Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
D 6. CITIZENS Deny
PROF|TEER|NG HERE
Assert Rooms Are Plentiful at
(, Reasonable Rents, De-
I'll. spite Complaints.
SEND LETTERS TO STAR

outlining some Of the factors that enter
into the business of room renting.
One resident of the northeast. who
said he induced his wife to 1T up two
unused rooms as q patriotic duty. de-
cIared that he rented one to young
woman clerk at $40 month. He In
formed her he could not board her, but
gave her supper the first evening and
breakfast the next morning. She failed
to return the second evening, and in the
room was found this note:
Tive found room uptown in walking
distance Of my work Have ordered my
trunk sent there, and must be there
when 1t arrives. so can't wait to see
you.. Thanks for your hospita!ity-two
Enclosed was 81 for the two meals and
the nights lodging. The resident in
question said he did not profteer on
this roomer.
Some Of the other letters follow:
Resents Critics Remarks.
10 the Editor Of The Star:
I would like the use Of your paper to
ask q few questions Of E. j. Wilson, who
recently criticised room renters" and
among other things. said "a woman could
nsa Now 70 wny The
employees all get $1,000 or 1920 yearly.
That 10 what receive from Uncle Sam
$1,000. A renter" who pays SIS rental
u pk4TIu8 oV Genus per UA,v--WIlu ono Jay
over. nee. They receive Tor this 50 cents
per day . key to good place to live. A
room well furnished, heat, gas and use of
bathroom. which they do not have to keep
towels bought and Numbered and the
linens, bedquilts. spreads and pillows all
bought for them to use. The bed linen
they use 10 sent to laundry and the bill is
paid-not by them. The room is kept in
order and cleaned-not by them. They
get all this for SO cents per day. Some
one else furnishes the house, buys the
coal. pays the gas and laundry bills they
incur. etc. etc; for 50 cents per day.
. total stranger for any less? That is
ono side Of the story half told
Here's another side, and not exag-
gerated one iota: My wife has rented
rooms for two years, because my salary
Of $1,000 will not run house, feed and
clothe three people, saying nothing of
sickness. etc,
We had a newly furnished home. Our
hall and stair carpet cost $50. Our fur
rooms cost over $3.50. It would take
over two years rental to pay for fur
hiture alone. Now, to keep the ladies
warm 1t has taken twice the fuel Our
gas bill Is twice as much. Our water
meter goes around twice as fast, and
we (not the roomers) have to pay for
every drop used. Our laundry bill has
increased. There have been nice tow
els ruined by ink spilled on them. Ink
has been spilled on new rugs. Globes
have been broken: The windows have
been left open and the rain. beating in.
has spoiled the paper. Many little
things have been broken
The stair carpet Is worn down to
the boards. Our privacy has been
broken up. Now our tenants are not
employees. who. because they pay SIS
monthly rentai-1ess than so cents per
day-think my wife is making money
fast. as 3. ]. Wilson seems to think.
I'd feel ashamed to tell you what she
has made. 1t IL SO little. but every lit
Tie helps" she thinks. She IL giving her
time. her energy and bodily strength to
mako the munifcent sum OF about 50
cents per day-and privacy gone. Now.
SO any Of these SIS q month renters
think the Washington room-renters are
gougtng them. I would like them to
take their 80 cents per day and see how
niture. bed linen and towels. heat, gas,
laundry. cleaning. etc, etc. think az
prices are now. and the scarcity of coal.
labor. etc. II every room renter were
comforts Of q heated. lighted. furnished,
wen kept room in good home" they
you'd not be paying one cent more than
u IL worth. CHARLES H SMITH
+ Denies High Rents.
90 ne Editor OF Ths Star:
In the issue of the 18th instant
note the article on High Prices for
Rooms in Washington" by E. T. Wilson.
in taking issue with Mr.. Wilson re-
harding the room renting business, az
1ar as rooming houses go. relative to
the price OF $15 per month for a room
IN my experience and travel Of thirty
years wish to say that this price Is
h oh $rvs \ IL.
q rooming house. when one considers
the work. such as the care Of clean beds
linen, towels. soap. gas. heat and the
many other things that enter into a
furnished room. And especially woman
roomers They are without a doubt
the hardest kind Of roomers to please
In the writer's own home of twelve
rooms We take no woman roomers un-
less they are married Men are much
preferable At any time. They are up
and In only at night. No light. gas OF
otherwise, 10 burning al all hours. az
with women. They. the men. don't have
20 have q pArior or spare room every
Thursday and Sunday nights to enter
TAIN their fr1enda
The writer has read the different AZ
ticles appearing from day to day aboiA
the wonderful influx Of workers into
Washington looking for rooms. and
about the ecarcity Of rooms. / can sa5
there are roomer1 all over tho city.
know In our immediate neighborhoot
there are hundreds OF rooms vacant and
signs in the windows, Furnished
Foom&" But 90 far there are only
3umors Of their being occupied The
writer has had two vacant rooms fol
nearly two weeks, and no takers; one
. third story front, southern exposure
the other drst-etory room, rear
northern exposure.
Tho price has been $3.50 per weel
single and $500 double for years, ant
With all this great rush Of newcomer
70 Washington these rooms are vacant
1ncandescent gas lights. heat Of 20 de
eress right now. clean towels. bet
linen and clean. we'll kept rooms. and
u do say 1t. respectable people wh<
toll and work six days In the week, an<
patriotic Americana. too; q union Of tn,
north and south. with the spirit o.
good fellowship hospitality, courtes,
and hearty good cheer. Some people
come TO Washington with a one-hun
Arsd-dollar air and ways and expect t,
1--we on ten-dollar basis The write
knows. He has been up against thes,
people for years here and elsewher,
Ind knows whereof he speaks
C. A. G. POWELL
Denies Avarice Charge.
~ tAs Editor Of TIE Star:
In behalf Of the householders, house
Keepers and small hotel proprietorz 4,