Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-08-16
MISUNDERSTANDING
Scale Of s. per Room for UnfuTnlsh-
n ed Houses, 500 Furn-
a Ished
Limit on Furnished Single Room Is
$26; Army Passes on All
Leases

rent question two weeks ago, q
board Of officers appointed by him
called a me sting Of property owners
at Iae chamber of commerce Friday
night, the announced object Of the
meeting being the arrival at a salts
factory basis for rent prices to sol
diers and their families in Deming.
The board consisted Of Major R. B.
Sturckie, camp quartermaster, Ma
jor T. C. Crimmins, acting Judge ad-
vocate, Major j. j. Ready of the
medical department, Major H. D.
Bargelt Of the quartermaster's de-
partment, and Capt. John p. Mad
gett, division Inspector. Prior to the
meeting Friday night this board had
made q tour Of inspection Of prop
critics rented by soldiers, including
not only houses, but single rooms,
every place in fact that houses
soldier, or members of his family.
Members of the board Of directors of
the chamber of commerce, which is
cooperating with the army in Sc
cIEing lower rents, were present at
the meeting, as was also Mayor
Hamilton, representing the city's in
terest in the matter. About two do
zen property owners were present.
Major Sturkie acted as the princi
pal spokesman for the army and
declared that lower rents must be
secured for the soldiers families.
The conditions of which he com
planned he did not blame Deming
people for so much as the "floaters"
who rushed here to get rich off the
soldiers when the camp was first es-
tablished and who figured, not en-
tirely without reason, that they must
get their money back quick, in view
Of the then uncertain life Of the
camp. lie admitted that there was
reason for high prices then, but now
that nobody has the least idea that
the camp will ever leave and the in
vestments of these people have al
ready paid for themselves, Ii is time
for a readjustment. The board did
not object to a reasonable advance
over conditions that obtained before
the camp came, figuring that as
prices of all kinds had risen prop
eriy owners were entitled to normal
increase. To this they figured it
reasonable to add five per cent, and
this basis they believed, said Major
Sturckie, that every landlord could
make a profit out of all proportion
to their actual investment.
Several whom the investigating Of
ficers had found guilty of fragrant
overcharging came in for heavy CEN
sure, and were forced to submit to
some very pointed questioning. All
those present, however, agreed to
conform to the wishes Of the army.
A lease form drawn up by Major
Crimmins was presented by that Of
ficer with the information that it
will be used hereafter by official or
ders in all cases where a soldier rents
property here. BY its conditions,
which are designed to protect both
landlord and tenant, no soldier may
rent property without submitting his
lease to the officers board for ap-
proval. Before this approval is
given full investigation will be
made. The lease must be for at
least six months and rent must be
paid by the month in advance. Only
in case of transfer to another camp
can he break his lease, and on pre-
sentatiOn of statement of such trans
fer from the division commander he
is entitled to the return Of all ad-
vance rent paid. In case he proves
en- Objectionable tenant the landlord
may report him to headquarters and
by substantiating his charge have
him removed.
A number Of civilian speakers, in
cluding J. A. MahOney, A. W. Pol
lard and Mayor Hamilton, spoke en-
dorsing the position taken by the
AMY men in the matter and assuring
them of their cooperation.
A second meeting, called for Mon
day night, brought out only a small
number of prOperty-Owners, many
doubtless alarmed by the tongue
lashing received by few at Friday
nights meeting. A scale Of rents
adopted by the army was submitted
fixing the maximum price of unfur-
nished houses at $5 per room pen
month, the tenant to pay light and
water bills; furnished houses being
fixed at 81 as a maximum. For single
furnished rooms $25 per month Is
fixed as a maximum and the board
Indicated that they would figure