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Genev a . August 3 rd ,1923*

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Rent l e g i s l a t i o n i n th e S a a r T e r r i t o r y

ote fry t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l :

The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , h a s t h e honour to communicate

;ne i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l and Members o f t h e lie ague o f

Mi one - t h e f o l l o w i n g docum ents c o n c e r n in g r e n t l e g i s l a t i o n i n

| s Saar T e r r i t o r y : -

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I I I ,

L e t t e r f ro m t h e Chairman of t h e G o ve rn ing Commission t o t h e S & c i o t a r y - G e n e r a l d a t e d J u l y 2 1 s t » I S 23, f o r w a r d i n g :

P e t i t i o n d a t e d J u l y 4 th „ 1923, t o t h e C ou n c i l o f t h e League- f rom a g ro u p o f members o f t h e A d v i s o r y Cou.no o f t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y r e p r e s e n t i n g th e P r o p r i e t o r s 7 ana A g r i c u l t u r i s t s * A s s o c i a t i o n , and

Pat i t i o n d a t e d May 24 th* 1923 , t o t h e Govern ing Commis f rom t h e S y n d i c a t e o f House-Owners* and l a n d e d P r o p r i e t o r s 1 A s s o c i a t i o n s »

I. l e t t e r i rom t h e Chairman of t h e Gov e r n i n g Commission

t o th e i>eor©ta,r v -S enera l-

S a a r b r uck, J u I j 21 s t , 1923 .

a l Â’JIQl-i

S i r ,

I have t h e h onour uo f o rw a rd to vdu h e r e w i t h a p e t i t i o n

from t h e P r o p r i e t o r s ' and A g r i c u l t u r l e t s ' A s s o c i a t i o n of t h e

Saar t e r r i t o r y , d a t e d J u l y 4 t h , 1923. The f o l l o w in g o b s e r v a ­

t i o n s may "be made i n c o n n e c t i o n t h e r e w i t h .

Upon t a k i n g up i t s d u t i e s , t h e Govern ing Commission found

a body of German h o u s i n g r e g u l a t i o n s i n f o r c e i n th e Saar

ana logous to t h o s e w h ich a lm o s t a l l European c o u n t r i e s were

o b l ig e d to i n t r o d u c e d u r in g t h e war f o r t h e p u rpose o f s a f e ­

g u a rd in g m o b i l i s e d men and t h e i r f a m i l i e s . The p r e -w a r

system under which t h e p a r t i e s were bound s o l e l y by c o n t r a c t s

f r e e l y c o n c lu d e d be tw een owners and t e n a n t s , was s u p e r s e d e d

by d e t a i l e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e g u l a t i o n s . A l though th e y were

only e s t a b l i s h e d i n o r d e r t o cope w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n a l

s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d or t h e war and f o r t h e d u r a t i o n o f th e w a r ,

th e G overn ing Commission was o b l i g e d to m a i n t a i n them . The

r e t u r n to p e ac e c o n d i t i o n s d i d n o t s u f f i c e to a b o l i s h th e

c a u se s o f t h e h o u s in g c r i s i s . î lot a s i n g l e new house had

been b u i l t d u r in g t h e f o u r y e a r s o f w a r . Even a f t e r t h e

A rm is t i c e was s i g n e d , t h e r e was no r e v i v a l i n th e b u i l d i n g

t r a d e , a s a r e s u l t o f t h e e x c e s s i v e r i s e i n t h e p r i c e of

m a t e r i a l s and l a b o u r .

These v a r i o u s c a u s e s h a v in g r e s u l t e d i n a p ro lo n g e d

housing c r i s i s , t h e r e g u l a t i o n s which had been p r o v i s i o n a l l y

i n t r o d u c e d to p a l l i a t e t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s t h e r e o f had to be

m a i n t a i n e d , The t e n a n t s , however , whose r e s o u r c e s (w ages ,

_ o_

s a l a r i e s , c o m m erc ia l p r o f i t s ) had i n c r e a s e d from month to

month i n p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e r i s e i n t h e c o s t o f l iv in ; - , had

naturally? become accus to m ed to a sys tem v h i c h p r o h i b i t e d , t h e

p r o p r i e t o r s f rom i n c r e a s i n g r e n t s . The o n ly c r i t i c i s m v h i c h

the? o f f e r e d was t o demand t h a t t h e r e g u l a t i o n s sh o u ld be

f a r th e r s t r e n g t h e n e d . The owners on t h e o t h e r hand were no t

slow to g i v e v o i c e to b i t t e r c o m p l a i n t s . She;,- p o i n t e d to

th e i r i n c r e a s i n g d i s t r e s s ; t h e y a rg u e d t h a t t h e h o u s i n g c r i s i s

could o n ly be s o l v e d by t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f new h o u s e s , and

th a t no p r o p r i e t o r w ou ld t h i n k o f b u i l d i n g so lo n g as any hope

of o b t a i n i n g a d e q u a te r e m u n e r a t i o n f o r t h e c a p i t a l i n v e s t e d i n

rea l e s t a t e u n d e r t a k i n g s was r e n d e r e d i l l u s o r y by r e q u i s i t i o n s

and th e l i m i t a t i o n of r e n t s . I n c o n seq u e n c e , t h e y demanded

with i n c r e a s i n g i n s i s t e n c e t h e a b o l i t i o n o f r e s t r i c t i o n s .

2he G overn ing Commission was o f o p i n i o n t h a t i t w ould be

equal ly d a n g e ro u s to a cced e to t h e demands o f e i t h e r p a r t y .

If i t seemed t h a t t h e t e n a n t s h ad no good r e a s o n f o r demanding

the i n d e f i n i t e m a in t e n a n c e of r e g u l a t i o n s which m o d i f i e d t h e

common lav? t o su ch a s e r i o u s e x t e n t , i t was n e v e r t h e l e s s c e r t a i n

th a t an im m ed ia te a b o l i t i o n o f t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s would a lm o s t

i n e v i t a b l y g i v e r i s e to s e r i o u s d i s o r d e r s , a s i t would e n t a i l

the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a de f a c t o monopoly i n f a v o u r o f th e r i c h ,

who would, i n t h e l a s t r e s o r t , be t h e on ly p e r s o n s i n a p o s i t i o n

to meet t h e g rowing demands of t h e p r o p r i e t o r s . In c o n s e q u e n c e ,

the G overn ing Commission, on A p r i l 2 1 s t , 1921, l a i d down th e

fo l lo w in g g u i d i n g r u l e s : " to m a i n t a i n any o f t h e r e g u l a t i o n s

e s t a b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e w a r , t h e c o n t i n u a n c e o f which was n e c e s s a r y

in o r d e r to e n s u r e t o t e n a n t s t h e p r o t e c t i o n which t h e y s t i l l

r e q u i r e t o accus tom t h e l a t t e r t o t h e i d e a t h a t t h e p r i c e o f

dwel l ing h o u s e s must one day be f i x e d - a s t h e p r i c e s o f th e

M a jo r i ty o f p r o d u c t s and t h e r a t e s of most payments . :e a l r e a d y

f ixed - by t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d i n t e r p l a y of. su p p ly and demand; to

pave t h e way f o r t h e a b o l i t i o n o f r e s t r i c t i o n s by p r o g r e s s i v e l y

i n c r e a s i n g r e n t s ; i n p a r t i c u l a r , to show by e n c o u ra g in g ' n i v a t e

en te rp r ise - t h a t t h e G overn ing Commission r e l i e d fo r t h e

s o l u t i o n o f t h e h o u s i n g c r i s i s on a r e v i v a l of b u i l d i n g , and

rega rd ed a l l o t h e r m ea su re s a s p r e c a r i o u s cud i n a d e q u a te

p a l l i a t i v e s " .

In a p p l i c a t i o n oi t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s , th e Governing Commission,

on December 2 8 t h , 1922, p r o m u lg a t e d a Decree ( O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l

of th e G overn ing Commission, December 2 8 th , 1922) th e main f e a t u r e s

of which were a s f o l lo w s :

1 . As r e g a r d s t h e a l l o ca t i o n of accommoda t i o n : th e

p r o v i s i o n a l m a in t e n a n c e of t h e o b l i g a t i o n imposed upon a l l p e r s o n s

seek ing accommodation o f a p p l y i n g to s p e c i a l O f f i c e s , e s t a b l i s h e d

as th e s o l e a u t h o r i t i e s f o r r e c e i v i n g n o t i f i c a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g

vacan t accommodation and f o r a l l o c a t i n g t h e l a t t e r . T h is r u l e

to be m i t i g a t e d by t h e f o l l o w i n g m easu res

(a) d e c e n t r a l i s a t i o n : t h e a g e n t s of t h e Governing Commission

to be d e p r i v e d of t h e i r powers to a l l o c a t e accommodation d i r e c t l y

and to c o n f i n e t h e m s e l v e s to i n t e r v e n i n g , i n th e c a p a c i t y o f

C o n t r o l l i n g a u t h o r i t i e s , w i t h a view to c h e c k in g a b u s e s ;

( b ) t h e a b o l i t i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l Housing Commission;

( e ) r e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e l o c a l Commissions w i t h a view to

g iv in g a p r e d o m in a n t p o s i t i o n on t h e s e b o d ie s to the r e p r e s e n t a ­

t i v e s of t h e p r o p r i e t o r s and t e n a n t s , i . e . t h e p a r t i e s a c t u a l l y

c o n c e rn e d .

2 . As r e g a r d s d i s p u t e s be tw een p r o p r i e t o r s and t e n a n t s :

e x t e n s i o n f o r one y e a r of t h e powers o f th e nM i e t e i n i g u n g s a e m t e r TT,

as i t i s e s s e n t i a l , i n view of th e numerous d i s p u t e s o c c a s io n e d

"by t h e h o u s i n g c r i s i s , t h a t t h e r e sh o u ld be a more e x p e d i t i o u s

snd l e s s c o s t l y mode of p r o c e d u r e a v a i l a b l e t u a n t h r t employed i n

the o r d i n a r y law c o u r t s ; a more e x a c t d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e powers

oi t h e s e a r b i t r a l t r i b u n a l s .

in rag o rd t o t h a f i x i n g ox r e n t s ; ennulmciit of a l l r e g u l a t i o n s

n fare g h i t h o r t o which do n o t make fillowonoo f o r v a r i a t i o n s i n

b8 mark; s u b s t i t u t i o n of t\ moro c l a s t i c sy s tem e n s u r i n g , a t a

iren moment, a p r o p e r p r o p o r t i o n ho two on r a n t s and t h e g o n o r a l

ost Of l i v i n g .

The P r o p r i e t o r s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n hrd eskod t h a t p r o p r i e t o r s

hoïŒâ To 3 e n t i t l e d to d impose of on y aooommodr.it i o n which might

M l v acan t i n b u i l d i n g s b e lo n g i n g to them, e i t h e r f o r t h e i r own

usa, s r i n f a v o u r o f t h e i r r e l a t i v e s ( f a t h e r , m o t h e r , c h i l d r e n ,

rothors ond s i s t e r s , p a r a n t s - i n - l o w , b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s - i n - l :>w,

ons ond d a u g h t e r s - i n - l a w ) . The ^ s s o c i a t i c n c o n s i d e r e d t h a t i t

ffoald be e x t r e m e ly . u n f a i r t o d e p r iv e o w n e r s , upon whom the p r e s e n t

ragu la t ions impose such heavy s a c r i f i c e s , o f th e r i g h t o f u t i l i s i n g

either f o r th e m s e lv e s or f o r t h e i r f a m i l i e s , f l a t s , which f a l l

TÇQnnt in t h e i r own . h o u s e s . T Joreover , th e p r o p r i e t o r s ag reed t h a t ,

in ods os. of d i s p u t e , th e "Mio t q i n igungs o mt o r ” shou ld d e c id e w h e t h e r

tha r e q u e s t s s u b m i t t e d by th e fo rm er w i th a v iew t o o b t a i n i n g th e

a l lo c a t io n o f v a c a n t accommodation were d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e or n o t to

thoir r e a l n e e d s . F i n a l l y , the A s s o c i a t i o n , r sk o d t h a t tha owner

E i g h t have t h e r i g h t t o s e l e c t from a l i s t o f c a n d i d a t e s the t e n a n t

who would s u i t him b e s t , s u b j e c t o n ly to one c o n d i t i o n , t h a t th e

veçnnt f l a t c o r r e s p o n d e d to th e genuine r e q u i r e m e n t s o f such t e n a n t

In d raw in g up t h e D ecree of December 8 8 th 1922, the f u l l e s t

c o n s id e r a t io n was p a id to the w ish e s o f the P r o p r i e t o r s T

A s s o c i a t i o n i n t h i s m a t t e r . They were g r a n t e d p r i o r i t y i n f a v o u r

of t h e i r r e l a t i v e s , w h i l s t i n o t h e r cu ses they , a r e now e n t i t l e d

to s e i o o t one . of t h r e e p r o p o s a l s me do by th e M u n ic ip a l H ous ing

Off ice on t h e b a s i s of t h e d e c i s i o n $£ o Commission dfomposod

°f owners and t e n a n t s .

5 .

Ijj rega rd to tho - f i x i n g o f r o r f c s , tho Dee roe o f December

tb 2923 ( i r t i o l o 24) l a y s down t h o t , f o i l i n g t f r i e n d l y | g r o e -

nt 1)Q two on th e p a r t i e s , th e maximum r e n t f o r u n fu rn i s h e d

oommodf'tion must n o t exceed a sum o b ta in e d by m u l t i p l y i n g the

nt psid on J u l y 1 s t 1914, "by o c o - e f f i c i e n t to "be de te rm ined

rgry two months .

Tha c o n d i t i o n s o f a p p l i c a t i o n and tho d i v i s o r s a re f i x e d

h r y two months by th e G o v e rn in g Commission, n f t e r o b t a i n i n g

h views o f a Commission composed of e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

f the p o p u l a t i o n , and o f f i c i a l s in th e employment of the

Iverning Commission.

The sy s te m , on which the f i x i n g of maximum r e n t s Is h o se d ,

h "s fc lo w s : i t c o n s i s t s o f m u l t i p l y i n g the 1914 r e n t , which

I taken as the "basic f i g u r e , "by tho c o - e f f i c i e n t of in e ro o a o

I tho c o s t o f l i v i n g . The sum th u s o b ta in e d r e p r e s e n t s the

hunt which tho t e n a n t s h o u l d pay in o r d e r to moke i l l o ra r .o o

:i the g e n e r a l i n o r o o s e i n p r i c e s . In o r d e r to s p a r e t e n a n t s ,

b c o n s t i t u t e tho l a r g e m a j o r i t y of the p o p u l a t i o n , the s a c r i f i c e s

iah would be e n t a i l e d by any c e n s idaro"ole r i s e i n r e n t , the

kern ing Commission d e c i d e d , i n c o n f o r m i ty w i th th e o p in io n s

pressed "by th e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l and tbsr T ec h n ic s 1 Committee , t h a t

is maximum r e n t would n o t be th e e q u i v a l e n t o f the sum r e f e r r e d

>, "but of a f r a c t i o n t h e r e o f . A c c o r d in g ly , the f i g u r e f o r

ia d i v i s o r in J a n u a r y and F e b r u a r y 1923 was 750. In cases

1 which th e p a r t i e s ag reed t o f i x the r e n t i n f r a n c s , tho

'gure 8 was t a k e n a s t h e d i v i s o r f o r the p e r io d between

179n,her 1922 and J a n u a r y 1923, and the f i g u r e 4 f o r J a n u a ry and

•binary 3,923.

- 6 -

rjjg Advisory Com m ission, .vh ich w as s e t up f o r f ix ing; t h i s d i v i s o r , subG*

mittsd to t h e G o v e rn in g C o m a isa io n a recom m endation t h a t th e d i v i s o r s h o u ld

oe reduced, nam ely to 723 f o r r e n t s , p a i d i n m a r k s , and to 4 f o r r e n t e p a id

in f r a n c s .

I The G o v e rn in g Commission e n d o r s e d t h i s view*

She i n t r o d u c t i o n of a new c u r r e n c y s y s t e a in the t e r r i t o r y by cleans

of t ie Decree of :*ay 1 8 t h , 1923 h a s made i t p o s s i b l e f o r p r o p r i e t o r l to

collect t h o i r r e n t s e x c lu s iv e l y i n f r a n c s a s from J'a:,ie 1 s t , 1923, w h i l s t

i t has enabled th e G overn ing Commission g r a d u a l l y to e f f e c t a r e d u c t i o n i n

the d i v i s o r , i . e . to b r i n g r e n t s n e a r e r to t h e p r e - w a r l o v e l . In June 1 9 23 ,

the d iv i s o r væs r e d u c e d t o 3 05 , i n J u l y 1523 t o 3» in A ugust 1923 to 2 - , 5 , and

in September 1923 t o 2o

A f t e r b e a r i n ' ' the o p i n io n of the e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the

population, the O o v e ra ia g Commission w i l l be c a l l e d upon t o d e c id e w h e th e r

sutsequan t changes i n economic c o n d i t i o n s w i l l p e r m i t o f s g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e

in r e n t s u n t i l t h e y r e a c h p a r i t y .

F i n a l l y , m e n t io n mus t be made o f th e e n d e a v o u rs ira de by t h e

rOverning Commission e v e r s i n c e 1921 to m i t i g a t e a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e th e

hots lag c r i s i s by f o r n i s g th e Inter--Coismunal A s s o c i a t i o n f o r C o n s t r u c t i o n

of Sheap D w ell ings* This i n d e p e n d e n t body , w h ic h p o s s e s s e s c i v i l p e r s o n ­

ality and I s , m o re o v e r , s u b s i d i s e d by th e G overn ing Commission to t h e

tetent n e c e s s a r y f o r i t s p r o p e r w o rk in g , was a b le t o b u i l d more t h a n 3S0C0

k'ellingg w i t h i n e i g h t e e n m onths (152 1 -2 2 ) Houses h a v e a l s o t e sa b u i l t

*7 p r iv a t e p e r s o n s a n d by th e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of th o T r e n c h b t a t e J a n e s i n

fee Sear a n d , th e g r e a t indus t r i os s As so o n a s th e b u i l d i n g s a t p r e s e n t

toidor e o n s t r u o t i o n i n v a r io u s j a r b s o f tho t e r r i t o r y have been f i n i s h e d ,

fjle t o t a l number o f d w e l l i n g s made a v a i l a b l e fo r the S a a r p o p u l a t i o n s i n c e

date on w h ic h t h e G overn ing Commission e n t e r e d i n t o o f f i c e w i l l amount

t0 racre t h a n 5, 0 0 0 »

i In cone 1r s i o n , you w i l l no d o u b t f e e l t h a t th e ’’o v e m i n g Com m ission,

vas c o n f r o n t e d w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r l y ' d i f f i c u l t p ro b le m , h a s done e v e r y -

fr4cg i B i t s power to g i v e s a t i s f a c t i o n t t h e p r o p r i e t o r s by m easu res

_ 7_

rilreh, though o f a p r o g r e s s i v e c h e r c o t e r , have "been d e s ig n e d w i t h a l l

tae 00Bsid e r s t i o n f o r th e i n t e r e s t s o f th e l s r g o w orking c l a s s i n the

t e r r i to ry »

I sm, e t c » ,

(Signed) Y * F.AULT«

- 8 -

I I , P e t i t inn &Q;üho Council o f the leagu e of lo t io n s from a group n f members o f tho Advisory Counoil o f tho bear Territory reprosontinr the Proprifctews1 & A gricu ltur is ts *

A ssoc ia tion .

y-rmsla tion from tho Sonaan S a a r b r u o k , J u ly 4 t h 1 9 2 3 .

She undersigned Group o f the P roprietors' end A gr icu ltu r is ts *

Association in the Advisery Council ventures to bring the following

facts to the n o t ic e of the League of Estions »

In our opinion the Governing Commission of the Laar Territory

is not making s u f f i c i e n t ly energetic e f fo r t s to prevent the d ilap idation

of dwell ing-houses, which is he coming more and more imminent. The whole

population of the Sear te r r ito r y , and e sp ec ia l ly house-owners belonging

to the T erritory , are most p r e ju d ic ia l ly a ffec ted by the rent policy

tiiich has been adopted.

According to the d e f in i te s t ip u la t io n contained in Part I I I .

Section l i e § 23 o f the res t y of V ersa ille s , e l l the laws and regular

tions vihich wore in force in the Saar err ito ry on November 11th, 1918

with the exception of the decrees issued in consequence of the war, wero

to remain v a l id , Tho imperial German housing control laws (2wangsgesetzo)

v&ich were in force a t that time were, however, war low s. The Governing

Commission ought, th erefore , in accordance with the provisions of the

Treaty of leaoo which we have quoted, to have abrogated them, and super­

seded them by the provisions o f the German C iv il Code.

The le g a l provisions w ith regard to the control of housing

tfhich were introduced in consequence of the war constitu ted a serious

restr iction of the r ig h t of owna-ship, The Governing Commission r c -

introducM the housing control laws in the Easr Territory in a modified

form. These laws are of a d i s t in c t ly s o c i a l i s t i c character; they deprive

the landowner of the r igh t of disposing of h is private property, and by

ûeans of the low rents f ix ed by law they reduce the income which he receives

- 9 -

froui h i - p r o p e r t y t o s u c h a n e x t e n t t h . i t t h e r e n t s no l i n g e r s u f f i c e t o p a y

for r e p a i r s 3 t a 2:0 s , i n s u r e no 6 e t o . I n c onsequence of t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y of

ce rrÿ ing o u t r e p a i r s , th e c o n d i t i o n of t h e h ouses i s c o n s t o n t l y d e t e r i o r a t i n g ,

arid th e h o u s in g c o n d i t i o n s become more and more b u rd e n some and d a n g e ro u s t o

h e a l t h . ï h e G o v e rn in g Commission d i d n o t comply i n t h i s m b t t o r w i th th e

i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e League o f E s t i o n s o f F e b r u a r y 1 2 t h , 192.0,

in which i t i s l a i d down t h a t t h e Commission " w i l l have no o c c u p a t io n an d no

i n t e r e s t e x c e p t t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e p e o p le of th e t e r r i t o r y of t h e y e a r B a s in ’*-.

In r e p l y t o t h e numerous p e t i t i o n , and memoranda of t h e tiousor-Owners.^

A s s o c ia t io n t h e G o v e rn in g Commission a lw a y s a d o p te d t h e a rgum en t t h a t i t lied

been f a c e d w i t h t h e housing- c r i s i s on coining i n t o o f f i c e , and t h a t i t had

c o n s e q u e n t ly been i m p o s s i b l e t o r e p e a l t h e h o u s in g c o n t r o l lax ;s . The r e p r e s e n t ­

a t i v e s of t h e h o u s e -o w n e r s t h e n u rg e d t h a t t h e y d i d n o t * ste , o r t h e im m ed ia te

removal o f t h e h o u s in g r e s t r i c t i o n s , and t h a t t h e a l l o t m e n t of h o u s in g accom­

m odation by t h e a u t h o r i t i e s w a s , f o r t h e t im e b e i n g , j u s t i f i a b l e , b u t t h a t i t

wcs i n e q u i t a b l e t o f i x r e n t s by law a t a f i g u r e w h ic h must i m p o v e r i s h t h e h o u s e ­

owners and r e n d e r i t i m p o s s ib l e t o keep h o u s e s i n p r o p e r c o n d i t i o n . The f o l l o w ­

ing t a b l e shows t h e r e n t s f i n e d by th e G overn ing Commission, ana v.e h a v e i n ­

c lu d e d i n t h e «-nnex ^a g r a p h showing th e s c a l e o f wages p a i d t o s k i l l e d w o r k e r s

i n t h e b u i l d i n g t r a d e .

The f o l l o w i n g t a b l e g i v e s t h e r e n t s a s a p e r c e n t a g e o f p re w a r r e n t s ,

c o n v e r te d i n t o s v i s s f r a n c s

1 . 1 . 19 30 . 3 . 20 25)-o1» 4 . 20 - 5 0 . 6 . 21 8 .1 . / * 21 - 31 , 6 . 21 6 0 8/01 . 9 . 21 - 3 1 .1 2 . 21 4 . Tijo

1 . 1 . 22 - 15 . 7 . 22 ù • C /o

1 6 . 7 , 22 - 30 a1 1 . 22 0 >88 fo

1 , 1 2 . 22 — 3 1 . 1 2 e 22 « *j'jo

1 . 1 . 23 - 2 8 . 2 = 23 O G*?i,r J I j*J

1 . 3» 23 - 30 • • 23 11},1 . 5 . 23 — 31. 5 . 23 6/r11 . 6 . 25 - 30» 6 , 23 9 « 5/0

(1) Koto by th e S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l . One copy h o ld i n t h e S e c r e t a r i a t a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f t h e C ounc i l and P e m b ers .

- 1 0 -

The House-Owners a n d Landed r r o p r i e t o r s ’ a s s o c i a t i o n *jade a s e q u o s t to th o

Governing Conanisclon a t t h e t im e v h c » th o c u r r e n c y i n th e B ae r T e r r i t o r y v o s

changed, t o f i x rout a on a f r a n c be s i s , r e c k o n in g 1 = 25 p a p e r f r a n c s a s

e q u iv a le n t to one mark o f p r e - w a r r e n t . The e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f r e n t s on t h i s

b a s is ' h u b q u i t e a c c e p t a b l e , i n v iew o f t h o economic c o n d i t i o n s i n th e b e a r

T e r r i to ry » The G o v e rn in g Com m ission, how ever , d id n e t g r a n t t h e r e q u e s t ,

a l th o u g h i t i s s u e d i n s t r u c t i o n s to t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e p r e - w a r f e e s , i n m a rk s ,

of b a r r i s t e r s and s o l i c i t o r s s h o u ld "be c o u v e r te . , i n t o f r a n c s on th e b a s i s of

th ree f r a n c s f o r one m ark .

The r e n t s i n th o S a a r T e r r i t o r y a r e ou t of a l l p r o p o r t i o n to t h e

r en ts i n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g t e r r i t o r y of ^ o r r a i n o , so t h a t we a r e f o r c e d t o

conclude' t h a t t h e G overn ing Commission o f t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y i n t e n d s t o p r o ­

vide u n j u s t i f i a b l y c h eap h o u s in g accom m odation f o r t e n a n t s a t t h e c o s t of S c a r

house-ovm ers , i n s t e a d o f p r o m o t in g t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e S a a r

as a w ho le ,

tie r e s p e c t f u l l y a p p e a l t o t h e C ounc i l o f th e League o f l u t i o n s t o

cause t h e G o v e rn in g Commission of t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y t o g iv e more c o n s i d e r a t i o n

to th e i n t e r e s t s o f h o u s e -o w n e r s i n t h e S aa r T e r r i t o r y , and t o f i x a r e n t w h ic h

sha l l e n s u re t o h o u s e -o w n e r s i n t h e o a a r T e r r i t o r y a r e a s o n a b l e i n t e r e s t on

t h e i r c a p i t a l s i n a d d i t i o n to t h e income n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e upkeep of t h e h o u s e s .

Ve f u r t h e r r e q u e s t t h a t th e G overn ing Commission o f th e S c a r T e r r i t o r y

should be i n s t r u c t e d , t o a b o l i s h c o n t r o l on t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e D ecree o f

lecember 2 8 t h 1922 , and we v e n t u r e a t t h e same t im e to e n c lo s e f o r y o u r i n fo r m a ­

t io n a copy o f o u r P e t i t i o n of n a y 2 4 t h , 1923, w h ich was a d d r e s s e d t o t h e

Governing Commission o f th o b a a r T e r r i t o r y .

V.e have t h e honour to draw t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l of t h e League o f

Nations t o t h o u n j u s t c o n d i t i o n s d e s c r i b e d above .

S ig n e d : SCBLiOLL

T r a n s l a t i o n f r o m t h e German., Sac-rbruoS, Hay 2 1 t h , 1923

The S y n d ic a te of House Owne r s T ond la n d e d p r o p r i e t o r s 1

A s s o c i a t i o n s o f the Saa r T e r r i t o r y v e n t u r e s to b r i n g th o f o l l o w ­

ing f a c t s t o t h e n o t i c e o f the G o v e rn in g Commission,

I t i s l a i d down in A r t i c l e 6 o f t h e Decree of May 1 8 th ,*

1923, r e g a r d i n g l e g a l t e n d e r in t h e S a a r [Terr i to ry* t h a t ’’t h e

r e n t o f d w e l l i n g s s h a l l he c a l c u l a t e d i n f r a n c s a c c o r d in g to §26

e t scç. o f t h e Decree o f December 2 8 t h , 1922, r e g a r d i n g the

amendment o f t h e r e g u l a t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o h o u s in g m a t t e r s " , I t

i s f u r t h e r l a i d down " t h a t in a c c o rd a n c e w i th p a r a g r a p h 23 o f th e

same D e c r e e , the r a t e s a p p l i c a b l e in t h e ease o f d w e l l i n g s

s h a l l be i n o r c a se d i n t h e ease o f b u i l d i n g s u s e d f o r commercia l

or i n d u s t r i a l p u r p o s e s en

A r t i c l e 26 of t h e O rd inance o f December 2 8 t h , 1922, s t a t e s

th a t 17for th e months o f J a n u a ry and February . . 1923, t h e f i g u r e

4 s h a l l be u s e d as d i v i s o r . . . c cor d in g t o a r t i c l e 27 o f th e

Decree r e f e r r e d t o , t h e d i v i s o r s h a l l be d e te rm in ed ev e ry two

months, a f t e r c o n r jx i l ta t io n w i t h a Commission a ;-po in ted by th e

Governing Commission. The new d i v i s o r f o r th e month o f May h a s

rot y e t been f i x e d .

We w o u ld beg th e Govern ing Commission t o tak e s t e p s to

ensure- t h a t :

(1) tho k a y r e n t s be f ined i n f r a n c s , in,: smach a s th e r e n t

*°r t h i s month i s g e n e r a l l y p a i d a t the b e g in n i n g o f J u n e , F r a n c s

c r e e s t a b l i s h e d a s t h e s o l e l e g a l t e n d e r t h r o u g h o u t t h e Saar

re r r i t o r y by t h e ne c ra c of kay 18 t h , i t would t h e m f o r - o n l y bo

• i tab lo t h a t r e n t s s h o u l d be f i x e d i n f r a n c s f o r the m o n th ,o f

as o t h e r w i s e tho 1 . .ndlords x;ou.1 d n o t be i n a p o s i t i o n t o

sat ■18 ty t he | i mp le s t e c o n o m i c ne e c s ,

- 1 2 -

-re- r^u ld beg t h e Commission

(2) t o c a n c e l th e d i v i s o r f i r e d i n ' . r t i c l e 26 o f t h e Decree

of December 2 8 t h , 1923 , t h e r a t e o f v h i oil i s t o "be m o d i f ie d

from time t o t im e b the Commission, and to d e cse e t h a t r e n t s

te c a l c u l a t e d f o r t h e m onth o f Jane 011 t h e b a s i s of p r e - w a r

r e n t s c o n v e r t e d i n t o f r a n c s a t t h e r a t e o f 1 ,85 p a p e r f r a n c s

for one g o ld m ark .

In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , we would add t h a t b a r r i s t e r s and

s o l i c i t o r s h a v e been a l l o w e d , i n o r d e r to l e s s e n t h e i r d i f f i c u l t i e s ,

to c a l c u l a t e t h e i r f e e s on t h e b a s i c o f t h r e e p a p e r f r a n c s f o r one

gold mark.

The s y n d i c a t e o f H o u se -o w n e rs ' and Landed P r o p r i e t o r s *

A s s o c ia t io n s o f th e S a a r ' T e r r i t o r y has i n numerous p e t i t i o n s

drawn"t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Govern ing Commission to the d e s p e r a t e

s i t u a t i o n o f h o u s e - o w n e r s . I t has o f t e n been p o i n t e d out t h a t

a cc o rd in g t o t h e Peace T r e a t y o f V e r s a i l l e s t h e sys tem o f c o n t r o l

must be c o m p l e t e l y abandoned i n th e Saa r T e r r i t o r y .

7e would f u r t h e r r e q u e s t th e Gove r i l in g Com m ission :-

(3) To d e c r e e t h a t t h e laws c o n t r o l l i n g h o u s in g be a b ro g a te d

in a c c o r d a n c e w i th th e p r o v i s i o n s of th e T r e a t y o f V e r s a i l l e s ,

and t h a t the lawê which were i n f o r c e b e f o r e the war be r e - i n t r o ­

duced on t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e Decree of December 2 8 th , 1922.

The low r e n t s which have been f i n e d by th e d m i n i . s t r a t i o n

lead t o g r e a t h a r d s h i p s . House-owners-who b e lo n g a lm o s t e n t i r e l y

to the m id d le c l a s s - a r e im p o v e r i sh e d and f a l l i n t o w an t . The

income o f many c l a s h e s o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n , on t h e o t h e r hand , has

c o n s t a n t l y i n c r e a s e d . The income o f t r a d e r s and o f f i c i a l s , and

of many em ployers and workmen have been a d a p te d so f a r as p o s s i b l e

to the l e v e l o f p r i c e s r e s u l t i n g from th e g e n e r a l economic

s i t u a t i o n .

The " S a a r b r u c k e r 3 e i t u n g " of h a y 2 3 r d , 1923, Ho. 116

announces t h a t t h e -?ages Committees of ' t h e f i n i s h i n g ayd i r o n &

s t e e l i n d u s t r i e s have made p r o v i s i o n f o r th e payment o f t h e i r

-13*

gsployeea i n f r a n c e i n liaj and t h e f o l l o w i n g m on ths . The f o l l o w ­

ing r a t e s which a r e c a l c u l a t e d on t h e basifc o f t h e Swiss f r a n c

a o l id be a p p l i e d a s a r u l e , p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e French f r a n c

aoe6 n o t f a l l f u r t h e r

e p r e s e n t r a t e a p p r o x i m a t e ly 172 F re n c h f r a n c $

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Prom t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s made by t h e ’a g es C o m m it tee s , i t w i l l

seen t h a t i n d u s t r i a l e n t e r p r i s e s a r e p r e p a r e d to pay t h e i r

plcyees t h e same income a s b e f o r e t h e war .

The Income o f h o u se -o w n e r s a lo n e has c o n s t a n t l y d e c r e a s e d ,

the p u r c h a s i n g power o f money i s t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t . 7e

nture to q u o te t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t i s t i c s i n p r o o f o f t h i s a s s e r t i o n ;Nominal '3 x c M n g e 'P r e - v / a t 1I n c r e a s e ’v a l u e o f Tr e n t o f 'As p e r -

' t h e f r a n c 11000 marks ' c e n t a g e 1 1 c o u v e r t ed 1 o f p r e - ' Jar1 ' i n t o f r a n c s ' r e n t .

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B e f o r e t h e w a r a h o u s e - o w n e r p a i d 0 ; 7 5 n a r k s a n h o u r t o

Y/orlcaon l o r r e p a i r s ; $$v p r o s o u t , h e h a s t o p a y 3 . 6 0 f r a n c s t o

th e c o n t r a c t o r , S a i s a g a i n s h o w s h o w u n f a v o u r a b l e a n d u n e c o n o m i c

a re t h e r e n t s w h i c h h av e - b e e n f i n e d ,

M o re o v e r , wo v e n t u r e t o draw y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f a c t t h a t

tho housing p ro b lem i s n o t so s e r i o u s i n th e Saa r - T e r r i to r y a s t o

j u s t i f y t h e m a in t e n a n c e of t h e sys tem of c o n t r o l , Before t h e

war, when t.xe town o f S a a r b r a c k nad about 112 ,000 i n h a b i t a n t s ,

there were a lm o s t a lw ay s s e v e r a l h u n d re d empty h o u s e s . a l t h o u g h

Sasrbrack o n ly h as 5 ,0 0 0 i n h a b i t a n t s more now t h a n b e f o r e t h e

war, and a l t h o u g h 2 ,5 0 0 new h o u s e s have been b u i l t s i n c e 1914,

there a re 7 ,000 p e r s o n s i n s e a r c h o f l i v i n g a c c o m o d a t i o n . Je

believe t h a t t h e l a c k o f h o u s i n g accommodation i o t o be a t t r i b u t e d

to the sy s te m o f c o n t r o l , i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h low r e n t s . I t i s

in d is p u ta b le t h a t a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n I s l i v i n g

in ouch l a r g e r d w e l l i n g s now t h a n b e f o r e t h e w a r , and t h a t a

[;reat number o f p e r s o n s i n s e a r c h o f l i v i n g accommodation e n d e a v o u r ,

in view o f t h e low r e n t s , t o o b t a i n l a r g e r o r b e t t e r d w e l l i n g s ,

with th e r e s u l t t h a t t h e number o f p e r s o n s i n s e a r c h of accommoda­

tion i s b e in g c o n s t a n t l y s w o l l e n » We would p o i n t out t h a t th o

building p o l i c y w h ich h a s so f a r been ad o p te d was a m is t a k e n one .

h:c h u i ld i n g of h o u s e s by t h e communes was a b l u n d e r . The

ouilding and m a in t e n a n c e c o s t s have t o bo borne by t h e community,

he r e s u l t i s t h a t t h e t e n a n t s of t h e s e h o u se s a r e l i v i n g p a r t l y

t the emponse of o t h e r s e c t i o n s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n . Hobody can

long- t o - d a y t h a t a l l t h e a t t e m p t s which have been made d u r i n g t h e

-st few y e a r s t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e h ou s in g c r i s i s by a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

•ec.su.res have been u n s u c c e s s f u l * In consequence of t h e d e c r e e s

f the Governing Commission and th o f i n i n g o f r e n t s i n c o n n e c t i o n

herewith, h o u s e - o w n e r s have f a l l e n i n t o t h e g r e a t e s t d i f f i c u l t i e s .

per r e p a i r s can no l o n g e r be c a r r i e d out and t h e moment can be

aleu ia ted when h o u s e s w i l l f a l l c o m p l e t e l y i n t o r u i n .

f/a, t h e r e f o r e , none t ^ t i a v o a r a b l e c o n s i d e r a b l e : ! M i l be

-if©n to t h e r e q u e s t v/hieli x/o nave so t c u t a b o v e , i f o n ly f o r

nconoaic r o a a o a s , i l l o r d e r ü.g.t a b r e a t h i n g space may be a c c o r d e d

t o g o u se -o w n e r s , t h a t t h e h o u s in g c r i a i s n a y bo ovoraone so b a r a;

■loes ible , linti in mu cue d i lap ida ui on ox nouss e s n a y bo p r e v e n t e d •

With • r e g a r d t o t h e above t a b l e s , we lÿould f u r t h e r p o i n t c u t

+ ife# the l e s s o r doc a n o t i n 1 a c t o b t a i n llÿâ of t h o p r

t l e a s t S O o f t h o p r e - w a r r e n t i s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e upkeep

of the h o u s e , t h e p a y n 0 2 .1t o f t h e p r o n i u n s r o r i n s u r a n c e a g a i n s t

f i r e , e m p l o y e r s 1 • l i a b i l i t y c l a i m s , a c c i d e n t s , window-ore s l i ing ,

a te . , and f o r t h o r e d e m p t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l expended on th o

mm s o . fho German l a w e g a r d t o t h e t a x i nr: o f income o b t a i S

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. d e d u c t io n o f 20$i> o f t h e p r e - w a r r e n t . S in co t h o b e g in n i n g o f

1919, l a n d l o r d s have n o t oven r e c e i v e d enough t o pay f o r t h e

acc es sa ry a m o r t i s a t i o n c h a r g e s , r e p a i r s , e t c . ,

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to a r a n t our r e q u e s t , by r e a s o n o f t h e p r o b a b l e o p p o s i t i o n of

p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , we would bog t o bo in fo rm e d of t h e f a c t a s soon',

as p o s s i b l e , a s wo i n t e n d i n t h a t e a se t o send you a p e t i t i o n and

a nenorandun f o r s u b m is s io n t o th e C o u n c i l cf t~«

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h â t i o n s t o

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)cioi:e t h e C o u n c i l ox t h e Loaguo o f h â t i o n s a t i t s n e x t s e s s i o n

i;: obout s i n w e e k s ! t i m e .

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En oo q u i c o n c e rn a l a g t a t i s t i n u o r e p r o d u i t s o i - d o s s r s .

nous f r i s o n s o b s e r v e ! que .. j p r o p r i é t a i r e ne to u c h e p a s oxie c -

t iv o m e n t l e 11/V du l o y e r c. ■' av m t - s u u r i e . l ' e n t r e t i e n des znrd -

sons , l e p a i e m e n t des p r imuu peux l e s o e s u r a n c e a c o n t r e l ’ i n ­

c e n d ie , c o n t r e l a r e s p o n s a b i l i t é c i v i l e , c o n t r e les- ; , c c id e n t s ,

l e s v i t r e s ' b r i s é e s , e t c . a i n s i cue 1 T a m o r t i s s eu: o n t d e s c n p i t o u

e x ig e n t au moins BOyj du l o y e r d ’ j v o f f t - g u e r r e . La l é g i s l a t i o n

a l l e m a n d e , en m a t i è r e a ’ im pôt s u r l e s r e v e n u s i m m o b i l i e r s ,

a t e n u compte de ce f a i t en u t o r i o a n t l a p r o p r i é t a i r e à

Réduire ZO/o du l o y e r cLT a v a n t - g u a r r e . Depuis l e d é b u t de

l ’ année 1 9 1 9 , l e p r o p r i é t a i r e d 1 immeubles n ’ a donc a as mémo

touché u n e somme s u f f i s a n t e p o u r e f f e c t u e r l e y a m o r t i s s a i s m t s

n é c e s s a i r e s , l e s r é p a r a t i o n s , e t c .

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pas donner s u i t e à n o t r e demande à c a u se de 1 ’ o p p o s i t i o n p r o ­

bab le d e s p a r t i s p o l i t i q u e s , n o u s vous a x io n s de nous f i r e

c o n n a î t r e oo r e f u s , a u s s i t ô t nue p o s s i b l e , p a r c e ru e n o u s

avons 1 ’ i n t e n t i o n de vous a d r e s s e r une demande e t un mémoire

o b s t i n é s à ô t r e soumis au C o n s e i l de l a S o c i é t é des H é t i o n s ,

9t de demander 1 T a u t o r i s a t i o n d ' en v o y e r une D é lé g a t io n

au C o n se i l de l a S o c i é t é des P a t io n s. Pou s t e n o n s e s s e n t i e l ­

lement à s o u m e t t r e é v e n t u e l l e m e n t c e t t e demande au C o n s e i l de

la S o c i é t é d e s IL. t io n s , p e n d a n t s a p r o c h a i n e s e s s i o n , qu i

do i t a v o i r l i e u dans un mois e t demi e n v i r o n .