directors Of the
chamber Of commerce, all explained
I that the chamber Of commerce had
not criticised the real estate men
when it passed the resolution, but,
on the contrary. had expressed conf
/ dence that the real estate men would
cooperate in squolchinE any such
practice. and had called upon them 30
[ do so. The original resolution in the
--r--L thew e--u7afrnd had said THAT
..v-Le-e7s certain real estate men
etc" but the directors had ordered
"citizens" substituted for real estate
men" and the secretary had merely
failed 10 make the correction before
! the reporters copied the resolu69n-
/ The minutes, they said. showed the
! resolution as adopted-no mention OF
IreaI estate men therein, except the
/ expression Of confidence Of coopera-
| ton from them