The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-05
VOL. 29---NO. l27.


attended, and much interest was manifested
Mayor Saunders was called 10 the chair. On
taking the chair, he stated that the meeting
had been convened To receive report from
the Executive Committee appointed by the
last meeting.
Mr.. w K Polk was appointed secretary.
Mr. Griswold, chairman OF the committee,
read the following report:
"The Standing Executive Committee ap-
pointed by the meeting OF the citizens of
Richmond favorable TO the reduction OF rents,
on the 9th of January, ls66, beg leave 10
submit the following report:
THE resolution comforting their authority
and prescribing their duties, directed them
10 wait upon the principal landlords OF
the city and see If some more moderate
scaleo of rents cannot be- arranged, and some
standard, equitable TO both landlords ana
tenants cannot be devised and acted upon at
once and directed them, if successful, 10 re-
port through the papers; If not, TO cHl
another meeting, and report 10 il, and 10
memorialize the Legislature for relief.
Acting under these instructions, the hrst
step deemed Indispensable by the committee
was 10 agree, among themselves, upon Il
STANDARD equitable, in their opinion, TO both
landlords and tenants, which they lnlGht pro-
pose 10 the landlords for their acceptance.
Upon a view of all the circums tanccs-the
denrcCiation OF the currency, the increased
taxes rates of insurance, and cost OF building
and repairs, and the general and great advance
in the price of all articles OF llving-yOur com
mltfpp, Win muCn un1nlilllS, hAtNl, aS 1t
general rule, upon one hundred per cent. ad-
vance upon the rates of l,6O rs scale liberal
TO the landlords, and not unreasonably hard
upon The tenants.
Upon another point the committee agreed
with entire uuanimty. That at this stage OF
their efforts nothing could be effected except
bv the voluntary action Of the landlords them
selves. And that TO secure such actloh, u
was necessary to approach them In frank
and kind spirit, appealing % their humanity, in
lpb n lmDDNaIlS shed, Struggling Ten
ants; TO their patriotism, IN behalf OF the
waning, and almost extinct, prosperity OF the
city; and 10 their own sell interest, as lheFltl-
bly involved in the utter pTO>tratlOn of the
business, enterprise, and prosperity, OF the city,
which must necessarily soon follow con-
tinuance of the present cXorbitant rents.
"With these views and with TINS OASIS OF
adjustment agreed upon, we waited upon
large number of the landlords anu real estate
agents proposing il 10 them for adoption rs
fair and equitable standard We urged them
10 call Il public meeting OF the landlords ana
property holders TO confer upon the subject,
and 10 aDpoint a committee to meet your com
mittce and perfect, upon that basis, or upon
such other as the two committees might agree
upon, the details OF Il plan for reducing the
present ruinouslv high rents, 50 rs 10 do justice
10 the landlords, permit tenants TO 1--we, ana
save the city from that commercial paralysis
the first symptoms of which are already but
TOO painfully manifest.
Bv the landlords anf agents upon whom
waited we were met "ltl inc StlIlt SlIl II
Of kindness which actuatcd US, and We're
treated with the greatest courtesy. IH seem
10 approve our object and our proposed mode
Of action, Concurred with us i'll opinion that
the present rents were entirely too high, ana
thai the advance proposed by rs was liberal TO
the landlords, and would bc entirely satlstac-
tory 10 them. But when urged 10 act-1o call
1 public meeting, by which something ch"ctual
could be accomplished bfgDHd mare tcoLa%-al
declined 10 take the initiative of calling 4
public meeting, or OF any o1h"r step calculated
TO accomplish the object desired.
after waiting 4 reasonable time for the
voluntary action OF the landlords, hoping that
some OF them wOUll call 4 meeting or propose
~ome better plan, determined 10 exhaust every
means promising any hope OF success, aud 10
ave TO the landlords the amplcSt opportunity
IF manifestiug their disposition 10 do justice
to their suffering tenants and declining cry,
sour committee, upou their own responsibility,
Duhli> he'd 4 call for Il puhllC meeting 10 take
place on the 18th of January. Except 10 Il
very partial extent, this call was unhecdel.
Your committee attended that meeting. ami,
TO their great disappointment and moIlIica-
ton, found, according 10 their judgment, not
ten of the landlords of the city present, ana
not one of that class now charging eX0rhttant
rates The few who We're present adjourned
the meeting over to the Esd. On the sd none
attended, and no meeting was held ana so II
ended
"Haying appealed in vain 10 the landlords;
having exhausted every means OF eRrctlns an
.llllc1Dlt lNStlifIi Win Ni'ii' i'''hA''- -
manned TO us but 10 call this meeting, report
our proceedings, and suggest such further
action rs might seem eXpedlent.
In our interviews with The landlords, we
urged, in all kindness of spirit and courtesy OF
manner, such considerations rs seemed 10 us
oroper'and calculated 10 influence their action
in the right dlrcction-such as the scarcity OF
money; the stagnatlon OF trade the dllilculiE
Of paying high rents, the probaDllty, II not
certainty, that II continuance of the present
rates would drive trade aud population from
The city, and thus materially and permanently
impair the fee simple value OF all the real
estate in the city, and reduce rents 10 little
more than a nominal standard. These we VIII
not elaborate in This report. Want OF space
iorbids. Suffice il here 10 say, that our lnYeSu-
,ations have revealed the fact that already the
trade and population Of the city are being
diminished by the bhgAtlug influence ol the
high rents and temporary causes alone Whleh
will soon cease 10 operate, prevent much
more serious and startling dlmlnution.
Many merchants, manufacturers, and mechan-
ics, are not realizing profit enough from
their business 10 pay their rent indeed
the gross receipts OF some, and not lew, 90
not equal their rent. Pecunlary ruin Starcs
them in the face They remain here noc only
because TO remove nolo would preclpltate the
evil. But come IL must, dHd ht1t soon, unless
arrested by Il reduction Of rents; and when 1t
comes the last tie binding them 10 the city
will be severed, and they VIII seek elsewhere
10 renair the fortunes which have been swll
lowed up by the ruinouS!v high rents. Nor
will any others BE- found 10 leave other cities,
where money is plentler, trade brlSkcr, and
rents lower, 10 supply their places. And many
| store now filled with goods VIII present
beggarv account of empty shelves many
workshop, now rtsoundlng with the cheerful
hum of busy industry, VIII be silent anu
many Il dwelling. now shelterng the happy
domestic circle will be deserted and desolate
md many landlords, now hoartlessly answer
ing an appeal for the reduction OF rent III the
unfecling language, If You can pay the rent,
20 out, - Will then br seeking tenants, rent tree,
TO save their houses from dilapidatlon.
I'm reaching the conclusion that an advance
OF one hundred per cent would BE- equitable,
your committee did not overlook the fact that
tenants find il more difficult 10 pay even the
rates of 1860 now than they did then. y
regard TO their interest alone, and their ability
TO pay, would demand Il reduction instead OF
an increase. But, in determining upon an
equitable scale, Justice 10 the landlords re-
qurcd that their rights and interests should
also be consulted. As arbiters between the
two classes, our aim was, II possible, TO har-
mouiZe the interests Of both and while sensl-
ble thar any advance upon the rates OF 1860
would increase seriously the burdens under
which tenants were already staggering, we
could not ignore the fact that falr remunera-
ton TO landlords demanded an increase. We
may have erred in our judgment and fixed the
advance TOO high Rut when the ueprecld