Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-29

Rent profiteering by an alleged
!, real estate combine" and what was
| termed the abnormal and unreason-
able prices demanded for the common
necessities of life by the Washington
| retailers were discussed last night by
Central Labor Union.
| The matter came up when report
based upon statistics collected by
! John B. Dickman, a former president
! of the body and chairman of the
| legislative committee, representing
| Columbia Typographical Union No.
/; 101. was presented. Among the fea-
| lures of the report was a paper that
Mr. Dickman had personally circulated
at the government printing office in
| which hundreds of the men and
| women employed there, in answer to
questions. showed that their rents
| have been raised so per cent to 100
| per cent in many instances regard
/ less of. the Salisbury act.
Alleges Lessees Are Forced Out.
| In that paper it is shown that prac-
/ tically every renter has been forced
Z; to stand for large increase in his
| rent while some of the men who re-
/ fused to pay the increase demanded
! were forced out Notwithstanding that
| they were occupying their houses
! Dr. Dickman submitted statistics,
| clippings from all Of the Washington
/ papers and personal letters from VIC
+: Tins of the rent sharks" as he
/ termed them. 1t was pointed out by
/; Mr.. Dickman that many of the real
4 estate agents Of Washington. which
he termed "the Washington real estate
/ combine or trust" are sending to ten.
ants of houses and apartment houses
I contracts for the coming rent year, in
| which heavy advances in rents or the
prompt surrender of the premises are
/ demanded.
Ayers salisbury Act Violated.
Mr.. Dickman asserted that such ac-
ton on the part of the real estate men
is in direct violation Of the Salisbury
| act, intended to prevent just such q
| practice, for the reason, he said, that
! the Salisbury act had been extended
July II for ninety days after a def
| mite conclusion of peace with Ger
many
| There are two classes Of renters,"I
! said Mr.. -Dickman. zone too ignorant
1 to know what a lease means and an
| other class possessed of the necessary
| intelligence to know what q lease
means legally, but who do not take
the trouble to read it before affixing
/ tnelI~ IneS6 men Prove
| easy marks for the real estate COM
bine,' who are out to get every penny
/ from the renters in any manner, law
| or no law, that they can"
| Statistics on the mounting cost of
!, the necessities of life in Washington
were submitted by Mr.. Dicknan.
This information, which has been
/ carefully collected. will be presented
by Mr.. Dickman to the committee Of
Congress charged with conducting an
| investigation into the rent and living
/ problems here.
Proposals Endorsed.
| Unanimous Endorsement was given
House joint resolution No. So, which
/ provides for the election of judges of
the United States Supreme and other
courts of the country for a term Of
years and not appointed for life, as
is now the case. Similar Endorsement
was given House bill 1924. which pro-
vides for the sale and distribution of
i the surplus Army food supplies to the
i people at it's original cost.
/ resolution was adopted giving the
Endorsement of organized labor OF
Washington to the movement launch
ed for organising union OF policemen.
who are seeking a six-day week and
better working hours and a reason
able increase in their pay.
il Marshall Hall is expected to be Sc
lected for the annual Labor day out
ing of Central Labor Union.
II 4 "A