The Washington times., 1918-05-01
| ANDLORDISM.
HERE IS WORSE.
THAN It WAS.
IN OLD IRELAND.
ny I'LL PRICE.

NANNAnAAA@AA 0AAANAlAA ~ eHNA " A1AA-
.inEton today are alarmed over the
serious disturbance TO Government
work and business being caused by
the practical eviction OF Government
workers from their homes by real
estate speculators and prohteers, who
are running riot in their chase for
the dollar. regardless OF inJustices
done human beings BY the thousands
Serioua-minded. reputable real es-
tate agents, business men generally,
eld citizens in all walks OF life are
bocoming aroused as never before.
bestirring every thought TO evolve
some plan that viii prevent the city
becoming topsy-turvy.
Iriah Landlords Easy.
Landlord evictions in Ireland in the
old days were mild compared to some
Of the work going on In this city to-
day, and washington Is getting a
black eye far and near through
speeches IN Congress and articles by
neWspapor correspondents, which fail
20 Discriminate between the square
and honest and the prohteer, wild
and hungry to squeeze the last posi-
bic dollar out OF men and women
who ere nearly panicstrlclIen over the
fear that they cannot obtain homes to
i've in and are compelled to stand and
deliver IN the Western hold-up style.
There are thousands OF good Wash
lngtOnlans who have not the money
% make payments down upon houses
they are renting when they receive
the tip that they must get out or
buy. Cash payments are necessary.
Then when they turn 20 look for
other houses to rent what's the an
Bwer7
Nothing in sight.
These people have responded 10 the
patriotic appeals TO subscribe for
Liberfy bonds They have been able
70 buy $50 or 800 In bonds because
they could pay in small installments.
6ut when they have not the money
70 pay $500 down on q house they
are told they must buy or their fur
uiture Will be put upon the sidewalk
By a United States marshal,
Many Are EvIcted.
Today the representative OF The
Times walked into the office Of Major
2. L. Potter. director Of health and
housing OF the War Department.
Thirty men aud women were there
waiting TO tell stories Of election
from their homes. ''Sold over our
heads and nowhere to 60" was the
uniform refrain. In the last ten days
100 letters and visits have been re
csived from people in the same situa-
ton.
IN percentage Of the cases the
houses had not actually been sold.
The notices sent to the tenants were
camoufiage TO scare them into i'm
mediate purchase at fancy prices:
prices far above normal.
How am I to buy the house?'
asked Dennis +. Clarke, OF AZ Six
teenth street southeast. Clarke has
been a worker In the Navy Yard for
TWENTY years, and his son IL there
also. The family lie a large one.
I have received notice to get out"
went on Clarke, who obtained leave
from his commanding officer that he
might have opportunity to seek re-
dress somewhere. MY wife has
walked the streets all day looking for
q house and I have walked late into
the night. 1t looks TO me as II we
viii have to leave the city and 60
somewhere else. ! am working nine
and this sort OF thing spoils our
lives"
From Pillar 20 Pest.
sAnd even II we do find house
We can rent" said Clarke. who voices
the same sentiment ss thousands OF
others, "how long will We be there
before Il Is sold over our heads and
we must again tramp the streets?
How am TO do my work under these
cireumstanees2 There are hundreds
STOCKHOLDERS MEETING