Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-07
Journal Of Commerce cites a striking instance

rent year at Sl5,OOO. The owner called on them
few days since TO ask their intention for another
year. They expressed their wish TO remain II the
terms were made agreeable. lie offered 70 treat
them fairly, and suggested that Si0,OO0 per annum
Tor q three years lease would be a reasonable All
vance. They Indignantly refused 10 treat, and he
leit After lev hours search for another place
they concluded 20 pocket their indignation and ac
cede 10 the terms. Calling on the Owser for thus
purpose, they learned that they were too late the
premises having been leased for three years at 500
100 per annum. further search leit them hopeleS
I 81 securing ANYTHING more eligible, ana they nave
pure hased the lease OF the new parties for bonus
Of $1,000
A remedy nav be found in Northern cities,
! where capital rs abundant and ever eager TO
lind proatable investment. New and cheap
houses may be built, oil the thoroughiares and
in the suburbs. With US, however, no such
remedy is practicable. There IS no surplus
capitL What with the neagre banking facil-
tiles extended 70 us, and the present usury
/ laws, we have not circulation enough for OrdI-
nary domestic purposes, much less have we
money TO invest in new buildings. This scar
city Of money begets rayenous greed for II.
an alike have become eXtortiOnate-thoSe who
have commodities TO sell and those who have
property to rent. So exOrbitant are rents
aud so scarce is money, that the burden upon
tenants has become intolerable. They tell the
truth when they say they cannot pay the rates
charged. They have held several meetings in
the last month, passed resolutions, appointed
committees and adopted other measures look
ing to the reduction of rents hut, thus far, no
success has been attained. The meeting Of
Saturday last, the proceedings of which were
published in our issue of Monday, was both IN
numbers and character more imposing than
amy vet held. The temper evinced IN all inc
proceedings of the meeting was decOrouS ana
disnifed. There seems TO be no disposition TO
make war upon the landlords, and, beyond a
few indiscreet and cxcitable persons, no feel
ing Of resentment against them. The able re-
mort of the standing executive committee, pre-
ented by Mr.. GEISwoLD, was calm, courteous,
but pointed The fact OF the existence OF TINS
Standing committee indicates that tins move
nept of tenants is not mere transient, tempo
.,r, Affair. but is in earnest, and means to
,qitate and work until the landlords eau be
Lrourht 10 reasonable terms. The report shows
that the committee went to work in business
like manner. Upon calm survey OF the
whole held--the depreciation OF the cur
rency, increased taxes, rates of insurance,
cost of building aud repairs, and the great
and general increase in the price OF
AL articles OF living, the committee came to an
agreement among themselves upon standard
equitable, in their opinion, to both landlords
and tenants" This was an advance OF one
hundred per cent. upon the rates of 1860. The
committee then waited upon a large number of
landlords aud real estate agents, and proposed
this standard tor their acceptance, appealing to
their Justice, humanity and sympathy. The
members Of the committee were treated with
courtesy. The talk was all fair, but they could
Get nothing decided in the shape of action
None would take the responsibility of calling
d. public meeting of the landlords. The conf
mittcc discrimiuates between the landlords,
saving that many are not receiving or demand
in.s cxorbitant rents. They think that the chief
cause Of the present cxorbitant rents is the
iuordiuatc desire of gain Of 4 few, principally
large landholders, men Of wealth, of high so
cial and some of high political position" They
also refer much of the responsibility to the ac-
tive competition among the real estate agents,
and To tenants who, in numerous instances,
sub-let a portion Of the rented premises for as
huch, OF more, than the whole costs them
The committee recommend the adoption of
some proper measures for procuring, and, if
deemed expedient, publishing such list en-
braciug the names of the landlords, aud when
rented out by an agent, the name of the agent,
the present tenants, the fee-simple value, the
rate of rent in 1850, and such other facts as
shall fully and accurately show who are de
mIuding exorbitant rents, and the rate per
cent of advance which they are demanding"
There are high public considerations in
volvcd in this subject of rents, in which tins
city is deeply interested. 1t is apprehendedb by
many OF our most sagacOus business men that
unless a considerable reduction in rents is soon
made, the business Of the city will be seriously
injured, and a large portion of its population
driven away. Many merchants, manufacturers
and mechanics are not realizing enough profit
from their business to enable them to pay their
rent. Many stores and workshops have been
shut up in consequence of the inability of their
occupants to meet the demands Of landlords.
There is another view OF the subject which
torcibly addresses itself to the SelEntereSt OF
owners OF property. Whatever tends to di-
miuish population and cripple trade, must inc
vitably impair the fee simple value orproperty,
and ultimately reduce rents much below a
healthy standard. There is another view OF
the subject. When eXorbtant rents prevail,
tenants consider that landlords hold them at
unfair advantage, and that all means OF
escaping from the payment of rent are legiti-
mate. Many of them become dcmoralizcd aud
Will resort to any measure that promises relief.
There are others again who would gladly pay,
hut finding themselves unable to pay all, and
ashamed to pay in driblets, become disheart-
yued, and then Indifferent, and ultimately pay
nothing. We are much inclined to think that
when rents arc unduly high, landlords realize
less than when they are moderate. Then they
can be, and are pIid-cheertully paid-ior
there is no provocation to the vindictive feel
Jugs developed in the case above referred to.
We are pleased to see that thus far the
tenants have, in their proceedings, abstained
from all harsh recommendations, and that their
movement n not in any sense marked by the
ugly feature of an agrariau crusade against
property holders. We do not believe that
there is any disposition among the latter classic
cypress the poor. When they come to under
stand the true state of things, which they will
Soou do, if the tenants keep up their organiza-
ton, act with energy, and continue to display
that discretion in speech and moderation in
temper thus tar exhibited, they will, we hope
and believe, make the proper abatement and
give the needed relief.
--
The persecution of Colonel Mosby will, we
hope, now cease. The Alexandria Gazette, of
Saturday, says Z" Mrs. Colonel John S. Mos