Senator JONES of Washington. How do you know that?
Mrs. BROWN. Sometimes the landlord says so.

Senator JONES of Washington. Who said it to you?

Mrs. BROWN. Some of the tenants have told me when they served the writs on them.

Senator JONES of Washington. If we have a witness under oath, that witness should state her own knowledge.

Mrs. BROWN. Yes, sir.

Senator JONES of Washington. And not what somebody told her.. Mrs. BROWN. There will be somebody who will tell you that very thing.

Senator JONES of Washington. I wish they would come before us. Representative BLANTON. The only eviction notice that has been offered yet was the one for nonpayment of rent.

Senator JONES of Washington. I understand.

Mrs. BROWN. Here [indicating] is a lady who was evicted last week.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you want her to testify?

Mrs. BROWN. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well; we will hear from her.

TESTIMONY OF MRS. J. A. TSCHIPKE

(The witness was duly sworn by the chairman.) Senator COPELAND. Were you evicted?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Will you please read this letter [handing letter to Senator Copeland]?

Senator COPELAND. Why were you evicted? Did the landlord tell you?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I do not know, gentlemen.

Senator COPELAND. Had you paid your rent?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I have here all my papers and receipts to show that I was a good tenant, paying the rent on time.

Here is my receipt [indicating]. When I first moved in the place I paid $35 and then I paid $40 and then $50.

Senator COPELAND. When did you first move in?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Eight years ago.

Senator COPELAND. You then paid $35.50 a month?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. In October, 1922, you paid $50.50.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. The first rent receipt you have here is in 1918

for $35.50.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. In 1919 it was $40.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. In 1922 was $50.50?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. And in November, 1923, it was $60.75? Mrs. TSCHIPKE. When it was $60 I went up to my landlord and pleaded with him to let me off $5 and that I should sign a lease for $55. He said no. Then I had to pay the $60, but so many other tenants in the building went to the Rent Commission and that is

why I went to the Rent Commission and they reduced it to $47.50 and I have been paying all along $47.50.

Senator COPELAND. Until when?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Until I got this notice.

Senator COPELAND. This is dated September 24, 1924.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. All through the time I was living in the apartment until the end it was $47.50. I was annoyed all the time. The garbage cans were put under the window. They made a coal place under my bedroom window. If I didn't close my windows carefully I had coal dust all through my bedrooms.

Senator COPELAND. Did you complain of that to the landlord? Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I have complained. I have written letters and there was no result. Finally I just stopped complaining. I thought I would stay there until I could do better and arrange myself. I knew I could stay there under that rent until next May. I had arranged myself to go out by next May. A month before this happened, or the same month, some judge declared the Rent Commission unconstitutional. Immediately on that I got this letter. I didn't take any steps on the letter, feeling that the Rent Commission is still there. I went up to the Rent Commission and said, "Please take your sign off so I don't have to come to you. Why is the Rent Commission here? I have adjusted myself to be there until you go out of commission, but your sign is here and you have to protect me." They told me to do the best I can. I have looked for places until I got sick and I couldn't find a suitable place to live in for the rent I can afford to pay. I was willing to pay for one room and kitchen $50, but I positively couldn't find it. That was before I was evicted. He has even written me in the paper before all the public.

I learned that 10 people in the apartment got the same letter and I have learned that some of the ladies are scared to death. I am scared to death and I am a bundle of nerves, but about that time I was strong in health and I thought I was going to fight for my rights while the Rent Commission is here. While the Rent Commission is soon up, I thought I would have my rights until then.

Representative HAMMER. Tell us about the offer you made them. Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I have learned that some of the ladies or gentlemen in the apartment ran down quick and paid a $20 or $25 increase on the rent. I could not afford to pay the $20 increase. What is the use to go and talk to Mr. Tribby, because I could not talk to him. He is an awful man to talk to.

Representative HAMMER. What is his name?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Mr. Charles Tribby. I did not go out on this very day, so he brought me to court. When he brought me to court in the morning some of my friends said, "You ought to get a lawyer." Where could I get a lawyer? I did manage to find a lawyer, and I thought naturally the judge is going to ask me. I had all my papers that I am paying my rent in advance and on the first and naturally I thought the judge was going to ask me, "Why is this woman put out in 30 days? The judge did not ask me a word and my lawyer told me I could wait until the 1st of January. That was three weeks in November and the month of December, which would be seven weeks.

When the time came I had to help my husband in business. I feel like I am the main one and we have a novelty shop and we are waiting all year to Christmas, and I could not take up my time about Christmas to look, because I have to help make the living. Right after Christmas time I looked for a place to get out by the1st of January. Then I couldn't find it. I didn't go on this letter to Mr. Tribby. Then I went to Mr. Tribby and I said, "Mr. Tribby, I am coming up here to tell you that I can not move on the 1st of January." He said, "Why can't you?" I said, "Because I am sick." He said, "You don't look sick. You are not sick enough to to come here." He said, "This is a very disagreeable matter and I want to settle it in an agreeable manner." I said, "Looks are deceiving." Then he said something about I looked well and I said, "I don't want to talk about that. Let us talk about business. I said, "What do you want me to do?" He said, "You have to go. If you don't go the sheriff will put you out." I said, "If you talk that way to me, I will simply have to leave your office." I left the office and looked again for a place and was willing to pay for one room and kitchen and bath $50. I could not find it. New Year's was on Thursday. On Wednesday it was the last of the month. I went up to Mr. Tribby and had a man who was working for us at our store go with me. I took $67.50.

I

Representative HAMMER. Why was it you took that exact amount? Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Because I have it here in the paper the advertisement. On Sunday I saw the ad of my apartment for $67.50. took this exact amount and had a witness to that effect that I offered him this rent. I said, "I am too sick to move. I can not move.” He said, "If you can come up here you are not too sick. You don't look sick." I said, "You look very well, but maybe you are a very sick man. We can not move." He said, "If you don't move the marshal will put you out."

I got notice in a few days, the marshal's notice. It came on Saturday, and I got the notice at 12 o'clock from my mail box, and it said it was to go at 10 o'clock. That was long before. I immediately ran down to the court looking for this marshal and I told him my story. He said, "Why don't you pay your rent?" I said, "Here are my receipts," He said, "You had better make it up with your landlord." I said, "No, I can't. He wants me out because I went to the Rent Commission." The marshal gave me a week's time-not quite a week's time.

Representative HAMMER. What was that about going to the Rent Commission?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. He wouldn't have me in there because I went to the Rent Commission. The son told me so in the court.

Representative HAMMER. Who told you so?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Mr. Tribby's son. He represented Mr. Tribby in the court, and I agreed with Mr. Tribby's son very friendly. I said, "Am I the worst one in your apartment?" He said, "No; but why don't you come down and sign up like the rest?" When I wanted something done he referred me to the Rent Commission. Let me tell you what he did. When I moved out of my place he was afraid somebody would not get there to look the place over. He had it scraped the same day and the men worked there all day Sunday until 4 o'clock and Saturday night until 12 o'clock.

Senator COPELAND. Do I understand that the marshal did put you out?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes; here it is [handing paper to Senator Copeland].

Senator COPELAND. This newspaper article you hand me says that he moved all of your belongings out in the snow-covered street. Mrs. TSCHIPKE. That is all I have. I haven't got anything. Until my husband had to get the storage man everything was out there. I haven't got a tooth brush that they have left me.

Senator COPELAND. The article says you were sick in bed.
Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I was sick in bed.

Senator COPELAND. And that they went to the door and took you and your goods out.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. I lost my diamond ring, my engagement ring my husband gave me. The marshal himself handed me my watch. That is the kind of condition I was in.

Representative HAMMER. You are the lady who telephoned me and came to me at my office several days before this?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Representative HAMMER. I told you I would help you to get a

place?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Representative HAMMER. I did try. I had a friend who is a representative of a large real-estate establishment and told him about it and he told me he would get a place for you. I said they were going to put you out the next day. That was several days after I saw him. I saw him yesterday and asked why he didn't do so. said he wrote you a letter. Did you get the letter?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No; I never got the letter.

Senator COPELAND. Perhaps he evicted the letter, too!

He

Representative HAMMER. I just wanted to make that statement for

the record.

Senator COPELAND. I notice that the landlord, Mr. Tribby, said that "This is the case of a tenant who is distasteful to the owner of the property. Did they say that to you, that you were distasteful to the owner?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. What does he mean?

Senator COPELAND. That the owner did not like you.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Naturally he wanted me out because he didn't like me.

Senator COPELAND. But you had offered to pay the same rent that they advertised the apartment for in the Star?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes; it was in the Sunday Star.

Senator COPELAND. But in spite of all that they threw you out in the snow?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Representative HAMMER. What does your husband do?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. We have a novelty shop on U Street.

Representative HAMMER. Have you ever had any trouble there? Have you had people there in your apartment that had parties and made a noise?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No; indeed.

Representative HAMMER. Did they make a complaint about the conditions there? I do not know myself. I am merely asking for

information. Did you ever have a complaint made to you by the manager that you were not conducting your apartment properly?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No; Mr. Hammer. I have the sympathy of all the tenants.

Representative HAMMER. Do you ever have a quarrel with the manager or rough talk, and talk back to him in a spiteful manner? Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No. I can bring some of the tenants. It was just because I went to the Rent Commission.

Representative HAMMER. Who is the owner of this property? Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Charles E. Tribby.

Senator COPELAND. Does he own the property now?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Who was the agent?

Senator COPELAND. Mr. Tribby is the owner and the agent. Representative STALKER. Did they read the notice to you at the time you were evicted?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. The marshal?
Representative STALKER. Yes.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes; he read it.

Representative BLANTON. You are not an employee of the Gov

ernment?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No.

Representative BLANTON. And your husband is not?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No.

Representative BLANTON. Your husband is conducting a private business here for profit in Washington?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Representative BLANTON. A novelty store?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Representative BLANTON. How many men does he work?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Nobody.

Representative BLANTON. You mentioned awhile ago that you went to the man who was working for him.

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. We had a watchmaker working in the place and we gave him free space.

Representative BLANTON. That is the reason why I asked about. You went to him?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes. He was not working for us. working for himself. He is a watchmaker.

He was

Representative BLANTON. He does the watchmaking business and

repairs for your husband's business?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. Yes.

Senator COPELAND. Let us be clear about that. Does this man work for husband?

Mrs. TSCHIPKE. No.

Representative BLANTON. I prefer to have the Senator let me ask my own questions.

Senator COPELAND. I prefer also to have the record correct. Representative BLANTON. I want to be perfectly fair. I am fair to the Senator. If we are not going to conduct a fair hearing I do not care to participate in it.

Representative HAMMER. But you assume things that are not correct. That is the trouble, Mr. Blanton.