Evening journal., 1920-03-17
URGELAW TO
Protect TENANTS
Officials Will Join in Legisla-
ton Demand to End
Rent Prohteering
AGENTS, LAWYERS
DRAW CRITICISM

Drafting OF a bin TO halt proflteering
in rents and summary eviction OF ten
ants from homes in Wilmington will be
started at a meeting OF city officials to-
night in the Public Building II is In
tended TO press work on the measure
rapidly and 70 have IL completed in time
: for presentation at the special session
OF the legislature al Dover next week.
3 Mr.. Lyons today selected Carol w.
Griffith, John NJ Monaghan and Joseph
NJ. Sewer to meet with the law commit
/ tee OF Council tonight. Mr.. SEWER Is
assistant real estate officer Of the Equit-
able Trust Company.
Those who will attend the meeting to-
night will be Councilmen James G..
Mearns, Charles Forwood. Arthur
Johnson. Alexander r. Abrshams and
William Abberger, comprising the law
committee OF City Council; Colonel Wei
Ter Z. Stoyer, president Of the City
Board OF ssessment; John w. Huxley.
Jr, city solicitor, and three real estate
men, who will be requested 10 attend BY
President Lyon OF Council.
At a meeting OF the Rent Adjustment
Committee, named by Mayor Taylor.
held In the Council Charmer last night,
the scheme for legislative action was
unanimously endorsed. 10 was declar-
ed something must be done 10 relieve
the housing situation IN the city be-
fore June %, the annual moving day"
or scores OF families viii face drastic
Increases in rents and the prospect OF
buy your home, pay the increased
rent or get out"
Tafrpoffv,aa
Der OF the Rent Adjustment Committee.
directed attention 10 the plight Of
families which have occupied 2i
houses in the 1000 block OF Laurel
street, and which have been ordered
TO yacate by March 25. Mr.. Mearns de-
scribed the conditions confronting each
family, giving names and details, and
scored Caleb E. Burchen9l, an attOr-
ney, who bought the Laurel street
homes and resold them at a profit.
President Lyon Of Council, who pre-
sided. made the suggestion that some
OF the quiokly-built frame houses, such
as were utilized by the duPOnts at
Pennsgroye during the war 20 house
their workmen and families, be pro-
cured and set up on city park land 10
provide homes for Wilmington families
throughout the summer. Colonel
Slower suggested that the city ask the
Legislature for authority 10 exempt
newly-bullt dwellings from city taxes
for period Of 1--WE years. This would
building OF dwellings. which
Is Of paramount Importance" he said.
adding, we must have homes TO house
our citizens, who must not be faced
with constant threats Of eviction"
In opening the meeting President
Lyon said:
Certain real estate dealers who are
and spectators who are
gambling In real estate should be
driven from Wilmington. These men
are no better than the lowest elements |
in the community. Crap shooters we
can arrest. These men we cannot reach |
At present"
Councilman Mearns then told the |
plight Of the Laurel street families 1
~These houses were bought by Caleb |
2. Burchenal, an attorney Of this city,
md sold for profit, he said
They were built between 1908 and
9i9 and were comfortable little homes
n which a number OF fine American
families have lived.
After the purchase OF the houses,
'ach Of The tenants received a letter
rom Mr.. Burchenal telling them that
hey must buy or vacste. This result
d in the breaking up Of many homes.
The people, unable TO purchase. were
10 place their furniture in
forage and separate their families"
Mr.. Mearns cited several cases where