Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-23
REALTORS PLEDGE
AID TO WIPE OUT
D. c. 'SPEAKEAS|ES'
Board Places Records at Dis
posaI of U. S. Attorney Rover
to Trace Suspects.
ASSISTANCE is OFFERED
~ SECURING EVIDENCE
Action Is Said to Be Most Sweep.
ing Ever Taken by Organized
Realty Interests,

| the illicit liquor business here by pledg-
ing to the United States attorney all
information in their possession that
or other anti-Volstead establishments.
! Announcing definite policy of CO.
| operation with the district attorneys
Office In respect to violations of the pro-
hibition law affecting real estate" John
A. Petty, executive secretary of the
Washington Real Estate Board, declared
| in formal statement that members OF
| the board have been urged to report to
the prosecutor any suspected violat0T
in their respective properties, with the
view to ejecting all tenants found to be
violating the dry law.
Records Open to Rover.
In addition, the board has placed at
the disposal OF United States Attorney
! Leo A. Rover the comprehensive and
up-to-date records of realty transaction
maintained in its headquarters on K
street, to aid the prosecutor IN tracing
the correct owners of properties whose
occupants are suspected of traff1cking
in illegal liquor.
In conference with Rover and his
special dry law assistant, Capt Harold
w. circuit, oficials of the Real Estate
Board have been offered and have ac-
cepted the assistance of the United
States Attorneys office in securing wit
nesSes and evidence necessary 10 secure
ejectment of prohibition offenders from
hotels, apartments, business buildings
and other properties under the control
Of members of the board.
The action of the local realtors is
said to be the most sweeping ever taken
by organized realty interests in slip-
port Of the national prohibition
| statutes.
Rover "Very Much Gratiffed."
Rover, when questioned about the ac-
ton Of the board, declared the cooper
alton Of the real estate men would be
OF Unreasonable value" in prosecuting
violators Of the prohibition laws In the
District Of Columbia and that he was
very much gratified" at the decision
of the Real Estate Board. He said the
records of the board regarding realty
transfers would be especially helpful,
as great difficulty has been experienced
IN the past in tracing rightful owners
of properties under investigation with
respect to paddock proceedings
The boards statement pointed out
that its new policy is designed to pro-
tect the values Of properties, the repu-
| tations OF law-abiding owners who may
become unsuspecting victims Of dis
| reputable tenants, and the character OF
innocent tenants who may become In
volved in court proceedings through mis-.
takes in location and ownership of ques-
| tionable premises.
Mr.. Petty emphasized that members Of
the board, as individuals, already have
been cooperating with the authorities
The action OF the board today, however
sets up standard for organized CO.
operation" he said.
The records of the board, he stated
include the names of the owners OF
every lot and parcel in the District.
The action, taken by the executive
committee OF the board. is the culmina-
ton Of movement started some weeks
ago by the property management d.
vision OF the organization. A special
committee of the property managers
group, which made the definite recon-
mendations, held a conference with
Rover and circuit last week, when the
offer of the boards facilities was ac-
cepted by the district attorney and
plans for other forms of cooperation
discussed.
Except in instances where the prop
erty owner himself is actually the VIC
lator and in such cases where the re-
peated violations have attained a motor
iety sufncient to put the owner OF
notice, Petty's statement said, lit has
been the practice of the District At
torneys office to send a formal notice
to the owner of property wherein 8
violation Of the law has occurred. Wher
such notices come to the attention Of
members of the board they are askec
to Immediately check the. Information
to determine accurately If 1t concern,
the present tenant or occupant and Il
the information Is correct, to proceed
at once to have the premises vacated
Usually In such cases a personal demand
to yacate, indicating the reason, obtain.
results without more formal action.
Where formal action is required II
can be based on the customary pro.
vision in rental contracts and lease.
providing against the use of propertie!
for unlawful purposes. Furthermore
the national prohibition law specifically
provides that a violation OF the Law
works as a forfeiture of the lease a
the option of the lessor
mo reputable real estate agent o.
property owner would lease a propert,
knowing that it was to be used IL
connection with violations of the prohi
bition law. Considering the risk ant
the trouble that would inevitably follow
it simply would be foolhardy and an,
, one who would do so deserves to Suffe
the consequences. Yet 1t often hap
pens that ViolatorS OF the law rem
property through trickery and thereb,
jeopardize the interests of innocent ant
unsuspecting property owners.
Trickery Ii Practiced.
use of fictitious names supported b
references apparently satisfactor bu
just as fictitious, and the use of name
of others, sometimes accomplices, VIII
can produce bona fide references. ar
tricks that often succeed in getting DOS
session of properties. Subrenting, Wher
the payment of the rent is continued i
) the name of the original tenant is an
other means to cover up the identity q
the real occupant, who intends to us
the property for unlawful purposes.
Access to the ownership informatio
file of the board should prove valuabl
2 to the District attorney. This file con
sists Of approximately 100000 indie
1 cards embracing the complete owner
: shi of private property within the Dis
: trict. Each card represents an indiyio
[ us lot or parcel and contains the nam
of the present owner and all forme
h owners since the installation OF the sys
e tenn some years ago. Daily transfers
: ownership OF property are posted o
h these cards approximately "a hours afte
: the deeds Of conveyance are recorde
d / In the Recorder Of Deeds Once.
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