Evening star., 1924-11-11
TENANTS To MEET,
IGNORING WARNING
Clifton Terrace Occupants,
Planning Rent Protest
There, See Threat.

Many tenants IN the Chiffon Ter
race apartments today expressed de-
termination to hold mass meeting
on the premises this evening to pro-
test the recent rent increase notices
served upon them. This despite a
bulletin posted in the lobbies last
night prohibiting any meetings in
the halls under penalty of prosecu-
tion
The meeting originally was in
tended last night, but was postponed
further to complete the organization
of the protest move. Several tenants
today expressed their intention of
attending the meeting. which they
declared would take place tonight,
and Mrs. Henry G. Brown of the
Tenants League declared that she
had received scores of communica-
tionS from the tenants telling her
the meeting would be held, and ask
ing assistance from the league. The
officers and members of the league
have also expressed their determine
tion to attend the meeting.
Fight Rent Increase.
The following notice was distrib-
uted recently to those who had rent
increases:
Fellow Tenants:
Are you going to stand for
another raise in your rent when it
Is already exorbitant? No wonder
the landlords want the Ball rent act
declared unconstitutional-no Won
der
well, let us fight this thing out
together If it takes all Winter. Let
us stand shoulder to shoulder, and
move out all together, if need be. be-
fore we succumb to landlord greed.
"A mass meeting is called for next
Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock in the
lobby Of the east court of Clifton
Terrace.
Let everybody be on hand and let
US see whether they can do this or
not"
From the Tenants League the fol-
lowing notice was received by the
same people:
please take no action on your
lease until after the mass meeting,
which is planned for Monday eve
ming at o'clock, in this building.
You will receive further notice in
regard to it.
1--WE will heartily stand behind you
in united effort.
Warning Is Posted.
Tenants who congregated in the
last night found the following notice
posted in the lobbies, which they
state caused considerable amuse-
ment:
THE lobbies and halls of this build
ing are for the purpose of ingress
and egress only. No meetings or
assemblies are allowed in the lobbies
or halls All persons holding such
assemblies or mass meetings will be
kNI Low
THE MANAGEMENT"
Inquiries on the part of those who
reside at Clifton Terrace to the police
show that the police have no right
to interfere in such a meeting on
the premises if 1t Is conducted in an
orderly fashion.
Joseph Lowe of Maurice Baskin
& Co., who sign themselves the rental
agents, declared today that he knew
nothing of the affair and did not
know who posted the notice on the
walls prohibiting the meeting.
He said that he was quite willing
to find a place for the tenants to
meet, but he did object to outsiders
entering the apartment house to hold
a meeting.
Many tenants are indignant over
the notices sent to them. One woman
declared, today she paid s37 before
the war for her apartment, and that
under the new notice she was asked
to pay s65.
Landlords Side Explained.
The notice sent to the tenants
states that it is impossible to operate
the building at the present rental
without loss, and that similar apart
ments in other buildings rent for $50
per month per room, and that the
new rate quoted is only $40 per
month per room.
1t quotes the decision of the Dis.
trict Supreme Court. F. H. Smith Co.
VS.. Verzi, which reversed the Rent
Commission decision in the Clifton
Terrace cases and in WHICH the Su-
preme Court states that the rents
then furnished an inadequate income
to the owners.
While the notice of the rental in
crease does not contain notice to
quit" it ends in the following man
ner:
1--WE therefore advise that it would
be advantageous to make q lease on
your apartment at the earliest pos
sible date, otherwise you may later
have to pay a considerably higher
rental, especially in view of the court
decision quoted above.
I'VE respectfully wish to add that
1t is our sincere desire to render the
best and most efficient service at
minimum cost and we hope the ten
anra will cooperate with US In an
endeavor to keep the building in the
best possible condition, and to settle
matters anicably for the best in
terests of all parties concerned.
Respectfully,
MAURICE BASkIN & CO.,
Rental Apents