Evening star., 1924-11-17
REALTORS TO SEND
PEACE COMMITTEE
TO MEET TENANTS
Condemn All High-Handed
Practices in Constructive
Step to Harmony.
LANDLORDS ALREADY
URGED TO ACT FAIRLY
Official Body Points Out Need of
Mutual Concessions in
Rent Situation.

ntuC SlLudClOU.
Condemning all landlords who act
I'm an unwarranted and unfair man
her toward tenants and serve unnec-
essary eviction notices, the Wash
1nSton Real Estate Board, following
an executive committee meeting to-
day, authorized a committee. Of five
TO be appointed to meet with a COM
hittee of tenants in order to discuss
ways and means for assisting all
those tenants who are being harassed
pr subjected to unjust treatment.
This decision appears as a possible
solution of a situation that threat
ened city-wide antagonism between
landlords and tenants.
The Washington Real Estate
Board" John A. Petty. executive Sec
retary of the organization, says
is wholly opposed to unneces ssary
rent increases and evictions. With
in As hours after the decision of the
pistrist Court of Appeals affecting
the Rent Commission, a special notice
was sent to all members urging them
TO use their influence in restraining
landlords from taking unfair advantage
of the decision"
Period of ReadJustment
The resolution points out that a
period of readjustment necessarily
must follow the removal of the "re-
straint' of the rental legislation, but
points out that this will be mitigated
and shortened if the landlords and
tenants recognize their mutually in
tereSts.
In prepared statement Mr.. Petty
says:
There is a strong feeling among
the leaders of the realtors organiza-
tion against landlords who are at
tempting at this time to take an un-
fafr advantage of the rental situa-
ton. AS far as this board is able to
learn, no member OF the realtors
board has been involved in cases of
abuse referred to in the press since
the rent situation was recently re-
newed.
This board has consistently op-
posed unwarranted increases and un-
necessary evictions and on several
cases has issued strong appeals to its
membership to use great care and
caution in their dealings with tenants
Within 4S hours after the recent de-
clSlon of the Court of Appears a
special notice was sent to every mem
ber urging them to use their influence
in restraining landlords from taking
unfair advantage of the courts de-
CiSion.
The executive committee recognizes s
The fact that landlords who have been
subjected to the restraint of rental
leglslation have, in many cases, suf-
1ered abuse at the hands of unrea-
sonable and radical tenants, however,
IT feels that in the best interests of
both landlords and tenants all should
refrain from any action that will
between landlords and tenants.
Way to Bring Peace.
II some means can be found to
BRING the radical and unreasonab BILE
persons on both sides of the question
10 understand that the interests of
both landlord and tenant are mutual
and that neither class can benefit
unless relations are harmonious and
based on fairness and justice, then
the %hole situation will adjust itself
In q comparatively short time.
Inns board recognizes that both
landlords and tenants have distinct
IIsats IN thelr relations and this or
Ganlzatlon is willing to pursue anv
harmony in the rent situation
A Joint conference between q cor.
mite of this board and a representa-
1--WE group OF tenants, as suggested in
the resolutions adopted, will result in
better understanding and may possi
bly, open the way for this board work
ing In conjunction with both tenants
ana landlords to relieve the situation
our committee will be appointed at
once and If tho tenants will select a
committee to Cooperate We will ar
range to bring the two committees in
conference immediately"
Text of Resolution.
The text of the resolution adopted
by the board today covering the sit
nation reads. in part, as follows:
1t has come to the attention of the
executive committee of the Washing
ton Real Estate Board that n few
landlords are apparently taking ad-
vantage of the decision of the court
TO harass and unjustly treat their
tenants. We believe a large majority
of the responsible and representa-
tive landlords are refraining from any
unwarranted increases or evictions,
and we believe the period of read
JuStment that must necessarily follow
q. any time the removal of the re-
st'ssit that has existed for several
years under the operation of rental
legislation. will be made shorter if the
landlords and tenants recognize the
1nutuality of their interests and pur-
sue course of reasonable action
with an earnest desire for harmony
The Washington Real Estate
Board condemns the attempt on the
part of any landlord to unfairly in
crease rents, serve unwarranted
eviction notices or in any manner
Earass or unjustly treat their ten
ants, and declares that the president
of this board be authorized to ap-
point a committee of five members to
meet with a committee representing
tenants in order to- discuss ways and
means of furnishing to those tenants
who are suffering from or threatened
with abuse such assistance as may be
within the power of this board to
offer"
A copy of the resolution will be
sent to the Tenants League and the
Rent Commission.