Evening journal., 1920-01-13
SCORE ELANDLORD
AS WORST YET
Rent Adjustment Commit
tees Wrath Aroused Over
A Per Cent. Charge
NEGRO TENANT PAYS
Sc WEEK FOR 3 ROOMS

what william C. Lyon, chairman. de-
.,ared the "rawest case Of prohteerins
which has come before the Mayors
pent Adjustment Committee, served as
dramatic climax to dhe closing reg
,ilsr sessions Of That body III the coun-
ell Chamber last night.
Hereafter The committee VIII meet
onl, at can OF the chairman, instead OF
eas6 Monday night. Future complaints
should be- direcied 90 Homer &. SIM
mons clerk OF TUuncil who has also
served as clerk of the committee
These win be invostlsaied by lhe con-
mittcemen Individually and Wheh SUM
sieni have been accumulated lhe com
xiiiee will De assembled.
When the committee began IT'S ses-
sion last night. W :. Smith Negro
was sworn. and testified he rented the
mrs. floor of q two-siory property al
No 1920 poplar seroet, from Harry
Ncimer 10 is q siX-room house ana
smith PAYS e6 week. or an average or
S25 a month for three hooms on ihc
lower noor The second floor, as lei-
mcr later admitted rents also for 80
week, making SD a week lalmer re-
ceiVes from The six rooms. or an aver
aga Of $50 month.
Yelmer said he paid sl,i0o FOR The
property ON this valuation, Charles g..
Kurt member OF The committee
figured ont mat the owner is getting
an interest on his investment OF ii ana
four sevcnihs per cent a year.
This interest rate is easily the high
cst of any found by lhe committee in
SIS investigation Of dozens Of cases since
u began It's work weeks ago.
smith the tenant. testified lhe house
was IN iI condition and unhealthy
that 20 was cold and damp. Nelmer
sMovo "a Justify mis- charges by say
inc That if a tenant rents his rooms IN
house for 81 week. the landlord Is
priyilcred to exact at least 50 per
noon himself lie said me- bought the
house last August, and expected TO
spend from $500 Ga 500 for repairs
during the le-E, When pressed 60
say what rcpatS he already had made,
he said DE couldn't remember, eX9ctly.
Chairman Lyon offered TO buy the
property from him anytime within a
wear for 81 400 II he would sell, but
Nclmer declined the offer
Nelmer started TO cite other persons
who were getting as high rent as he,
but was cut short by protests Of com
mhteemcn That he stick TO his own
case.
people come into my store and
offer me more than Sc for the rooms,
he declared
'NYhere is your store?" was asked.
Il keep a grocery at Thirteenth and
Wilson Streets he answered.
The committeeman. whose wrath was
apparent, quizzed him as 20 what he
charged for sdgor
"Oh an kinds Of prices he replied
"Tweniy cents, p cents-iust now i5.'
what do you pay for your suga
nOw?" was quericd.
"Thirieen cents" he answered.
We'll. you don't try 10 make On,
same profit on sugar you do on hous,
renting" remarked Chairman Lyon.
"Nou had better stick TO real estate
] think" dryly remarked Councilman
Mearns. a member OF the committee.
How long have you been in lhi'
country ." next was the sharp question
Thirteen years
Are you naiuraliZcd?'
Yes for ten years. was the reply
rTm an American citizen
"Weu." exploded Chairman Lyon
'you certainly don't act like one. ID
Won think a. and az per cent. fai
anu honorable profit 90 eXac, from thi
poo- colored man. You know. unde
ordinary conditions. you wouldn't dar
think 0f asked Sc q week for thre
rooms in house lire that described.
Alr. kuriz wanted % know II Nelme
would charge smith as much for On
SIX rooms if his tenant didn't rent an,
of me-l out Smith. meanwhile, hal
testified ne did mol rent any rooms bu
had only had nephew as a boarder
short time
"I'd want the same raie' replied Vel
mer. "bec3usc : could get IT,
"He's case-h8rdened.' remarked Nh
Kurlz Struggling his shoulders.
give him up
Herr smith. the tenant inierrupie
70 say ne didn'i want 20 keep any room
ers but that Nelmer had told him D
could take the whole house and rent on
fhe rooms and make money. smith sal
De never had a lease.
Mr.. Ford. OF the committee. Jet driy
at this point. Facing Nelmer' ne e'
claimed: DO you know that If Yo
lived I'm New York or Philadelphia The
would take YOU ont and tar and featht
YOU, and ride you on rail! Do 20
know ,hat?"
.NIr Yelmer." began Chairman Lyon
once more. II regret TO say 90 you th'
YOU are o man without a heart or VIII
out a sense Of decency Your sole "a
IS the almighty dollar. You are ~