Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
POMERENE BILL UNJUST.
A Protest Against the Substitute
Profteering Measure.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
To you, as the recognized champion
Of the cause of liberty and justice for
the oppressed inhabitants of this COM
munity. one must look for an oppor-
tunity to point out some of the tragic
and disgraceful features of the 'land-
lord and tenant BILL" now before the
United States Senate. These features
cannot be shown by any process of alb
stract reasoning. Only concrete in
stances will do. 1 am in a position to
prove indisputably the following:
A combined business and apartment
house in Connecticut avenue has two
shops in the basement. Four years ago
month each; proportionate rental was
obtained from the residential portion
Of the building, which at that time
paid Az per cent upon its cost price.
which was also its market price. On
October 1, 1917. owing to certain
were bringing in, respectively. $50
and $25 per month. The same causes
had operated to reduce the returns from
the apartments. The property is as
sessed at $4,000 and is mortgaged for
$40. 900. about half its cost: AS a re-
charges, high cost of coal and skilled
labor and material employed in the
maintenance of the building. the own
err widow of advanced years. with
two sons at the fighting front, was
unable to pay her taxes and the prop
|'erty was sold" Within the last two
months one of the shops has been
rented for SOS. the other for $50 per
month, a total of less. by $35. than
that produced in times of normal
An a r
lease would. if exercised have brought
the apartment rentals to a point slight
ly below that of 1914. Under the new
conditions it seemed possible for the
owner to save her property. The pro-
posed legislation wipes out all of the
increases over the abnormal low scale
of 1917 and her hope of redeeming
the property from the tax sale disap-
pears. In the meantime the mort
gagees have given notice that the loan,
now approaching maturity, will not be
renewed even at an increased interest
rate.
The widows property is f1lched from
her by government action just as ruth
lessly as Belgian property was ex-
propriated by the invading Huns. The
excuse is the one we have so emphati-
cally condemned in others. war neces-
sity.' 1t is apparent to the meanest In
telligence that no one will buy prop
erty in Washington except for the pur-
pose of actual occupancy by the pur-
chaser. The net return permitted under
the pending law is incapable of accu-
rate determination, and when fixed will.
of course. be largely reduced by
vacancies and defaulting tenants. Would
any sane person buy real estate as an
investment under such circumstances,
when first mortgage loans may be
made?
The proposed bill is foolish and
thoughtlessly cruel. If the necessity OF
a bill of this sweeping character were
really indicated, would not decent re-
gard for justice and vested rights have
provided as a point of departure" an
average rental price over a term of
years rather than an arbitrary date
that was bound to be too favorable for
some and grossly unfair to others?
Would not the same considerations have
| moved the legislative mind to guard
| against the confiscatory features of the
bill by imposing a moratorium for the
period of the measures existence that
would prevent the foreclosure of mort
cages or an increase in interest charges
SO long as the covenants other than re-
payment were observed by the Dor
| rover? No Washington bank is at pres
ent making loans on real estate.
AS matter of fact no hardship call
ing for redress has been imposed upon
the mechanic. His unparalleled wage
and opportunity for employment have
made a 10 or 20 per cent increase in