Evening journal., 1920-03-12
TALK LAW TO
KEEP down rent
Council May Ask Special
Legislature TO Protect
Tenants
.MEARNS SCORES
SOME OWNERS

lha. city Council has lost an pa
tlence with rent raising IN Wilmington
was made clear at the meeting last
night.
Councilman james Il Mearns. when
old business had been concluded. arose
and IN bitter statement CONDEMNED
the owner OF Laurel street houses
from which all tenants have been or
dered 70 move. Here are two rows
/ OF houses" said Mr. Mearns. They
have been bought by q carlain man.
who offers the present occupants the
houses for sale. or n they cannot buy.
they Will have 20 get out. There seems
10 be no law against such a thing. re-
gardless OF the misery caused the fam
Hes involved. Here. In these 26 houses
are several families with small chill
dren. but they must buy, or more out
by March %. And where are they 90
move?
someone saw an opportunity or
making money. Buy. or get out was
the next order. These houses are small
and are occupied by honest and IN
dusirious workingmen and their fam
lilies.
las member ~ the mayors hous-
Ing committee, tried 20 ascertain the
cause OF distress in this city / think
that in many cases. the lmdlords are
ignorant OF the conditions 70 is often
the agents VINO demand more than the
owners expect.
think OF protesting Christians. edu-
Gated people, oOlnlng the tears OF wo-
men and children, terrorizing them
with threats OF being put out ] think
Il Is high time TO arouse theipeOple OF
Wilmington to the state OF affairs.
"Just for the sake OF the almighty
dollar. people will do these things. So
we will have more misery on our
hands. / am willing % do anything I'm
my power 10 help this condition"
Mr.. Mearns said he wanted property
owners TO get a square deal. ! think /
we ought 10 declare a holiday. charter
special trains, and take the people of
10 Dover. to the special ses-
sion OF the legislature SO that they /
can get their rights. Mr.. Mearns added. I
President Lyon said some real estate I.
men are unreasonable and stubborn. /
You can't reason with them. They I
have no heart Wilmington people are |
going crazy, and Il IS the real estate /
men who are doing g."
Councilman ForwO0d added this con-
tribuiion: II should think that there |
should be some way for the State Leg I.
islature 10 act in this matter Let the /
housing committee meet. and get 10 ne /
bottom OF thlngsT
President Lyon interiecied: LET the /
people come 10 The meeting ~ City
Council and express themselves.
Councilman Abrahams said "Let the
Mayor call his housing committee.
There Is a deplorable lack Of houses
In Wilmington There are new homes
going up In Philadelphia and IN other
cities. II the banks cannot lend money
for building operations. something
should be done"
Councilman Mulvena then brought
he matter 20 a crux by saying: "Now
Is the time TO prepare a bin for a spe-
,ial session OF the legislature"
After an animated debate, 70 was
moved that the law committee prepare
/ BILL tending 90 alleviate housing
conditions and 10 give City Council .
lower 10 fully cope with every phase
u the situation. The law committee viii p
get busy Immediately In order that the
ill may be presented al The earliest !
President Lyon stated that 70 was his !
Intention 20 call the mayors housing
committee within a week This com ,
nlttee was criticised by Councilman !
Abrahams. who declared that since the ,
had been appointed by May
n Taylor last September, not a single ,
eport has been made.
Total Of city funds reported IN the
lands OF the city treasurer was s707.- 7
1880. The Water Department was i
-ranied s2s,75O 10 carry on work. A y
complaint was received from Charles 3
I. Whitford, Of No. 800 West Seventh
treet. claiming that he had been un- :
airly taxed for a building on a lot 5
wned by him, when the lot was vacant.
he lot was In South Wilmington; The
natter will be Investigated.
An invitation from the Board OF Man a
gers Of the Babies Day Nursery, No. v
O7-Oe-ii West street. inviting Council a
0 visit the institution was accepted. 4
The United States mall carries more q
. a. la