The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-09

feverish hunt for homes 1t . pay
able figure, just now going on In al
most every large American city, has
attained q special intensity In
Washington. With sweet accord
the landlords have suddenly raised
the rents on Warrington apart
ments from 20 to 100 per cent, with
Ian average Of so to so per cent.
The immediate result 10 an Inn
mense emotional upheaval, varying
all the way from mild irritation to
tragic despair. There are some per-
sons whose rent has been raised
from $100 a month to $500, and to
whom this means nothing more
than the postponing the purchase
of new car. And there are others
whose rents have been raised from
$12 a month to $40. and to whom
this means taking food away from
the baby.
Every afternoon when the news
papers come of the press there are
apartment hunters ready to grab
them and eagerly to search the for
rent columns. Some Of these are
prosperous-looking chaps who get
into cars and dash on to have the
first look at the more desifabll Of
ferings. But there is also the wom-
an with one baby on her arm, and
a child of five by the hand, who
YEARLY boards trolley on the
same quest. and who will be toe
late il the apartment is relatively
good bargain.
A Dramatic Situation.
The situation here is especially
dramatic because the Ball rent ac'
is still pending in the supreme
court with the betting about ever
as to whether it will be sustained
or not. Some rent laws have beer
declared unconstitutional. but OF
the other hand a law almost exact
ly like the Ball act, was recently
sustained. The Ball act, in brief
establishes rent commission
which has power to determine wha
is a reasonable rent for a givel
property. Unless an appeal is no
ted this becomes the rent II al
appeal is taken in 10 days BY an,
| party to the complaint the matte
goes into court. but the court cal
only decide points of law. Thus
may hold that not all evidence ha
been adduced, and may compe
more evidence to be taken. Tn
rent commission makes anothe
finding, which is final.
This act has been declared IN
constitutional by the lower court
here, and is pending in the suprem
court with the prospects that it viii
be decided there by the first Of De
cember.
In this situation, the tenant VIII
believes that he is being mulcte
; has the basis upon which to make
fight, and thousands of them ar
making it. They have formed a
organization known as the Ten
! ants Protective league of Wash
ington for this purpose. Tn
league, which has membershi
fee OF two dollars, gives free lega
! advice, and legal services for hal
the usual attorneys fees. 1t ha
an arrangement with bonding com
pany by which any Of its member
can be bonded, who wish to refus
: to get out of their apartments.
By making use of the service c
this league, a tenant in Washing
3 ton may stay in his apartment g
the old rent, and defy his LANDLORD
usually with considerable success
2 When he receives the notice to sc
out within 80 days, he simply pay
: no attention to it. The landlor
then goes into court to get a VIZ
: of eviction. One of the league al
torneys appears and notes an al
peal. This means that the cas-
1 cannot be decided until the const
tutionality of the act has bee
passed upon by the supreme cour
: Legal Delay Helps Tenant.