The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-01-29
Landlord and Tenant.

4 long debate took place in the House Fri
day on the bill giving landlords lien upon
the property of tenants, for rents, &c. Seve-
raj members participated with spirit and reso-
luton. 1t is an important measure, and like
ly to sustain considerable opposition before 1t
passes the House.
AS the law now stands it seems not
to contribute to the convenience or pres
ent benefit of either party. When the
landlord has no special lien on crops or
chattels for rent, he demands payment in
advance, or the security Of third person,
which the tenant is often unable to give
And for the increased risk and greater
uncertainty of collecting his rents, the land
lord is compelled to charge higher price
And it is reasoned, therefore, that as neither
party is benefited by the law of exemption,
and as it is real injury to tho poor tenant
whose property it was designed to protect
from the grasp Of the avaricious landlord, it
is better to restore the terms Of the old law
and reinstate landlord and tenant in their for
mer relations. This is the superficial and
temporary view Of the question. There is,
however, an effect that lies deeper-and per-
haps unseen by many-that will have wide
and lasting influence upon society in this
country, which is involved in this question:
There is strong tendency in the course Of the
events of the times to concentrate large capt.
tails in a few hands. There are good reasons
to apprehend the growth Of an aristocacy Of
wealth. This wealth seeks investment in
real estate, as the safest and most durable
form Of perpetuating it, The more privileges
and the greater security given to the land
lord, the more this tendency to monopolise
real estate by the rich is increased In all Of
our large towns and cities, the landlords have
become small class Of extremely wealthy
mon, as IS exhibited by the tax lists of Prov-
dcuce. New York, Philadelphia, and other
cities, where few hundred families in each
place, now hold more than half the real estate.
This condition of affairs is unfavorabe to the
prosperity OF o community, to say nothing Of
its moral, social and political effects.
No community Of tenants ever improves
Renting is the costIiest mode of housing a
people, OF Of cultyating the earth. 1t neu-
tralizes one of the strongest feelings of human
nature, in the care and improvement of what
is our own. It deprives the occupant Of any
permanent interest in what is committed to
his care and use. 1t has some Of the moral
influences of slavery. The ceaseless care and
labor Of an owner to preserve and improve his
property, is lost to the community in ten
ant 1t is an important loss in money-it is
o greater loss in the negligent and improv-
dent habits it engenders in a people; and it is
worse still in destroying the nducement and
necessity of beginning to save to provide a
home-which is often the foundation Of a
competency. The first savings--the accumu-
lation once begun, excites the first desire to
increase it, This is manifest in the beneficial
operations Of Saving Banks. Cottagers are
thrifty and frugal; tenants, thrttless and neg
ligent. The owner of home has perma-
nent interest IN the community-is concern
ed for its welfare, and has some public spirit
end helps promote its we'll being The tenant
moves from place to place, and is ready with
any change Of fortune in one community, to
unite with another and contributes but little tc
the permanent advancement Of any place; hay
ing no fixed interests himself he feels no per
manent interest in others.
Landlord and tenant is a relation that it il
not the policy of the State to encourage. II
olden arstocracies, from which we derive oul
common law ideas and great share Of ou1
political economy, it was in accordance with
the spirit of their institutions to promote tax
monopoly Of the land, and the condition o
tie landlord and tenant; but it is opposed t.
the genius of our people and constitution
and although the law as it now stands may
work present evils, these evils viii, in the
operations, produce future good.