South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-10
TENANTS PLAN
TO CURB RENT
PROFITEERING
To Circulate Petition in Effort
TO Cain Support of
Movement.

Petitions will be circulated
among South Bend tenants today in
IN effort 10 gain support for the
movement launched yesterday which
has as It's aim the passage Of state
laws 20 curb alleged prOhteering in
rents and real estate. This was
learned last night when 10 was re-
ported that half a dozen interested
renters had agreed 10 take hand
in distributing the papers for sig
natures Miss Veronica G.. Sween-
ey 1905 W Washington av., is
among the prime movers.
Appeals will also be made TO To-
cal state senators and representa-
tives. according 20 Miss Sweeney.
other tenants have already taken
steps 20 bring the matter before the
state legislature. IL is reported.
Plan OF Laws.
The special session Of the legisla-
ture starts Monday. but it is not eX-
pected by those behind the move
mcnt against rem and real estate
gouEers that the matter can be
brought up in indianapolis much
before next Wednesday. Copies Of
the New York law on the subject
have been sent for. and are expect
ed TO arrive early next week II is
planned 20 base the Indiana laws on
those which have been used in New
York.
These laws provide that no ten
ant can De forced 10 vacate proper
ty unless there is another place vail
able. regardless OF lease or other
understanding and that "A court or
der many continue "a tenacy if the
tenant is making a real but unsuc-
cessful effort To find other living
quarters.
One Rent Oncr.
THE real estate operators are
trying TO force US TO buy property
at the present high prices" charged
one tenant last night. Why, your
own paper shows il. she told
Ncws-Times reporter. There are
81 classified ads for houses for sale.
either vacant now or with possess
sion in 80 days That shows there
isn't any shortage. And yet there
Is only one house advertised for
rent. and one apartment.
The real estate men laugh at
you when you ask them about a
house TO rent One OF them told
mo there wouldn't be any rented
houses in South Bend inside of two
months. They want TO sell the
property while there's a big de-
mand. and get a big price for II
There are plenty of vacant houses. 80
Question OF Leases.
Even II YOU do agree 10 rent a
house" complained another South
Bend renter. you have 10 take a
month -to-month lease because the
owners want to sell. And at that.
they're just as liable 20 say you can
move in. and then. when you arrive
with your furniture, tell you that
the house has been sold"
Houses which are listed on the
tax records at $4,000 are being Of
fered for sale by real estate men
for from $4,000 10 $4,000. which is
more than the average family can
afford 20 pay. was the declaration
OF one party who claimed 10 know.
They know that the present prices
won't last. and they are refusing u
rent 10 US So that Wen have 10 buy.
and stand the loss when 10 comes "
Many families will be forced 10
leave South Bend although there
are vacant houses here. according
10 the tenants behind the appeal 10
the state legislature Numerous in.
stances Of houses which have been
vacant for several months were
mentioned. And yet they talk
about a housing shortage" said one
man, bitterly.