Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-30
Angelus Apartment Agent
Donohoe Refuses to Attend
City Council Rent Probe
Until Police Appear.
BUTLER WANTS>ExPERT
TO DETERMINE PROFITS
Increases Admitted by Owners,
But No Reason Is Advanced
Why Tenants Should Pay
Excessive Prices Demanded.

was resumed in the city council
chamber last night developed
enough spirit and interest to satisfy
the most expectant attendant.
T. A. Donohoe, agent for the An.
gelus apartments, whose tenants
have been the storm center of the
high rent opposition, failed to APP
pear in response to summons served
by the city clerk.
When Mr.. Donohoe did not re-
spond to the call of his name,
Beecher Highly, leader of the An-
gelus protestants, arose and said:
Il would have thought that Mr..
Donohoe should have come forward
like a man and stated his case.
want him here"
II move that ar officer be sent for
Mr.. Donohoe,' suggested Commis-
sioner Butler.
R. L. Mossman, assistant city at
torney, replied: 81 think he has q
technical objection for not appear
ing, on account of not having been
paid a witness fee. The only man,
who was summoned and demanded
witness fee was Ernest Sweet"
Zimrnan Pays 81 Fee.
Commissioner Ringer, who was
presiding in the absence of Mayor
Smith, ordered the city clerk to cali
upon the police department to bring
Mr.. Denohoe before the council.
Detective c. r. Van Deusen ap-
peared in the council chamber and
obtained the order for the absent
witness. A telephone call from the
officer resulted in the early appear
ance of Mr.. Donohoe. Commis-
sioner Zimman advanced the 81 witt
ness fee for the manager Of thu
Angelus apartments.
The absence of Mayor Smith
caused some comment by the COM
missieners. He was called during
the early evening by the city clerk
and told that the commissioners de-~
sired his presence, but that impor-.
tunity did not move, the chief ex-@
ecutive of the city to leave his home.
Butler to Present Plan.
At the conclusion of the hearing
Commissioner Butler announced
that at the council meeting next
Tuesday morning he will offer resi-
olution asking that the council ap-
point special committee of three.
with power to engage all expert ex-
aminer to go into the books of those
in the rental business; also to exam
inc the assessors books for correct
valuations.
The council adjourned shortly be-
fore the midnight hour without tak-
ing any action on the rent situa.
ton.
First Protest Heard.
The first clash of the evening be-
tween tenants and apartment man
ayers involved the Raleigh apart
ments at Thirtieth and Jackson
streets. J. A. Shopen appeared as
manager and B. F. Boyd and Mrs.
L: Butts appeared for a delegation
of tenants. .
Mrs. Butts said: "I was the first
tenant in the Raleigh. They have
been paying a Mr.. Schneider SIS q 4
month to do the decorating work
they have been talking so much
about. Two small colored bows do
the janitor work. They borrow
matches every day from the tenants
and burn the rubbish in the back
yard. The screen doors don't fit and
the result is that there are many.
reaches, crickets and flies. Our rent
has been raised from $35 to $50" s
Mr.. Boyd came forward with facts
and figures. He said: "As near as
| can figure it, this apartment is.
earning IL per cent, allowing for de-
probation and figuring the valuations
at $50,000, which is twice what it Is
worth. We have complained of the
rubbish in the backyard"
Admits Rent Increase
Mr.. Shopen, as agent for the r.
leigh. testified that the increased +
rent had been ordered by the owner.
Gordon Roth. who asserted he was
not receiving reasonable returns on
his investment. He admitted that 4
the rents will be raised October Il
and $50. ss
I'VE pay the janitor $40 per
month. but it is hard to keep him
at that figure he said. N
He was unable to give figureson
which the rent increases had been
based, but believed that the law of &
supply and demand had someti,i. e 4
to do, with it. He was unable to
state whether his lease blanks con-
tanned any reference to children.
He presented to Mr. Mossman fig
ures purporting to show that tho