Evening journal., 1919-12-16
PASTOR To Sell
OUT HIS HOUSES
Rev. George Henry Dole
Throws % Homes and
? Stores on Market
RESULT OF DISPUTE
WITH HIS TENANTS

. III various parts OF tit tlAaf vNuIu h9
the Rev George Henry Dole, Of No.
iii6 Broome street. pastor Of the
Church Of the New Jerusalem, are for
sale. The properties include those in
a row OF nve. numbering from ii0i to
1909 Adams greet, over which there
has been waged a heated dispute as TO
conditions and rent between some or
the tenants and Mr.. Dole.
At a three-hOur hearing OF the dis
pute, by the Rent ProAieering Com
mlttee held In Council Chamber last
night Mr.. Dole declared he intended 20
sell out rather than continue a contest
In which he felt he was being unIustly
accused, held up 10 public condemna-
ton, his name besmirched and his repu-
tation furnished. The committee con-
linued the case until its next session
two weeks hence, with a lacit under
standing that meanwhile Mr.. Dole Will
visit persona .ly, his Adams street ten
lants and arrange with them 10 do what
ever is necessary TO put the houses ID
better condition.
The session of the committee last
night was the liveliesDof any yet held
by the pr0nteering committee. Also
90 was the longest. The members or
the committee kept Mr.. Dole busy an
cwering questions, explaining his prop
criy accounts and protesting ae was
not a pronteer, but had only tried TO
deal "chariiably as well as fairly win
his tenants.
One OF the Rev. Mr.. Doles tenants
called him a prolteer 90 his face, a
Tao
as un-American and as lowering the
standing OF living for American work
men; another committee member frank
ly called him an "eyader,' and a Third
one told him he "was hiding behind
his cloth" ~ his business transactions.
To all these thrusts. Mr. Dole stead
fastly reiterated his proiestadons Of
charity and fairness. and maintained
he had lost and not made money from
the row OF five house at Nos. 1901, 3.
3. Z and Q Adams street. about which
The dispute. has been cenlerCd
Mr. Dole declared the war and result
ant high cost of labor, and materials
had made 10 impossible for him TO main
tain The properties as he would have
liked and that 90 put them IN ilrst-class
condition today would require the eX-
pcnditure OF a large sum.
In an effort 90 aid Mr. Dole. 10 was
suggested that Mr.. Dole sell one OF the
properties and devote the proceeds 20
putting the rest in thorough repair.
This. however, he declined 90 10, saying
II he did so. sooner or later DE would
be obliged 10 repeat the action and in
the end would have no propeyties what
ever. So rather than sell plecemeal, he
has decided TO sell all.
70 also developed that out Of a total
assessed value OF s7,7OO for the Adams
street properties. there IS a mortgage OF
$1,000. leaving Mr.. Dole an equity OF
only si70O. For a time some OF the
committee thought they had discovered
that Mr.. Dole was making a profit Of
$50 per cent. on the houses; but he
promptly explained he owned lot Of
other properties throughout the city,
and had Jumped his Indebtedness on
them an in MORTGAGES on The Adams
street houses for convenience. Mr..
Dole figured the ratio mortgage on the
Adams street houses at $50 each
After Harry Pritcheit, Mrs William
Mcdowell and Charles H. Lockwood
last nieht had told a story Of rooms
needing paper, toilets out Of condition /
houses leaking, sinks and boilers out OF |
repair, Councilman James g.. Mearns /
asked The following question:
do you think that houses in such (
condition are The proper place for an /
American TO live and TO raise an Amer /
lean family in an American way?"
Mr.. Dole replied he would make the !.
repairs IL ne could get enough rent /
crom the houses TO pay for the work |
BY the questioning OF one Of the I
members of the committee. 70 was /
brought out that one real estate man. I.
]. j. Monaghan, had refused TO handle |
the properties Of Mr.. Dole because he |
ihuoght his Increases in rent were not /
Justified a letter from Mr.. Monaghan /
TO one Of The tenants stated he did not I
think the minister was showing any .
for others"
When Mr.. Dole was called before the |
committee. ne carried large portfolio /
OF account books and papers. Harry 1
pricheii. a tenant at No. 1903 Adams 4
street faced him and they were given .
chairs side by side. The written COM F.
plant made by Pritchett to the COM
mittee was read.
In this he>charged that the house
was almost untenable Tho rent had
been raised twice from 500 TO SD, and /
then to s2i a month.
Mr. pritcheit swore that there charges
were correct. He then verbally testified
his lease Is monthly. The toilet Is In
bad condition. he said. and. there was
no heater He was willing 90 nay s2f
II the house was put in good condl-
iion: in fact, he would pay $50 for a
good home He admitted that Mr.
Dole had repaired the front steps and
porch and that Mr. Dole himself had
painted some floors. Three rooms had
been papored and the toilet repaired.
lie said some wOrhmen who had re-
paired fences about the house had
robbed" Mr. Dole by their slipshod
work
Mr.. Dole. in reply. said he knew his
tenants didn't understand conditions :"
,hat when wages go up. rents must
-ise. His tenants. he said. did not ap- Y
Dreciate this. They had been good ten
ants. he went on, paying their rent
we'll. He had tried 10 get repairs made.
lut had found it difficult He said ne
rad had the houses severed. He paid
bout sliOO apiece for 1--WE properties in
he row on Adams street in 1907. In
fiew Of repairs made he raised The rent
rom Si2 90 sii. and maintained that fig
Ire TO 1916 Then war times forced him
% raise the rent to si7,i then 20 SIS.
nd finally, last year, he made the rent
No. He said he still found nc was
oslng money on his investment. and ,
,a;sod iha rent n s2f His son no