Evening star., 1920-02-25
ASKS RENT BOARD
PREVENT ELECTION
OF FP.0.AT MARKET
Mr.. Chance Urges Steps
AGAINST War Work Council
and D. C.. Heads.


today asked the District rent COM
| mission to prevent the National War
Work Council and the Commissioners
| of the District of Columbia from
ejecting the Center Market postal
station from it's quarters in the y. NJ.
G. A. Eagle Hut. Sth street and Penn
sylvania avenue. RaZing of the hut
has been ordered for February 80.
The appeal against the removal OF
the busy Center Market station lines
federal government against District
government. and creates a situation
unique in the rent situation in the
District
Presenting figures to the rent COM
mission to show that the Center Mar
ket postal station is filling q pubic
demand. the appeal of the city post
master states that:
II desire to place before the com
mission request that the National
War Work Council and the Commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia be
prevented from ejecting the Center
Market postal station from the head
quarters described until l have Sc
cured other quarters in which to
move"
Refer. to Rent Code.
In making the appeal the postmas-
ter referred to section 100 of the rent
laws of the District. which provides
that the right of a tenant to the use
or occupancy of any rental prop
erty, hotel or apartment existing at
the time this act takes effect, or
thereafter acquired, under any lease
or other contract for such use or oc-
cupancy or under any extension there
of by operation of law, shall, notwith-
standing the expiration of the term
fixed by such lease or contract, con-
tinue at the option of the tenant. sub
ject. however, to any determination
or regulation of the commission rele-
want thereto.
in view of this provision Of the
rent law. l believe l am clearly with
in my rights in requesting contin-
uance of the lease" declares the ap-
peal of the postmaster.
In taking this action, l am actual.
ed only by an earnest desire to pre-
serve for the business community in
question the postal rights and prlvi-
leges to which it is entitled. The dis
continuance of the station would not
cause any decrease in the postal rev.
enues of the Washington post ONCE
because the merchants of that vicinity
would continue to purchase stamps
and stamped paper for their maihngs'
and, as a matter of fact. the discon-
tinuance of the station would result in
advantages to the Washington post
office, as it would be more economical
to handle their mailings from the
main Office than from the station, but
the absence of the station would cause
them great inconvenience and injury.
necessitating their travelling to other
and remote stations for their postal
supplies, and it is in their behalf that
l am making this appeal to your COM
mission.
.The rent law also provides that the
rights of the tenant under this tue
shall be subject to the limitation that
the bona-fide owner OF any renta!
property, apartment or hotel snai!
irave the right of possession thereof
for actual and bona-fide occupancy by
himself Or his wife, children or de-
pendents, or for the purpose OF tear
ing down or razing the same In or1er
Immediately to construct new rental
property, hotel or apartment, II ap-
ing thirty days notice in writing.
''The Commissioners of the District
of Columbia, who claim to control the
land upon which the building is erect
ed. are not suffering the slightest In
iury or inconvenience through its con-
tinuance for while longer. and
neither do they claim that they desire
to raze the building for the purpose OF
erecting another building, as provided
in the rent law
intervening between now and Febru-
ary %. the date set by the Commits
sioners Of the District Of Columbia for
the removal of the building. 1 would
appreciate It if your commission
would give this case the earliest con-
sideration possible"
r..lIs OF Controversy.
The ci.y postmaster presented the
following information. giving the
history of the controversy over the
Eagle Hut to date:
"The premises in question is the
caster portion of a structure known
as Eagle Hut and erected on reser-
walton Z. on the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue and Louisiana ave-
nue. between 7th and 9th streets
northwest.
'.The Eagle Hut was erected by the
national war work council of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
upon permis ssion obtained of the Com
missioners Of the District of Colum-
over the land occupied under an act
of Congress. approved March 3. 1873,
known as II Stat, $40.
..On December 2. 1918, a part Of this
station of the Washington post office
under rental from the national war
work council of the Young Mems
Christian Associations. at the rate of
s2,1OO per annum. and for period
of five years, with the following pro-
vision: This agreement is entered
into with the distinct understanding
that it shall terminate whenever the
national war work council of the
Young Mems Christian Association
ters hereinbefore described. or when
ever the said association shall be re-
ouired to remove the building from
the land upon which it now stands.
I4tn 0f ha~
the national war work council was
notified by the Commi ssionerS of the
district Of Columbia to remove the
building or buildings by February :,
1920.
Continuance Requested.
"When it became known that the re-
moyal of the building and the postal
station was contemplated. tie busi-
ness and merchants in the neighbor-
hood submitted to the District Com
missioners a petition requesting the
continuance of the building in order
that the postal station might be con-
tinued, whereupon an extension of the
Granted by the Commissioners Of the
district of Columbia until February
20, 1920.
.Since January l 1 have had a thor
ough canvass made of the territory,
not only by my representatives, but
two days going over the territory
looking for other quarters for the
station, but up to the present time
have been unable to locate a suitable
site. This fact having become known
to the board of directors of the
adopted a resolution and submitted
the same through a committee to the
commissioners Of the District of CO.
lumber requesting them to rescind