Evening star., 1918-06-08
TENANTS NOTIFIED
OF RIGHTS IN LAW
Council of Defense Circular
ICES Effect of Salisbury
Resolution.
POSSIBLE EVASION CITED

In order that no tenant IN the Dis
knowledge OF the protection which
the salisbury resolution affords, the
District Council Of Defense has mail.
ed scores of circulars to rent payers
in the past few days. telling them
what rights they have under the res
olution.
Several weeks ago Commissioner
Brownlow issued statement de-
nouncing profiteering of every de-
scription and inviting victims to noe
tify the District Council of DefenseS
of pronteering cases.
Circular Sent Broadcast.
The defense council is mailing the
circular to every one who made \
complaint in response to Mr.. Brown
lows invitation and to tenants gem
orally. Copies also are being sent to
the heads OF all government bureaus.
The salisbury resolution provides
that b, Ia fide purchaser can secure
possession of a house for his own oc-
cupancy on a thirty-day notice to the
tenant, but the question already has
developed in Municipal Court of
whether the purchaser or the former
owner shall bring the suit to get the
tenant out
this as an important issue and prob
ably VIII not render a decision until
the latter part of next week. Per-
sons who have studied the law point
ed out today that il the court holds
that the seller of a house can bring
the suit to get tenant out he could
get an eviction order from the court
and could then fail to turn the house
over to the person who was represent
ed as the purchaser.
Possible Evasion Of Principle.
In other words. he would have a
court order to evict the tenant, but
would not have to complete the sale
of the house. This. it is argued, would
constitute a colorado sale, which the
Sa ulsbury resolution aims to pre-
vent.
On the other hand, it was contended
by lawyers. that IL the court holds
that the purchaser must bring the ac-
tion to get the tenant out after he
has closed the deal OF buying the prop
erty few people would attempt to buy
q house because of a fear that theS
would be unable to get possession
after paying their money. This Ques-
tion of whether the seller or buyer
shall bring the suit has been raised
Municipal Court.
Rights Under Law.
The circulars which the District
Council of Defense is sending broad
cast tell the tenant that the Salisbury
resolution does the following things:
Saves all tenants by month or longer
period from being evicted or having
their rent increased. excepting ten
ants who have failed to pay Cor ten
der) rent at agreed rate, who have
not performed conditions of agree
ment consistent with the act, who
have committed waste or who have
been guilty on premises Of crime. mis-
demeanor. breach OF peace or nuis-
ance; also excepting tenants in prem
ises necessarily required for occu-
pancy by landlord or bona fide pur-
chaser. or wife, children or depen-
dents of a landlord or bona f1de pur-
chaser, while he is employed by or
officially connected with the govern
ment.
The term real estate" as used IN
this law includes all buildings and
all parts of any building.
This law does not provide for re-
ducing the rent of any person who
has already agreed or may hereafter
agree to pay an increased rent.