The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-11-04
Reats aaa .Taxes.

rents. The rents demanded by landlords
for the occupancy of their business or
dwelling houses next year are deemed
by many of the tenant class to be exor-
bitant and oppressive. We doubt much
whether any good result can flow from a
discussion of the matter or whether the
rents can be reduced by arraying public
opinion against the landlords. The evil
is incurable except through the volunta-
ry action of the landlords themselves
Probably if enough buildings were erect.
ed In the city TO mere than supply orr
population, so that landlords would be
compelled to search for tenants instead
OF tenants being compelled togo begging
Tor houses, some competition might be
excited among the holders OF rentable
property which would have the effect OF
inducing them to lower the rates. But
the experience of the past few years has
show that our population increases faster
than the means for itsiaccommodation,
and it is hardly to be expected that at
any time soon to come there will be more
buildings in the city than are needed to
accommodate the population. Under
the present circumstances we see no es
cape from thepayDient of excessive rents
except it be through the sense of justice
entertained by the landlords. Like the
price of articles of merchandise, rents
are mainly regulated by the relative pro
portions of supply and demand. The
demand for rents in this city is much
greater than the supply and consequent
ly the holders of real estate can obtain
almost any rent they may choose to ask.
People must live somewhere and have
some place for the transaction of bust
ness, and if they cannot obtain dwelling
and business houses at fair rates. thew
must submit to pay unfair prices or re-
tire from business or leave the city-
There is no other alternative.
As question of morals and of Justice,
no man has right TO take advantage of
his neighbours necessities to extort from
him more than he should pay were the
necessity removed. In many of the States,
usury laws are in force, prohibiting the
lending of money at exorbitant rates of
interest, and Notwithstanding they are
not and cannot be regulated by law, yet
the demand of exorbitant rents and ex-
orbitant prices for merchandise partake
Of the same nature. True, these things
are regulated, as we have said, by the
ratio of the supply to the demand hut,
as question OF morals, rents and prices
above what will afford just cempensa.
ton to laNdlords and dealers are very
clearly wrong. In the case Of rents,
Just compensation is simply fair rate of
interest for the money invested in the
property leased, to which should be adj
ded portion, not all, of the taxes levied
upon that property, 1t is obviously
wrong for the landlord to impose upon
bis tenant all Of the tax to which the
P'0poi' As subject, whilehe himself pays
nothing. There are many owners OF real
estate in this city who complain bitterly
of the enormous State and municipal
taxes, and yet they pay none OF 1t them
selves. They make their tenants pay 1T.
The men who live III rented houses and
who rent their places of business, pay
the taxes. while the owner of the proper
ty goes "scot free" Certainly there is
no Justice in this, and the landlords them
selves should recognize the fact. The
government has been subjected during
the past few years to heavy and unusual
expense. An enormous debt has been
contracted which must be paid. None of
us should expect to lay up as much money
for our own use while, at the same time,
we are paying this debt, MS we did before.
The burden should be borne by all in
proportion to their wealth. The owners
IF real estate should bear their portion of
the public expense and Submit TO less
profits than they reaped before the war,
rather than demand greater profits and
shift upon the shoulders of their tenants
that share Of the public expense which. is
Justly their own.
1t seems to us that this view of the case
is not only in accordance with the prin-
ciples of justice, but it is also dictated by
sound policy. The value of property in
the city is dependent upon the amount of
business done here and the extent of our
population. Ii our landlords demand
higher rents than good business or dwell |
ling houses can be obtained for elsewhere, |
they thereby drive business men fror
our midst and prevent the influx Of II
ulation from abroad They pop
of the city, - letter the
increase in tbs VOL ii hinder any
.,erty. -.ue of their own pro-
VI
.ehave made these observations with
ont having reference to any particular
case or any particular property holder in
IN. city. We think that, as general
thing, the rents demanded are too high,