Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-06
SEEKS
MAYORS AID ON
RENT PIRATES
Wants Legal Ruling on City
Councils Power to Control
Evicti0ns by Law.
HOLDS ACTION NEEDED

Mayor Jewett will be asked to take a
hand in the rent situation in Indian
apolis.
Although little encouragement was
given by the city council at its meeting
last night, Stanley Wyckof, fair price
commissioner. declared today that action
must be taken.
Mr. Wyckod viii ask the mayor to di-
rect the city legal department to render
a legal opinion on the power Of the cOun-
ell to control the eviction Of tenants by
law.
Il believe most Of the members Of the
city council favor taking some action
said MI WyckOff. .'and the situation Is
such that something must be done TO stop
landlords from setting goods Of tenants
in the street.
MAYOR SEES NO WAY
FOR CITY TO ACT.
Mayor JeWatt indicated today he would
take no official action to curb the al
legged activities Of rent prOfiteers-
All municipal considerations OF the
question have been raised in the city
council" he said "and l am convinced
that the city can not do much TO prevent
landlords from boosting rents
The mayor expressed his regrets that
no definite plan was available to assist
in the lowering Of rents, but he felt It
was not q municipal responsibility
Il don't see what can be done to pre-
vent rent prOfteering," the mayor con-
cluded.
Members Of the council last night took
the stand that the council is powerless to
enact an ordinance requiring property
owners to give tenants sixty or ninety
days notice to move and to require prop
erty owners to pay for any damage to
Ii
evicted
Eighty five or 90 per cent Of landlords
are fair" Mr.. Vyckoff told the council
men last night, but about Is per cent
are profiteering on an unreasonable scale
and people are being evicted from their
homes without cause.
1T looks as though there Is a con
certed move, either on the part Of prop
erty owners or real estate men, to bring
about excessive rent Increases and the
people should have some protection"
GIVES INSTANCES OF
HEARTLESS EVICTION.
Mr. WyckOT cited pathetic instances
OF heartless eviction by landlords, tell
ing OF a soldier who had served twenty
three months in the army and on his
return home, with a 500 bonus and SO
in cash. was subjected to three IS raises
in rent and finally excited within a period
Of three months.
He also told OF a civil war veteran
whose rent was raised from SIG to SIS
and how it finally became necessary 10
break up the household, the veteran go
ing to the soldiers home and turning
his pension over to his wife.
He declared that, although u per cent
was considered a fair return on property
investments some landlords were making
more than 100 per cent
The ordinance proposed by Mr.. Wyck-
of would prevent any raise in rent with
out thirty day notice, require a sixty
day notice for eviction and make land
lords responsible for the storage Of prop
erty while the tenant looked for a new
home.
Councilman Wilson informed Nj
WyckOff that he might as well go 70 the
Presbyterian triumvirate for protection
as TO the council, as that body had no
power to act under the laws.
wSsYOR RAPED BY
PRESIDENT SCHMIDT.
President Schmidt said that-Proh feerfBr
was In progress on all sides and. though
conditions were depIorabIe, it seemed I'm
possible for the council TO assist IN the
rent proposition.
He advised Mr.. Wyckoff TO submit his
ordinance to the legal department Of the
city before It was presented to the cOun-
ell.
Mayor Jewett came in for rap at the
hands Of President Schmidt when an or
dinance amending the salary measure for
police and firemen was presented.
The mayors ordinance carried a rider
providing for salary Of IS 800 for . city
electrical engineer and amended the wage
scale to include policewomen and make it
permanent.
The mayor issued n statement a week
ago pointing to defects which he saw In
the salary ordinance and said It did not
include pOlicewOmen at the tins he signed
the measure.
Il am absolutely opposed to having the
head OF any department OF the mayor OF
the city Of Indianapolis criticising this
council" said Mr. Schmidt
We have tried 70 play fair with every
political faction ia this body and have
thereby gained the enmity OF the mayor
who has done everything IN his power
10 Obstruct and belittle the council
In presenting this ordinance he has
seized upon a fimsy excuse 70 belittle the
council and get into the Hmelight him
self"
The mayors ordinance was referred to
the city welfare committee to be acted on
March l, 1921.
rETTIJOHN ALSO
HITS AT JEWETT.
Councilman Pettijohn also took ex-
repdOn to criticism offered by the city
administration in regard to street i'm
prOvements. pointing to a statement is
sued by the mayor to the effect that
he council was responsible for street
conditions.
Il want to brand that statement as
Unfair and absolutely false" said Mr.
k'ettijohn
only y per cent Of street improve
laents last year were stopped by the
-ouncil and that was because from IS
70 60 per cent Of the property owners
ia each case protested
Aquilla Jones and Fred Hoke, repre-
senting the centennial celebration com
aittee, appeared before the council ana
spoke in behalf of an ordinance apprO-
priating $2J.O0O for use during the cen
tennial celebration 10 be held here from
June 20 s.
The ordinance was referred to the
finance committee.
Ordinances were passed authorizing a
loan Of S12j.OOOO for the board of health
for the operation Of the City hospital
apprOpriating S10.2J0 to the board Of
safety for the purchase or a fire truck
from the American LaFrance Fire En-
CINE Company; increasing the city ele-
vator inspectors salary 10 81 500 per
year; authorizing the board OF works to
employ carpenters at IS per day and
foremen at $3.50 and requiring all roof
ing material 10 be Of freproof mate
rial. ----..-------
Contracts for the installation Of rail
road switches by the Union Soap Com
pany from the main track Of the C., G.