Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-24
SAYS LANDLORDS
ADOPT HUN PLAN
Writer, Charging Profiteer-
ing, Declares Threatened
Increase Unjust.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
| On two successive Saturdays past
have noticed articles in the real es-
tate section of your paper dealing
with the increase in rentals contem-
plated at the signing Of the treaty
of peace.
Business men, including landlords,
seem to have adopted the German
method of preparing the way for new
ofenses by a campaign Of suggestion.
designed to prepare their victims for
the real estate dealer Of Washington
crease, at the very least, in rentals
Immediately after the signing OF
peace. This is not because they are
not making good profit now. but be-
cause then the restrictions will be
taken off. and they can do as they
please.
Asks Basis Of Increase.
What the tenant would like to know
to be calculated Will it be upon the
rental he is now paying, which in all
cases where the landlord was not
handcuhed by the law. represents al
ready an increase of from SO to 100
per cent. and sometimes more. or will
1t be upon a pre-war basis. Wherever
the signing of new lease. or the
renting of a new apartment. gave the
landlord the advantage over the limi-
tations of the emergency legislation,
what was the result? The result was
a demand for such prices as it would
make any moderately honest man
blush with shame to ask. One can
see evidence of this now in the adver-
tisements in our daily papers, some OF
which / have answered to see for my
self the justice of the prices charged.
For instance. have been asked $50
month for two medium sized rooms.
divided by public hall, with no kitchen
accommodations In an old house.
none too clean. with none of the mod
ern imprisonments in the way of cleo
tricity, etc, and unfurniShed. 1 have
been asked 500 per month for three
house. unfinished. Another apart
ment of two rooms and kitchenette.
unfinished, is advertised this very
day day at 800 per month. There
are dozens of these cases, and worse.
AS have lived in Washington all my
life. and have been living in apart
ments for about fifteen years, and
know what former prices were for
different classes of accommodations
and locations, l am In position 10
know that the prices now being charged
In many instances, and those threatened
after the signing Of peace, are out OF all
proportion to the necessity OF the times.
People Have Been Hurt.
All through the war period the law
has dealt tenderly with the profiteer,
to the tremendous hurt Of the peo-
pie. Why? An evil can only find ref
uge where there is sympathy with
that evil. and II our lawmakers are
not in sympathy with what is wrong
ing and robbing the people. why has
not some remedy been provided?
The Washington landlords have
only added insult to injury by stating
that whereas in other cities there
was much profiteering. in Washing.
Of them were kept at normal. why
was It? 1t was only as a result Of alb
solutely necessary legislation. in or
der to save people from being sub
jected to utterly intolerable condi-
lions at the hands Of these same land
lords. 1t was nothing but rank proht-
eering that led to the fixing Of nor
NAL rents. and no virtue on the part
of the landlords. In spite Of the leg
way. and are now finding a way. to
profiteer disgracefully.
Not only are the people struggling
under the weight OF rent prodteering,
but under every other kind Of profit
eerins. in food. in clothing, IN every
simplest thing that they must buy.
Then will not the people wake up,
these things, and impress upon their
lawmakers that they are represent
ing the people, and not themselves!
VERA E. ADAMS.