Evening star., 1939-11-04

StOT NOuTC Articles
Landlord -Tenont Reports
Held Revealing Need
For Reform
To the Editor Of The Star:
Due to q personal experience perhaps,
I was much interested in your Mr..
Knowles article on "How Tenants Fare
in Court"
In response to summons, appeared
at the Court House on time and searched
the typewriter schedules posted in the
hail. but failed to find my case listed.
Just then another party began search
for his case. When he turned away. he
made some remark, and we engaged In
conversation. Presently remarked that
had q case coming up but find 1t is
not listed for today. Thereupon he
scanned the list and presently said:
"Why here is your case down at the bot
tom in pencil" then made haste to
the proper room, arriving l8 minutes
after court opened. People were stand
ing around in seemingly confused man
ner and I asked one of them If the
Judge had shown up yet. "Why man,
court has adjourned and the Judge has
gone" why" said, there were about
80 cases listed and mine was last on the
list, and expected to have to stay here
half day." Then my informant told
me the judge was in hurry to get
away; that the clerk read of all the
names very rapidly, no one answered
and judgment for the plaintiff was pro-
nounced; that certainly two judgments
were ordered per minute, as not one
answered to his name.
As I still held an old and worthless
check drawn by the attorney for the
plaintiff, though he might be generous
enough to agree to future trial; this he
refused. My attorney went through
procedure and got the case re-opened
for hearing at latter date.
There were several other parties there
with their attorneys to defend them
selves, but judgments had been rendered
against them with the speed of popping
flrecrackers. Such proceeding is first
cousin to farce.
It does appear that due to unavoid-
able slight delays, such as traffic jams
and parking troubles that any man with
respect for decent procedure might have
waited a few minutes and called the
cases a second time
If there is no law to regulate the
proceedings in a court Of justice ca
there ought to be one. CITIZEN.
October 30.
To the Editor Of The Star:
What an amazing situation is revealed
in the article on the Landlord Tenant
Court IN The Sunday Star! It seems like
travesty on justice. And this in the
Nations Capital! The courts were never
intended to be a profit-making institu-
ton. The very fact that this one has
done SO over a period of years reflects
seriously on the indifference of the
judiciary and Of the community. Credit
ton Housing Association for taking the
trouble to investigate and report on the
situation.
Other facts should be forthcoming,
such as how many Of these people are on
relief? How much is this condition
brought about by our relief policy? Are
we so stingy that we do not allow relief
families enough to pay decent rent for
q decent dwelling? Are we expecting the
owners of property to house relief people
for little or nothing? Have landlords
resorted to this method Of using the
courts to squeeze the rent out of families
with too low incomes or on relief? There
is some reason back of all this and I
hope The Star will continue these stories
until the whole sordid situation has been
brought to the light Of day. Then, maybe,
something can be done to bring real JUS
tice to low-income families, even If 1t
means increasing the relief allowance.
October 81. F. B. BAKER.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Congratulations on the splendid ar
ticles which are now appearing in The
Star on the Landlord-Ten Court in
the District of Columbia. Unless the
socially minded public in the District
is made aware Of the conditions and
practices of our local courts there is no
hope Of reform.
The articles indicate careful, rather
than sensational, unearthing of shock
ing and inequitable conditions which
leave no doubt but that sweeping
changes must be introduced If adequate
protection is to be given both to the
landlord and to the tenant.
1t is gratifying to know that your
newspaper finds space to print such mat
ters as vitality concern residents Of the
District Of Columbia.
November l. ADA M. STOFLET.
To the Editor Of The Star:
The articles on the landlord tenant
branch Of the Municipal Court, which
have been running In The Evening Star
are most enlightening. 1t is hoped that
you will continue this splendid series
until the public is interested in doing
something about the unjust conditions
pointed out.
Tuesdays article mentions the fact
that fees have never been reduced VOL
unfairly by the judges, but that an out
side influence has always had to agitate
for the reduction" Just so will other