Evening star., 1939-10-31

ouAAA SASAS OuG "a p1OPOI IlOll WIFI
They have the power to double the
already burdensome fees charged
against the nearly $4,000 tenants
sued in the landlord and tenant
branch annually. On the other
hand, they can reduce the fees by
half.
Judge Nathan Cayton, founder of
the Small Claims and Cancellation
Branch of the court, has already
made his position clear. He was a
member of the Washington Housing
Associations Committee which OBJ
tanned the last reduction Of Is cents
in the 81 filing fee. At that time,
Judge Cayton went on record favor
ing more substantial reduction. q,
Even with the 15-cent reduction
in the landlord and tenant filing
fee in July, Municipal Court win
continue to make a large profit in
receipts over expenditures. From
July l to October IS of this year,
the branch has handled an average
Of 1902 landlord and tenant cases
per month. If this rate continues,
the court will handle 81 800 cases in
the 1939-40 fiscal year, an increase
of 5,528 over the number handled
last year.
S28,439 Profit Last Year.
The profit last year amounted to
$28, 8,439. On the basis of $4,000 cases
handled per year, a 15-cent reduc-
ton will reduce the total revenue
received by the court only $500.
The responsibility rests with the
judges.
The history of the fee system used
in the landlord and tenant branch
Of Municipal Court shows that the
fees have never been reduced volun-
tarily by the judges, but that an
outside influence has always had to
agitate for the reductions.
When the court was established
in 1909, the landlord and tenant
filing fee was set at $1.35. The fee
system used in the court at that
time was a carry-over from the old
justice Of the peace setup, in which
the justices made their living by
the profit from fees.
Not until 1884, after the court
had been operating a quarter of a
century, was a reduction made
This came about after the District
Bar Associations Committee on Re-
lation9with Municipal Court made
thorough study of the situation
and recommended an immediate re-
duction. Seton Darr, now presi-
dent of the bar association. headed
the committee.
Strong Complaints Made.
The Judges, after strong COM
plants against the fees, agreed to
reduction of IS cents in the filing
fee. At no time have the judges
agreed to reduce the courts charge
Of so cents for issuing a writ OF
restitution.
Again, it was agitation by the
Washington Housing Association
last summer that obtained the re-
duction in the filing fee from 81
to IS cents. Even this sum, how
ever, Is great when the number OF
cases-nearly $4,000 annually-filed
at the court is taken into consid-
Grafton.
The number of repossession cases
has increased from 1873 in 1922
to 46.072 in the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1899. The revenue from
the landlord and tenant branch
has jumped in these respective years
from about $24,849 to about $50,679
Municipal Courts needless profit
has also risen with the years, point
ing to the fact that landlord ane
tenant fees could have been re.
duced substantially without impair.
ing the courts financial record. Ir
1922, the courts profit amounted tc
$11, ,89247 and during the last fisca'
year had jumped to $28, 8,439.19. One
year during the intervening time
1928-the profit reached $37, ,10658
BY profit" Is meant receipts ovel
expenditures. This money probably
would have paid rich dividends ir
better. more satisfied, healthier citi-
zens had the thousands of poor ten
ants brought into court for non
payment Of rent been allowed te
keep it.
Four Types Of Cases.
Municipal Court today handles foul
types Of cases: Landlord and tenant
Class A, involving claims from $50t
to $1,000: Glass B, claims from $5t
to $500. and Glass G, or cases in thu
Small Claims and Cancellation
Branch, claims ranging from 81 X