The Washington times., 1923-03-20
No Titled
TO Shut
UP AND
PAY
Council Replies 70 Watscn's
Ultimatuin BY Standing
Firm for Rights.

Women Government workers
occupying rooms in the Plaza
hotels were last night notified By
President Robert Watson, Of the
United States Housing Corpora.
ton, that they must either with
draw protests to the $3.50 add
tionaI monthly rent, which became
effective last Friday, or v9cate
their rooms by March 81.
That Government officials VIII
not tolerate any ssbiekerine In
the matter Of the increased rental
was made plain.
Must Accept or Omit.
Any. tenant who paid the March
rent under protest, who does not
either refracf the right to centest
the raise or leave before March 81,
will, President Watson says, be class
ed with those who have accepted
the uitimatum Of the G0vernine1at.
It is the intention Of GoveFnnsent
officials to bring out. and ct once
the attitude Of the women guests
with regard to the increased rental.
II they have decided among them
SELVES slll9AL tAt1 AItAs1 Ease VIII -
cepted or that an exodus OF those
who are now tenants will take place,
President Watson believes that he
should know it.
Would Close Hotels.
It has been announced from time
to time that II the women guests
do not intend to meet the raise made
necessary by q $50 900 ground rent
demanded by the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, which owns property upon
which some OF the hotels are built,
then the hotels project win Be inn
mediately closed.
The Plaza Council, which repre-
sents q majority Of the tenants OF
the hotels, has employed an at
torney to INVESTIGATES the raise,
with a view to claiming a refund
on the amounts paid between now
now and the converting Of the next
Congress in excess Of the original
rate. The attorneys advised mem
mers of the council, according TO
increased payment, but under pro-
test.
Uncertain About Course.
President Watson, OF the House
Corporation. has vainIy been at
tempting for the past week to as
certain just how many Of the
women guests are members OF that
clique who have made the protests.
So far. he says, he has not been
able to learn just what the future
OF the hotels is because many Of
the guests are not outspoken in
their intentions.
The ultimatum placed on all the
bulletin boards of the hotels last
night is the Governments last
word to the women tenants. It
says in just 50 many words, you
will pay the increased rent without
protest or leave" There il nothing
in the notice which leaves ray Of
hope for those who had supposed
President Watson and Assistant
Secretary Of Labor Henning would Z
be willing to barter" the mafter :
with attorneys.
Council Issues Reply.
The Governments ultimatun "a
the girls to ''shut up or put un
without protest" will not deter the
course being pursued by he clerical
council to secure g just hearing In
favor of themselves.
This was made clear today by
a statement issued by the council,
setting forth their position In the
matter. The following statement
was issued in reply to the Govern
ment's posted ultimatum:
The girls paid the increase raise
for the last half Of March, 1928,
under protest. died 90 advisedly.
having two prime objects In view
as evidenced by such letter con.
tanning their protest. viz: first, the
preservation Of their legal rights
to question the justification for the
increase and second, the gaining OF
further time for taking such CO.
operative methods as might result
in the continued operation Of the
hotel without loss TO the Govern
ment or financial embarrassment
to the guests.
Therefore, they win not, at this
time, demand the refund Of any
portion Of the new rate paid, re-
lying upon their position In the
matter as confined In the said let
ter of protest"