The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-18
WEE Ks
FIRST IS
ORDER
Petition Committee Is Told to
Take Aid Plea Also to
Rent Board

President Coolidge will not act
at this time upon the appeal Of
newly organized Tenants League
Of the District for the use by
evicted tenants of the Ellipse and
Of army tents and equipment if
they find themselves unable to
pay increased rentals demanded
by landlords.
He has referred the matter Of
the use Of Government property
for such a purpose to Secretary
of War Weeks and Colonel C. O.
Sheriff., in charge Of public build
ings and grounds, and the issue
Of housing conditions to the Dis
trict Rent Commission.
Fail to See Coolidge.
White House attaches today dis.
couraged representatives Of the Ten
ants League from seeking a par.
sonal interview with the President
at this time, and suggested they
should first see the Secretary OF War
and the Rent Commission.
After a report Is made by these
agencies, 1t was indicated, the Presi.
dent will consider the matter IL the
situation warrants 1t.
The appeal for he use OF Govern
ment land and army tents Is made
az part of new drive to protect
washington tenants against current
ana anticipated rent increases this
winter. 1t is said that more than
z,V0O tenants have been threatened
with eviction since October 1.
Issue Raised at Meeting.
The issue of emergency housing
was pushed into the foreground at
e meeting of. the newly Organized
tenants League of the District in
Inc Masonic Temple last night. d.
n. Schirmer, who investiga led
housing. conditions for the Senate
Instruct Committee :ast spring. IL
president of the league, and among
NOSE cooperating with him are Mrs,
Ionn Speel, president Of the Dissric,;
federation Of Women's Clubs. Mrs
Whllam e. Chamberlain, president
u the Housekeepers Alliances: Airs
cara Sears Taylor, member az the
district Rent Commission. and Mrs
Henry c. Brown.
speakers at the mass meatIrp
including Mrs. Taylor, urged ten.
ants to sit tight" In the face OF
demands for rent increases AMI ri
Tight their cases out until the Sir.
preme Court finally decides the
exact status and jurisdictIon ~
the Rent Commission.
me question of using tents FOL,
evlcted tenants tOday brought
iorth proposal that tho harr.3c 81, !,
IN POTOMAC Park, the familiar eve.
sores that were inherited nv the
city from the war period. nieh1 III.
similarly used In case Of a Renu,na
housing emergency in the cav.
Destruction Planned.
In connection with this pIan
Captain Herring, assistant suna,;n'
tendent Of Public Buildings ana
Grounds. today made it clear that
the barracks were still in the con.
troll OF the general supply comrnit.
tee and that he had no infornna tIon
as to when they would be sur.
rendered to the Jurisdiction OF
Soionel y. Y. Sheriff., in charge of
public buildings and grounds. Plans
already have been formulated for.
the demolition of the barracks as
soon as they are abandoned by the
general supply committee, and soma
question has been raised as to
whether they would be habitable
even on an emergency basis, without
extensive repairs.
Until President Coolidge acts on
the appeal made to him BY the
Tenants League, official Washing.
ton will take no action with regard
to housing, except in SO far as the
morale Of. Government workers
may be affected by the conditions.
The Rent Commission act, already
riddled by numerous court deci-
sions, expires by limitation on Nav
% next, and the next Congress will
see renewal of the fight to pro-
long 1t, according to present indi-
cations.