The Washington herald., 1920-02-27
CALLS UPON .''Y"
FOR RENT PAID
BY POSTMASTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
no authority vested in your council
to make a charge for rental for this
public space"
IF such rental has been charged
and paid to your council the letter
continues, "the Commissioners be-
lieve that all none yso paid should
be accounted for as a revenue to the
government and that you are not
authorized to receive same as a
revenue OF your organization"
The Commissioner learned of the
rental agreement, they say, through
Postmaster Merritt o. Chance. By
the terms of the agreement, 1t is
stated, an annual rental of $2,1o0
was to be charged for fve years or
such part OF that time as the Eagle
Hut was allowed to remain. This
would mean that the War Work
Council already has collected in ex-
cess of $4,000 which the District
heads seem determined to force
them to turn over for Treasury de-
posit
Even were ii held permissible by
the Commissioners for the War
Work Council to receive rental for
portion of the structure, reared
as it is on a government reserva-
tion, the amount charged would ap-
pear excessive. according to Louis
Brownlow, chairman of the Board
of Commissioners.
officials of the council, on the other
hand, maintain that there is not nor
was there any idea of realizing
a profit and that this annual return
covers only the cost of heating,
lighting. janitor service. etc, and
a partial remuneration for build
ing costs OF the frame annex oc-
cupied by the branch postofice.
1T is what the City Postoffice
would have to pay as fair rental
for a substation OF the size IL To-
Gated elsewhere. think" said DR..
Yarnell.
Hut's Demolition Ordered.
The rental matter has come TO
light in connection with the forth
coming demolition OF Eagle Hut,
ordered by the Board of Commits
sioners.
On December 2, 1919, the Commits
sioners ordered that the Eagle Hut be
razed February 2. 1890, but the time
limit was extended. mainly because
Chance was unable to find new housing
for the branch postoffice. The work
probably will begin Monday, how
ever.
Meanwhile. Chance has petitioned
the District Rent Commission to re-
strain the District heads from carry
ing out their plan, involving ejectment
of the postoffice force. before March
l, and the Commissioners probably
will be cited to show immediate cause
why they should not be so enjoined.
Brownlow last night appeared in
censed at the report of the s10,500 five
year rental agreement. He said he
was in no hurry to answer a letter
received from Chance Wednesday re-
questing that he appoint representa-
tive to confer with the postmaster on
the matter Of selecting a new location
for the ,so-called Center Market sta
tion when 1t is forced to move.
Brownlow is comforting with
Corporation Counsel Stephens on
preparation of the Districts side of
the case for possible presentation
when the Rent Commission takes up
Chances petition.
Defended By Yarnell.
DR.. Yarnell told The Washington
Herald last night:
THE land is the governments, but
the building was paid for by the
Y. NJ. c. A. War Work Council. Un-
der the agreement with the city
postoffice, we pay for lighting, heat
ing, upkeep. etc. AS l recollect. that
portion of the building used as sub
station was erected at the request
of the postoffice. 1 have not the
figures with me, but the cost OF
Eagle Hut was several thousand
dollars, / know.
There is not nor was there any
intent to charge a rental on which
we would profit. l think the post
Office would have to pay just as much
in the open market"