Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-26
FLAT JEWELLERS
May 60 TO COURT
FOR Lower rent
Investigation Of Real Estate
Men for Forming Illegal
Combine May Be
Instituted.

ASudutS III tuS AldhC SOuiS dpoIt-
ments, South Twenty-second and
Jones streets, who with the occu-
pants of . score of other Omaha
apartment houses, are formulating
definite plans to resist the extor-
tionate demands of profiteering
landlords, yesterday began the cir
. culation of 4 petition among the 2l6
flats in the court calling on the
women to lend their concerted sup
port to the movement launched last
week
A committee OF women Saturday
consulted with an attorney to as
certain the proper course to pur-
sue. The attorney is looking up
the law and. it is said, will advise
the committee within a few days.
Hint at Combine.
A plan which has been suggested
to the committee contemplates the
flat refusal to meet the alleged I'M
fair increased rates in rent and also
refuse to vacate. 1t has been sug-
gested that the general raise in
rents recently all over the, city Of
from IS to so per cent is the result
Of a get-to-gether agreement be-
tween local real estate men and
landlords.
The point is made that this is an
illegal combination formed with a
purpose to take advantage of the
limited number of apartments and
houses for rent in Omaha to bleed
thousands of those who will be
compelled to comply with the de-
mands of property owners and rent
agents. 1t is said also that notices
of raises in rents were not served
until the 18th hour, which has Gre
ated a situation where many per-
sons will not be able to move and
find apartments for rent during the
winter.
If the plan meets with the approx
al of their attorney, an investigation
of certain local real estate men and
landlords on a charge of forming
an illegal combination for profiteer-
ing purposes will be instituted with
view to prosecution it was said
The idea also is to enjoin the prop
erty owners against election pend
ing the investigation.
In the event. their attorney ap-
proves this course, it was pointed
out the arrangement would lead to
a long drawn out legal battle with
the possibility of landlords who are
identified with the alleged combina-
ton not receiving any rentals for
their properties for months, unless
they agree to meet their tenants on
reasonable and fair basis.
The opinion was expressed sew
eral days ago by one or the Doug
las county district judges that there
was ample provision in the statutes
for the relief of tenants who are be-
ing subjected to unfair demands
The judge declared he had not gone
into the matter thoroughly. but
expressed the firm conviction that
relief could be obtained by an ap-
peal to the courts.
Following the publication of this
opinion in The Bee scores of ten
ants in apartment houses all over
the city have been holding confer
ence with the purpose of taking the
necessary action to thwart the plans
of landlords demanding extortion-
ate rents.
A committee representing the ten
ants of the Drake Court apartments
has indicated a purpose of attend
ing one of the meetings held by the
city councils investigation of high
rents, provided it is not abandoned,
like the high cost of food jnvesti-
cation was abandoned before any
thing had been accomplished.
To Attend Hearing.
While tenants in the Angelus
apartments, Twenty-fifth avenue
and Farnam street, refused en-
phatically to take up the matter with
the city attorney, it was decided to
send delegation to the city hall
: to attend at least one of the gath
erings of the council while it is in
vestigating the matter of high rents.
d, At number of renters meetings
attention has been called to the fact
of the councils failure to accomplish
anything in the food investigation,
and I hundreds of occupants of
apartments have gone on record
expressing opinions of doubt as to
whether Mayor Smith and members
of the city commission would make
any Roadway in their investigation
of rents.
As an indication of the fact that
real estate men are making a con-
certed effort to raise the rents all
over the city, c. E. Mitchell yes
terday cited an example in the
case of the apartment house at 554-
$50 South Twenty-sixth avenue,
owned by Calkins company, real
estate and investments" 17l2 Doug
Jas street. Until recently Mr. Nit
chell was tenant in the apartment.
He moved out a week ago when his
rent ION a six-room unfinished
apartment was raised from $50 to
SIS a month. The property lately
has been purchased by the Calkins
company from ]. A. Aulabaugh.
Mr.. Aulabaugh told me that
while he owned the building scores
of real estate men begged him to
increase the rent" said Mr.. Nit
chell. "Mr. Aulabaugh declared
that he thought he was getting a
fair rate of rent and to each real
estate man who tried to prevail on
him to join them in raising rents he
replied he was charging his tenants
enough and refused to join the com
bination."
Mr.. Mitchell declared he was
called on by a representative of the
Calkins Co. August S and told that
he would have to pay an additional
rental of SIS, the arrangement be-