Evening journal., 1918-05-27
HOUSING PROBLEM
BECOMES ACUTE
Government Takes Sides
With Workers in Opposing
Increased Rentals
SHIPYARD WORKERS
MUST HAVE HOMES

AS moving DAY, June % in this To-
cality, approaches. the scarcity OF
houses in Wilmington becomes more
and more acute. This is intensified
through the ability Of workmen
through increased wages 10 purchase
homes for themselves. Instances have
occurred where workmen have ar
ranged to purchase homes which other
workmen are renting, making an end
less chain Of the difficulty.
The local situation has become so
drastic that many OF the shipworkers
whose services are vital to the nation
for producing ships In the local yards,
may be forced with their families TO
leave town on account Of their inability
10 obtain houses. The property branch
Of the United states Shipping Board
has investigated the local situation and
studied 1t in connection with the build
ing operations which will be developed
at Front and Union streets to the ex-
tent Of more than $40 houses, and the
two local shipyaris have received no.
tice that on May % there will be opened
in Philadelphia an ONCE to handle these
matters. in order that shipyards on
the Delaware river may be able TO get
prompt action where 1t becomes neces-
sary.
The United States shipping Board has
definitely determined that shipyard
workers cannot be spared by the local
plants and therefore. they must be
housed The local association OF real
estate agents has been asked 20 fur
nish the government officials with
list OF their members that all may be
definitely advised Of the governments
wishes. They will be called upon to
cooperate with the government and
will be expected 10 explain to property
owners that the government has no OBJ
lection 10 the sale Of house, but be-
fore the sale is consummated the real
estate agent having the transaction in
charge should know whether the house
is occupied by shipworker Such be-
ing the case, the purchaser will be ad-
vised that unless the tenant is able to
obtain q house elsewhere. permission
will not be given to evict the ship
worker
In some few instances extortionate
rents have been demanded the landlord
assuming that the wages paid in ship
yards are so much that shipworkers
can necessarily afford to pay unusual
rents. This the government has EN-
phstically stated will not be permitted.
The property branch Of the United
States Shipping Board has made 1t plain
that their activities are to be considered
entirely neutral The attitude which
the present national needs force them
TO assume must not be construed by
the shipbuilding tenant as a basis for
evading the prompt payment Of rentals
Cooperation on the part OF tenants will
be demanded and expected Each case
will be investigated and efforts made
to decide upon fair rental where there
be a difference OF opinion.
The authority vested in the property
branch OF the United States Shipping
Board for commandeered houses has
not up TO the present time been exer-
cised. A large number OF Gases have
been investigated and with two eXcep-
tjons have been smicably settled. These
two il Is hoped will be satisfactorily
arranged The houses, II commandeered,
will be under the charge OF government
authorities for the period Of the war
and the rental will be paid by the gov
ernment 10 the owner or real estate
agent and such use will be made Of
the property as the government deems
N. The rental may not necessarily be
the same as the present tenant Of the
house is paying, but will be one which
the government may deem fair, and 1t
may possibly be less than the prevail
ing rate.
There appears to be no scarcity OF
rooms or board for single men, and II
has been decided that in the case OF
boarding or private houses which prior
TO May 25 were accommodating two or
more shipyard workers. the tenants, II
not shipyard workers will probably be
considered in the same light as though
they worked in shipyards. and will not
be disturbed
A real estate department has been
opened in each Of the local yards EN-
pioyment Offices for handling these mat
ters. H. VI. Diederichs will be in charge
at the Harlan plant and II. g. Neese
al the Pusey 4 Jones Company The
property branch Of the United states
Shipping Board, who has these matters
in charge is in charge OF DR.. Maltby,
now located at Washington, but after
Nav % will be located in Philadelphia.