Evening star., 1939-10-01
New Procedure
In Rent Suits
Begins Monday
Better Relations Are
Sought Between
Tenunt and, Landlord

Suits of landlords to collect rentals
from tenants, which accounted for
about $500 cases in Municipal Court
during q single recent month. are
to be "humanized"-made less rou-
tine, more informal, more ADAPTED
10 individual circumstances-und
new rules of procedure which go
into effect tomorrow.
Judge Almond w. Scott, sitting in
the landlord and tenant branch Of
the court during October, will be the
first to apply the new plan which
the municipal judges approved
unanimously in August.
The new deal" in this form OF
litigation is designed to bring about
better relations between tenant and
landlord or agent and to result in
more substantial justice. These are
leading features of the modified
procedure:
l. Where the tenant appears to
contest or explain the claim or to
seek an adjustment, more time will
be given the case. The judge will
inquire into all the circumstances
and try to effect a settlement or
compromise satisfactory to both
sides.
All May Have Say.
z Every one concerned in each
ease who desires to be heard-land-
lord, tenant or representatives OF
either-will have his say.
3. Terms of the lease and the ex-
tent of court costs will be considered
carefully when such points are at
issue. -
4. Every effort will be made so to
adjust cases that neeessitous fami-
lies with any prospect of paying up,
even gradually, will not be evicted.
At the same time the rights of land
lord are to be protected. In many in
stances they probably will be asked
to accept part payments of past-due
rents, without waving their right to
press the suit If tenants do not live
up to their promises.
Too Much Speed Opposed.
The Washington Housing Asso-
citation asked for the new rules after
. careful study Of conditions sur
rounding the hearing of landlord
tenant suits in Municipal Court. It
was found, officials of the organiza-
ton said, that from $50 to 200 cases
sometimes were heard in half an
hour Names of defendants were
called of so rapidly that frequently
the tenants failed to hear them and
made no response. Later they found
judgment had been entered
against them, with eviction the pen
atty unless the fuil amount were
paid at once, together with court
costs. So crowded was the small
courtroom that persons involved in
the litigation often waited on the
stairs outside.
In place Of this debtors mill"
the association sought more hu-
man procedure, one comparable to
the informal give-and-take adjust
ments reached in the Small Claims
Court.
A survey revealed that IS per cent
Of the claims involved rents for the
current month, payable in advance,
and that large proportion was
for collection of from $40 to $50
month. Many of the families were
unable to save enough out of mea-
ger incomes to pay an entire month
At one time it was found, and own
ers or agents often refused to accept
part payments, though others were
quite lenient.
Rights Of Landlords.
While sympathizing with the
plight Of families always on the
border line of destitution and seek
ing means of adjusting their diff
culties. the association at the same
time disclaimed any desire to deny
justice to landlords, and their right
to collect rentals was fully recog-
nized. A committee from the Real
Estate Board worked harmoniously
with committee from the Wash
ington Housing Association In dis
cussing the problem.
The association sought to change
the hour of hearings in the Land
lord and Tenant Branch of Num-
cipal Court from $50 am. to 2 pm.
It was pointed out that usually the
wife, nearly always mother of sew
eral children, had to answer the
summons. If her husband respond
ed, he would have to miss half
day from work.
These women find 1t difficult to
get the older children of to schools
and provide for the younger chill
dren in time to reach court dur
ing the morning. The Committee
on Relations with the Municipal
Court of the District Bar Associa-
ton agreed to the 2 o'clock court,
even If it inconvenienced lawyers.
But the association did not sue
ceed in getting this change made,
and the hour still Is $50 am.
70 Call Names Slowly.
Hereafter, however, the judge Of
this branch will devote at least an
hour to pending cases, and names
Of defendants will be called Oh slowly
enough to permit them to ask hear
1ngs or continuances If they choose.
The Judge will try, among other
things, to settle cases under condi-
tions that will not send the same
tenants into court month after
month.
Women, uninformed as to court
procedure, perhaps unable to en-
ploy counsel, often have sat help
lessly by when their cases were
called. These will be told of their