The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-25
Committee Holds First Public
Meeting But Had Few
Protests in Hand.
DIR. BLOCKER is
MADE CHAIRMAN
Outlines at Length Good Pur-
poses Which His Committee
Hope to Accomplish.

Few complaints as to high or increas-
ed rentals were lodged with the special
committee consisting of DR.. L. deM
Blocker, C. C. Ball and Jas. johnson.
which met at the city hall YESTERDAY
afternoon at 1 o'clock. At that hour.
In addition to the members of the COM
mittee, there were present Henry Hors-
Ter, who announced that his house had
Deen leased without due notification TO
MN. and George p. Wentworth, who
enlightened the committee on a num-
Der of points in the rental situation
which appeared to have been not quite
clear to them.
DR.. Blocker was in charge of the
meeting by virtue of his Office as chair
man. He announced that the commit
tee would receive and duly look into
complaints in due time, and that he
hoped that the committee would be tn
means of doing considerable good in
the place. He stated that the i~eoring
man and his family was his fri -, ana
that. IL anything. he was going To see
especially that this class of citizens
was treated right, II he had anything
to do with 1t. He also announced that
the property owner also had rights.
which must be subserved; that in the
unprecedented conditions which the
Nohhti 10 lioS C4PtIlCuClnE, tH6 COSb
Of maintaining or building rental
properties has increased In common
With other items; that labor, material.
insurance and taxes were more than
formerly, or that taxes would be In
creased, he thought, and that some
consideration must he given. illustrate
ing his point, he said that capital and
labor looked to him as stick, which must
be balanced: that one must balance the
other, and that as much depends upon
the one as the other. He announced
that the committee would place with
the mayor and city clerk blanks which
may be filled out by persons having
complaint to file. and that these would
be carefully looked into, and In due
time a report on what had been as
certained would be made. The COM
mittee will meet again next "Wednesday
afternoon at o'clock.
Mr. Ball announced that he was rep
resenting the laboring man. and showed
this when DIR. Blocker said that the
walking delegate was one thing which
the unions could do away with now
adays. Mr.. Ball resented this allusion
to the labor union, saying that the day
of the walking delegate had been ended
long ago. and that the unions now were
careful in selecting competent man
LOT president WHO uSudlIy HdI1ulScs
with added committees from member
ship, whatever assistance is desired.
Mr.. Johnson said that he had been
thrown in contact with the laboring
man all his life, and was in position
to sympathize with them and their de-
sires. and thought that the committee
could and would do the right thing for
all concerned.
Beyond getting down to a working
basis, the meeting of the committee
yesterday was devoid of accomplish
ment but each of the members are
determined that there is much work
to be done, and that such committee
was in position to effect a clearer un-
derstanding of the rent question IN
Pensacola.
Mr. Wentworth announced that the
files OF his company were open TO in
spection, and that he, and also the rem
tai men of the city, stood ready TO af-
ford the committee any assistance pos
sible.