The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-02
City Landlords Start Eviictions
More Rent Increases Made Here ]
 Deputy Sheriffs,
 ConstobIes Kept
 Busy in Area

Busy in Area
 E V il C on proceedings against at least 20 families and individuals have already been instituted by local land- lords, a survey by The Demo- crat showed today. Less than two days after the expiration of OPA, deputy sheriffs and constables are serving notices to quit, the first step in the eviction process. In most cases the tenants named in the actions had been under the protection of waiting periods set by the OPA.
 Judge Charles 4. Sun1ma of City Court said he plans an early con- ference with Judge John L. Gaffney to decide on a policy to be followed by the court in eviction cases should Congress fail to revive the OPA. Rent control officials of the now defunct agency are hopeful that the court will follow the OPA.l rules in principle" and grant post- ponements of eviction in worthy cases.
 Additional reports of rent in creases were made today, but other wise local prices remained general ly stable. Stores affiliated with the Merchants Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce and many non-mem- bers are following hold the line" policy. and Chairman Ralph H. Paine said today that merchants are keeping their heads and keep ing the line very well"
 Complaints Continue
 Area Rent Administrator George J.. McDuff continued to receive complaints of large increases in rent. The tentnt of an East Eid apartment. he said, has been noti- fled of an increase from S37 month to s60. A tenant in the Cooke Street section complained Of boost from $35 to $50, while
  was raised from $50 to $50 MT. Mo Duff reported many cases of such increases as from S2O to S28, and s27 to S35.
 The rent administrator related the case of a, veteran of World War II who had arranged to take rent in the South End for s27. With the end of the OPA he was told that the rent will now be $40 and that he must redecorate the premises at his own expense.
 From other sources came reports of rent increases also. In one case the rent was jumped to $40 from S19, in another from $30 to $42, and in third from s28 to S45.
 Virtually all stores kept prices at OPA levels. Among the except ions were cases of butter beind sold for Sl.10 a pound and canned fruits a scarce commodity, selling at 55 to 50 cents a can.
 Cigarets Go Up Additional stores raised the price of cigarets, following the example of some which did this yesterday. Charges of 19 and 20 cents were made for brands which had cost l8 cents Sunday.
 MT. Paine said that because of the present uncertainty of the price control situation no general meeting of the Merchants Bureau is planned at this time. He expressed confi- dence that prices of all goods in stock at member stores will remain the same regardless of congressional action.
 "On merchandise coming into the stores in the future we pledge to buyers that we shall keep to pre- war margins" sad MT. Paine, and will even hold prices on goods that have been fair-traded at higher prices. The merchants will not in- crease prices to any extent unless the manufacturers go haywire."
 MT. Paine attached significance to the fact that mail from manufac- turers, which normally includes bil1- ing, sock notices and the like, was unusually light today. There seemed to be no evidence of jumping the gum and billing immediately at higher rates, he said.
 Plead With Producers
 Merchants in Waterbury and throughout the nation are exerting pressure on manufacturers not to go haywire." said the Merchants Bureau head.
 In the rent situation, word was being awaited from Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin on the special session of the General Assembly which he is being urged to call to enact State rent control laws. The Governor is also considering use of his war time emergency powers to suspend laws on summary process and evic- tion.
 Under State eviction laws, land lords may serve summary process on tenements 10 days after the no- tice to quit. The parties then file pleadings in City Court, which then must be argued. Following the close of pleadings, hearing date is set It takes minimum of three weeks to bring an eviction case into court, and in most cases the time is longer. Even then, the court can delay ex- ecution for several months or more.
 One sheriff has already served notices to quit on nine tenants who now face eviction.