Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
paddock WARNING
MAY Be EXTENDED
TO OTHER CITIES
Attorney General Mitchell
Told of Huge Saving in
Rentals Here.
rs PER CENT OF OWNERS
EVICT LAW W0LAT0RS
System Said to Improve Enforce.
m:nt Without Penalizing
Innocent Investors.

An experiment begun here two years
ago by the United States attorneys
Office, whereby property owners are
given advance warning Of paddock pro-
ceedings proposed under the prohibition
law, has proved so successful that
Attorney General Mitchell may COM
mend the plan to other district
attorneys.
The system is credited with having
promoted better law enforcement in the
District without penalizing innocent
owners of tenant-operated "speakeasies"
and similar rendezvous Of liquor law
violators.
The washington Real Estate Board Is
cooperating in the plan. Thousands
of dollars have been saved owners whose
properties, under stricter interpreta-
ton of the padlocking law, would have
been forced to remain vacant for long
periods.
Provides for Eviction.
The plan, developed by Capt. Harold
circuit, assistant United States attorney
in charge of padlocking litigation, af-
fords property owners an opportunity
to evict tenants reported to be main
tanning a nuisance" If the owners
disregard the warning sent by the
United States attorney the customary
padlocking procedure Is instituted.
In a vast majority Of cases, however,
the notice from the district attorneys
office Is SUFFICIENT to result In prompt
eviction of the undesirable tenant, and
the property Is spared the stigma and
economic loss incident to padlocktng.
Cost Of administering the paddock law
S,. 81 Ha~
out compromising enforcement, 1t Is
claimed Thus, while there were only
40 paddock injunctions filed in the Dis
trict in 1880, more than 800 warnings
we're issued to property owners. most of
whom voluntarily elected the offending
tenants without delay.
Since the first Of the year. only seven
paddock tnjunctionS have been filed.
while $50 warnings have been served on
property owners. It Is estimated rs
per cent Of the warnings have resulted
in private eyictions.
Since the number Of paddock intunc-
tions filed does not present true pic
ture of paddock prosecutions In Wash
ington, it is reported that Justice De-
partment officials were somewhat con-
cerned on comparing last years local
paddock report with figures submitted
by other comparable cities.
attorneys ONCE here was asked for an
explanation. and the warning system
was explained to Attorney General
Mitchell. The Attorney General is said
TO have manifested deep interest In the
Washington paddock plan, and TO have
commended oficials for It.
Mitchell Is Silent.
In accordance with his established
policy of declining to be interviewed on
prohibition policies. Mr.. Mitchell today
refused to discuss the reports.
Capt. circuit. who attended the con-
ference, also refused to comment, but
readily outlined operation and accom-
plishments Of the paddock warning
plan.
"The paddock law imposes no obli-
CATION on us to give warning to prop
erty owners" he said. Under strict
Interpretation of the law We do not
even have TO prove an owner has
knowledge of illegal use Of his property
by a tenant. The law requires that we
paddock every property found to be q
nuisance under the prohibition laws.
Believing the law should be admin
istered fairly and sanely, however. We
have hesitated to penalize respectable,
law-abiding citizens who are not aware
tina. their properties are occupied by
law violators.
Accordingly. about two years ago,
IN conference with a committee of the
Washington Real Estate Board, an 'un-
Outstanding or sort OF 'gentleman's
agreement was reached, under which
we agreed to send a written notice to
the owner of a property threatened
with padlocking. unless the case was
so palpabiy fragrant as to justify US
in presuming the owner should have
known about the violation without for
NAL notification from US.
Praises Cooperation.
THE great majority Of real estate
men and property owners have CO.
operated splendidly."
The form letter sent TO property
owners cites pertinent sections Of the
prohibition act and states:
Please take notice that this once
has been advised that various violations
Of the national prohibition act consist
ing Of illegal sales and possession Of
intoxicating liquors, have for some time
past been committed on the premises
at am advised that you are
the owner in fee simple of the premises
OF which the above described premises
are a part, and am taking the liberty
of writing TO notify you OF these re-
ported violations and the substance OF
the provisions of law providing for the
abatement OF such nuisances"
The Real Estate Board assists Capt.
circuit in ascertaintng ownership of
offending properties. It's files OF prop
eIty owners are made available TO rep
Tesentatives OF the United States at
torney'S office.