The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-08

be legally binding upon tenants and
landlord, with the law guarding
against either being victimized.
Some days ago more than thirty
tenants in two apartment houses, who
have leases expiring October ], next,
received notices from a real estate
agent that they would have to make
new leases, at increases in rental Of
more than 30 per cent, IL they wished
to remain ga their homes. The rentals
had already been raised when me last
leases were signed.
Did these tenants get wildly excited
over what Is being roundly condemned
as an injustice? Not bit of it. They
consulted q wise lawyer, who told
them to sit still and pay no attention
whatever to the notices; that if they
desired to stand upon their legal
rights II would be possible to remain
in these apartments for from two to
three years without election.
So they have unanimously decided
to snap their fingers at the agents de
mands and fight him in the courts
should he attempt 10 nullify the eX-
listing leases or even should he under
take to put them out next October
upon eXorbItant and unfair demands.
Courts Delays Costly.
It has been explained to the ten
ants, ALI Of whom are men and women
Of moderate means and unblenished
standing, that It is possible for them,
in the event that they are unjustly
treated, to tie the landlords up so
tight in tile courts they will wish they
had never attempted eXtOrtion and
prOfiteering.
This is due to the fact that the Dis
trict Supreme Court is so far behind
its calendar that appeals by tenants
from election proceedings will not be
reached for settlement IN this court
for at least two years, and possibly
three or four
The whole situation is reaching a
point where injustice will be done by
both tenants and landlords, and
where the right of ownership is like
ly to get a bad jar through the
ability of tenants to take advantage
of legal technicalitles and over
burdened court calendars. So far the
tenants who are in litigation with
landlords, hundreds of cases OF which
are piling up in the Municipal Court,
the first resort, are going ahead on
the broad ground that they are 'the
victims Of profiteering, pure and sim
pie. There are apartments in Wash
ington where the rents have not been
raised for years, and where the land
lords claim that a moderate raise In
October next is but fair and just to
them to meet the heavily increasing
costs of coal, janitor service, repairs.
etc. If these claims are just, II is
within the power OF tenants to resist
by long delays. despite the fact that
the leases expire the last of Septem-
Der and are subject to renewal.
bad Coal Outlook.
Thousands Of Washingtonians
whose leases of houses will expire
October / are in a pTedicament about
trying to lay in next winters coal
supplies this summer. Many Of these
tenants have put their situations be-
fore The Times. Both good sense and
the fuel administration urge all
people to put in during the summer
months the coal for next winter. Not
all the coal desired could be had, but
a good portion Of the necessary sup
ply could be served IL tenants knew
Just what to expect. They have
grown so nervous over the outlook
that they fear wholesale evictions
not order coal.
There has never been a time in the
history OF real estate in Washington
when conditions were SO disturbed
and tenants in so much. doubt as to
what may happen to them.
The fact that Congress gives bright
promise of throttling unfair prac-
tees, and is likely to pass laws be-
fore adjournment, guaranteeing the
tenant a home during the winter,
may go far from now on toward be-
slowing confidence in the renting
thereby enabling them TO
begin storing coal and making other
for winter.
Coal Supply short.
The supply Of coal in Washington is
OF tons below normal at
this time of the year. according to the
coal men.
When orders for next winters coal
are placed with them the first step
is to inform the man ordering that
he can not get more than three
fourths Of the amount ordered and
he is next told that no guarantee can
be given when he will get coal put in:
that so little coal is coming in it is
impossible to say when anything can
be done toward delivery.
wen do the best we can" is the
most definite promise the prudent
WashingtOnian, trying TO get next
coal now. is receiving.