The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-05

beings as 10 have no practical knowledge Of
the struggles of the masses, and hence who
are incapable OF sympa hzing with suffcrings
of which they have no conception.
The agitation of this subject, the meetings
which have ben held, and the publications
which have BEEN made, have not Disseminated,
as they could not discriminate, between these
and the class Of landlords before mentioned,
who are dealing fairly and literally with their
tenants. Both classes arcinyOlved alike in the
public odium against eXtoTtionate landlords,
which the late movements upon the subject
have excited This is unjust-unjust TO both.
For while justice demands that the innocent
should not suffer with the guilty, that the
landlords who are satisfied with fllT rents
should not share the odum excited against
the cXorbitant, but rather receive the need
Of praise for their libcrality, il no less de-
mands that they who look Only 10 the Inning
OF their own pockets, let who will suffer: who
are deaf 10 ali the pleadiugS OF humanity, ana
are ready 10 wiring The last dollar from the poor
widow as rent for the miserable hOvel that
shelters her furnishing and half-naked chll-
dren, should be held mp publicly to the scorn
and cXccrltiOn of all good men. GOur COM
mttee cannot operate on them, this meeting
cannot, perhaps even public opinion cannot,
for some men are so welded 10 their peculiar
faults that no public CenSure, 10 regard for
character, no respect for public opinion, can
divorce them. lit than be mute kHowa, that
they may be avoided-that the tenant needing
n house may shuu them and seek his tcne-
more Of the attributes which ennoble hu.
mIuity.
"Your committee has ascertained that the
cases Of eXOrbltant rents are numerous.
Many cases have come to their knowledge of
tencmcnts renting for 4 single year for more
than their actual fee simple cost; many 1t IN
advance upon the rates OF ls6J OF from three
hundred 10 six hundred per cent. For obvious
reasons we refrain from greater p1rtlcularty
here But long and accurate list of such
ses may BE- readily obtained. Your commit
tee recommend the adoption OF some proper
measures for procuring, and, II deemed cNpe-
dieut, publishing, such Il list, embracing the
names Of the lImdlOrdS and when rented ont
by an agent, the name OF the agent, the pre-
sent tenants, the fee simple value, the rate of
rent in lsGJ, and such other facts rs shall fully
and accurately show who are demanding
exorbitaut rents, and the rate per cent. Of
advance which they are demanding.
This may be considered harsh proceeding.
1t is but desperate diseases require desperate
remedies. We have asked for justice. We
have made liberal offers. We have exhausted
argument and appeals. And we have waited
patiently for Il response. None has come.
These landlords are silent as the grave They
are detsrmtR'd 10 brare p"bHc Cpt"loR. Let them
be known, that when the shafts of public sCOrn
begin 10 fly, they may be aimed a. the right
mark-at the guilty, and not the innocent.
at may he said we are interfering with
what does not concern us that The landlords
have a right TO DO a they please with their own
So had Shylock 10 his pound Of flesh. But
who deserving the name of man, i'll this en-
lightencd age, would claim Shylo>k rs his
eXampllT, or submit his own character TO be
measured 10y his.
"But are wc interfering with what does not
concern rs? To show our right thus 10 inter
fere, it may be- urged with great force that the
community ~ laT-" are not only, most Of them,
renters, but all Of them are consumers. As con-
sumcrs OF articles OF trade they are, each and
all, interested, and riEhtiully concerned in
reducing all the expenses Of trade which add
n he c1yt u Us urttci,S. Ii the merchant or
tradesman has TO pay hsary crpea1es, he must,
10 live. charge higt prices, and that, too c|"u
although he realizes for himself a very mode
rate profit For example, twenty per cent.
may he regarded Il moderate profit, and Yet
in many cases in Richmond, owing, mainly, to
the high rents, lie must, III order TO make
twenty per ccut profit, charge fifty per cent.
upon the cost OF his goods 10 his customers
and 10 consumers. Customers and consumers,
then, have vital interest in the reduction Of
rents, and are entitled 10 he heard upon the
sublcct. 4 simple statement OF figures, which
any man can make, will prove the truth OF
this position. The Injurious influences upon
the landholdcrs of high prices III diyerting
trade from the city would seem too manifest
10 Justify comment.
" Your committee would further recon-
mend the adoption Of some proper measures
10 induce all real estate agents 10 cooperate
heartily with us in our effort, by fair means,
10 4 fair standard
"Your committee deem il due to simply
justice TO say that the eAOTbitlnt rents are
not due to the landlords alone. While we
would hold them 10 the fullest extent Of their
lust responsibility, we would not 20 one step
bpyoud il. The rivalry among real estate
agents; their deslre-not censurablc, perhaps
10 establish reputation for getting the best
prices, thereby insuring patrOnagc-has exert
ed its full share Of influence in producing the
evil. Nor are the tenants themselves entirely
blamcless. Competition among them to secure
the best business locations, and the oyerbid-
ding of each other for such places to secure
that end, have eNerted. a most pernlclous in
1iuence. Another class, of whom we speak
with reluctance, and with pain, because most
of them were needy, and many OF them pen
nilcss who have lent their aid in initiating tho
rates of rent are the sub landlords, or re-
renters. Tenants who, renting for them
selves, n reasonable rates, re-rent portions Of
their tcnemcnts for more than they pay for
the whole-rctaniuE sufficient room for them
selves, and realizing an income from their
sub-tenauts 1T the expense OF their lair and
liberal landlords.
Many other subjects press upon us, but we
are admonished that this report Is already too
long. We cannot Closei ii, however, without q
word of hearty commendation Of these land
lords-and there are many Of them-too many
10 be mentioned by name-Whu, while Others
have been advancing their rents and gTaSping
all they could wiring from this pOvcrty-s trlckeu
people, nave betn content Win llc oIi rates,
or Il slight advance upon them. In oar iudg
ment, we honor them; in our hearts, we thank
them"
On motion of Mr., Berry, the report was
adopted.
Mr.. Barnes, 4 citizen Of this city, in n few
remarks, extoled the liberality Of his land.
lord, Mr.. John I. Sublett, who only charged
him ten dollars Il month tor Il comfortable
dwelling.
Mr. Griswold, being called on 10 speak made
4 few yeryappropriate and able remarks.
Mr. Fickiin offered the following
"R,Soired, That the thanks Of this meeting
be rendered to the committee for the able
report made tonight"
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. Berry was called upon-attcr the re-
doubtable and distinguished counsellor,
George Dabuey Woottcn, had put the whole
subject i'll II uutshell-to address the meeting.
He responded TO the call in IN earnest ana
eloquent speech, which elected much ap-
plause.
Mr. w II. Read offered the following reso
lutiOnS
"Rssoired, That a committee Of three in
each ward be appointed, with power 10
increase their number If necessary, whose
duty il shall be TO prepare, and, II deemed
,liGh fft1l an1p IA