Evening journal., 1918-06-14
council HEARS OF
RENT PR0F|TEERIhC
Central Labor Union Secre.
tary Presents Facts on Sit
uation TO Officials
GOVERNMENT IS
APPEALED TO

Fred w. Stierle, secretary OF the Cen,
tral Labor Union. was given the flool
at a meeting OF City Council last night
when he brought out some facts per,
tanning 10 Wilmlngtons housing sltua-
ton and rent profteering.
Nh. Stlerle told Council that rents in
this city have been advanced from 50 tC
Si3 a month. lie said that the sltu-
alton is worse than acute-that Il Is
desperate, and that II the Government
does not stop the methods Of some
landlords and properly owners many
men working In shipyards and other
Government work with their families
will be set out on the streets or be
compelled 10 resort to tents II they
remain in Wilmington.
The short talk by the Labor Unions
sScrtary had It's eQrct upon Council
and motion was passed authorizing
the clerk 10 communicate al once with
the housing committee at Washington
requesting that a Government repre-
sentative be sent here in an effort Ia
stop the alleged pronteering.
Mr.. Siierle said that he had about
twenty complaints with him and that
sfildsvits had been made TO every one
OF them
He cited the case OF a woman who
has about nineteen men rOomers. The
men are ship workers. The woman has
been notified by the owner OF The house
that her rent will be SIS a month here
after instead OF S3s, the amount she
has been paying. and that II condi-
tions are not met she must get out Of
the house by June p. This case is be
Ing investigated.
The case Of a policeman was cited
who has lived at his present address
for the past eighteen years. His rent
has been advanced 50 a month.
A woman whose husband died while
I'm the governments service, was told
that her rent will be SO in the future
instead OF SO.
4 widow whose only support is her
soldier son, was told that she must
stand an increase from $3.50 TO si5. The
landlords excuse IS mat the house is
wanted for his two unmarried sisters.
Mr.. Stierle told Council that these
men and their families had helped make
Wilmington what Il is today; that they
had lived in these houses and paid rent
when times wore hard and helped keep
the owners OF the property going
through panicky times. and that no
consideration is now shown them
4 letter was received from George b.
Miller president Of the Board OF Edu-
cation. sent along with a resolution
which that body adopted az the meeting
TUESDAY night pertaining to the budget
which Council had been asked to ap-
prove for the ensuing school term
The resolution stated that the law
was such that the Board Of Education
need not account TO Council how the
board spent money appropriated by
Council for school purposes. In the
letter. Miller told Council that that body
should meet the needs as now required
as the situation is a desperate one. He
said that teachers IN the lower end Of
New Castle County were receiving high
er pay than hose In Wilmington. lie
further said in his letter that II some
OF the schools were not open at the
fall term Council could take the blame
upon itself. The letter was ordered
received
A letter from II. Kanofsky was read,
He asked that Council consider him
when awarding insurance on the city
buildings.
A protest against the proposed raise
in street car fare, signed by Edmund
A. Thompson, postmaster at Brandy
wine Springs, was read. The letter
said that a raise in the fare would
mean "a cents from his home TO Viii
mington.
A communication signed by 4i resi-
dents OF the Twelfth ward was resd.
The communication said that the street
car tracks on Second street, from Rod
ney 10 dupont streets were six inches
higher than the street surface and that
conditions were deplorable in wet
weather. During and following hard
rains the travelling public and automo-
biles find the section impossible. The
communication was referred 10 the law
and police committee. On other oces-
sions, communications with reference
TO the section mentioned have been re-
ferred to the Street and Sewer Depart
ment. The change is being made In dc
partments in the hope that results VIII
come this time. Councilman Abbergcr
stated that he had been making a light
Tor year 10 nave lle uOuDlS in p"cS
tion remedied but without results.
\ communication was received from
the Board OF Water Commissioners ask
ing for $4,000 TO meet salaries and
bills. On motion the communication
was ordered received.
A motion was passed authorizing the
transfer OF $500 fro mthe 'ection ap-
preparation 10 the tax Ofice.
The treasurer's report as follows was
read: Balance on hand si3,36i.96 spe- |
clal bonds, s2O3. .7t0s9; parks, si6,s24.34.
Bills for salaries were ordered re-
ceived and checks drawn for the
amounts for the parties mentioned
therein.
Council took a recess TO meet this
evening 60 resume the inquiry OF the
Incrnasn In sirnel railNN.aY fares