Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-01
HOME OWNERS klR
TROUBLES TONIGHT
Protective Association Will
Hold Public Experience
Meeting.

Buyers of homes in Washington
who have been Unable to obtain pos
session of them will hold an "eXpe-
renee meeting tonight at 903 New
York avenue under the auspices of
the newly formed Home Owners Pro-
tective Association. Hardships which
have been forced upon hundreds of
bona tide purchasers because of the
action of tenants in evoking legal
processes to delay surrender of pos
session will be aired for the first time
in public and record made of the
statements for presentation to Con-
gress.
In all the talk of profiteering land
lords and prosecuted tenants one
class of citizens-the legitimate
home buyers who have been denied
possession of their property-has
been almost entirely overlooked. &C
cordlng to members of the new as
ISOLATION.
The complaint of these citizens is
not against landlords, but rather
against tenants who have refused to
surrender property to which they are
not entitled and subjecting the own
ers to no end of expense and incon-
venience. it is charged.
Have Proved an Obstacle.
Delays incident to appeals insti-
tuted by tenants when contesting in
court the owners right of occupancy
have proved an obstacle home pur-
believe Congress can and will de-
wise a measure Of relief when their
plight is fully understood.
Charles N. Joyce, counsel for the as
spciation, has been swamped with
appeals from home owners to bring
the situation fully to the attention of
Congress. Many of the stories told
Mr.. Joyce have depicted the situation
to be even worse than was suspected
at the time the association was form
ed. While it has been impossible to
ascertain how many owners have
been frustrated in their attempts to
gain possession, Mr.. Joyce believes
the number runs into thousands.
THE most fragrant instances of
profiteering by tenants have been
brought to light" he said today
Congress has been very considerable
of the tenants of Washington. Practi-
cally speaking, Congress has given
the tenants an opportunity to be-
come landlords themselves-at the
expense Of the owners. There are a
great many tenants to my knowledge
who, under the protecting care of
Congress. have been able by charging
erty in which they live, the owners
being forced to sell. and some, indeed.
have been able to buy other property
as well.
This has been done and is still being
done to the great detriment and loss
Of the property owners. 1 am con-
WINGED that at least three-fourths of
ington has been done by the tenants
themselves, while the landlords have
been held down to a pre-war rental
rate at time when the dollar had
only about 80 per cent purchasing
power.
Refers to Recent Case.
Mr.. Joyce referred to one of the
tention. that involving the purchase
in December, 1919. of a house for the
use of man and his family. 1.-THE
house happened to be occupied by
profiteering tenant who refused to
vacate." he said. This tenant was
rentals from the rooms. besides
having a home for herself, at no cost.
She was paying for the house a rental
that was fixed fifteen years before.
Although the expenses on the house
have been large, which, of course. the
owner has had to carry, he has re-
ceived no rent for nearly year.
THE owner made an attempt to sell
the house. but the. tenant removed
the for-sale signs which he put on
the premises. AT tdSI, III desperation,
he tried to auction it off, but was un-.
successful because the tenant refus-
ed to permit any one to inspect the
interior of the building. The tenant
having accumulated enough during
the war from her profiteering to buy
the house sent representative to
purchase the property. offering a sum
far below it's value. The owner by
accident heard that a water pipe had
burst upon the premises and was
damaging the property and called to
investigate. He was met by the ten
ant. who refused to admit him to the
house and abused him in an outra-
geous manner. Recently the owner
received from the tenant the water
, bill, which showed excessive use Of
water. The owner of this property
was with thu American Army in
France for nearly two years. while
the tenant is a native-born German
woman"
It is Mr.. Joyce's plan to ask Con-
gress to give a hearing to the home
owners that they may give a direct
account of the hardships they have
experienced.