The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-22
A Plea for the Million.
lFrom the 81. Louis Evening News. |

FROM the -. Louis kvening News.
He is neither philanthropist nor states
man who does not have the most anxious so
licitude for the welfare and comfort Of the
toiiing masses. Labor is the corner stone Of
wealth, and the laborer is worthy Of his hire
wherever he tolls. By the sweat of man
brow must he live.
We cannot lessen the toll of the masses
but by the wise provisions Of capitalists WI
can ameliorate their condition and secure L
them comfortable homes. Cheap fuel and
moderate rents do more to build up city anc
increase the wealth of capitalists than any
thing else in the line of political economy
No city can thrive with high rates ruling fol
fuel or rent.
We have the evidence OF this all around
US. Within the last month we have known
Of many cases of depletion of the mechani
cal population of this city caused by the high
rents. Oh! don't keep harping on this, says
the Shyloek landlord you will keep others
away Whether the truth be spoken or not
those seeking employment and homes in our
city will find it out. THERE'S nothing to be
made by concealment. Our rents are toe
high for the prosperity of the city, and there
is no Disgusting fact
City life is an expensive thing, and, in this
country, has been expensive for four wears
past. We boast Of being situated in the cen.
ter OF one Of the most teeming countries in
the world, and yet We are paying fabulous
prices for our marketing But by far the
heaviest item in the cost of living is house.
rent. If this high price was legitimate, we
might be disposed to g grin and bear it.
But the scale OF prices il not the result Of
the great law OF supply and demand, but is
rather the offspring of avA,ics, eliminating in
tl& al. a
are actually paving all the taxes of the coun.
try. The result is the landlord is bearing none
OF the burdens of the war. The toiling man,
general thing, has gone TO the army and
fought the battles which have won protection
to the property of the landlord who has re-
manned at home TO collect his rents and enjoy
the comforts they secure
To preserve the honor OF the Government.
II has become necessary, for the first time in
the history OF our country, to levy direct
tax. The landlord forthwith increases has
rents IN proportion to the increase Of his tax
alton. and IN tins way the tax on land and
houses is being paid wholly by the tenantry OF
the country. This is logical conclusion
that cannot be avoided by any argument.
But, says the Shylock. If can par nv
taxes in this way, have a right to do it. The
highway robber uses a parallel argument. II
can live by taking other peoples money.
have right to do It, and he familiarizes him
self into the belief that he is doing exactly
right.
Shylock's bond called for the pound Of fesh
nearest the heart, but he had overlooked q
great moral condition in il that in taking it he
was not TO spill drop of blood. A landlord
may have legal right TO take all he can grind
ont Of the poor man who Is compelled to rent
Es. l.t.ft thara
toned by high heaven. which forbids him Ia
king the bread out of the mouths OF the poor
man 5 children to feed his avarice.
Our rents have reached a rate that is crush.
ing upon the masses of the people who rely
upon their daily toll or upon annual salaries
lhls strikes at the very root Of our prosperity.
The language of the Cincinnati Gazette il
alike applicable here as il Is To that city. II
says landlords have a permanent interest in
the property of the city, and that there is
danger of the goose that laws the golden egg
being killed. The Gazette adds:
In the absence Of conscience. therefore.
to appeal 70, we would appeal to the interests
and ask them 10 forbear There is no good
reason why houses that rented for three hnn-
dred dollars five years ago. should be renting
now for seven or eight hundred dollars Ii
the first named sum yielded fair return then
the last named sum must pay more than a
fair interest now. Yet this is about the wax
we ind rents comparing. A gentleman in
formed US, yesterday, that be rented house
on Eighth street for which he pays 81 500 PEI
year. The same house was considered dear,
before the war; at 5000. Another pays 500
for house. the an;e-war rent Of which was
$3.50. Aud so it runs from first class dwell
lings down to rooms
With these exhornitant house rents. then,
and the high price of food and clothing and
fuel, and every thing comprised under the
head of household wants, it is easy to see tha,
the masses of the people must have strug-
gle to get along The industrial classes should
not be made to bear the whole OF the burden
which the imitation of the currency has i'm
posed upon the people. Meanwhile. those
who have the welfare of the city, and the
comfort of the people at heart, should give
some attention to the building of houses, ~
that heartless londlords may not have Il in
their power to exact exhorbitant returns for
their tenements.