The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-25
CAUTIOUS LANDLORDS.
A Protective Union That Keeps
Track of Dead.beats.

@0lF course 1t Is only matter OF form
ESIy through which we landlords feel obliged
ks% to so, but ah, have you any references
you can show US from other landlO; DIS?
You see we would hardly care 10 take in a ten
ant who would be likely to move again in
month or two, or who would" and the good man
stopped, confused by the injured look that over
spread the tenants face.
Referenees3 l have huldred Everybody
knows me. Here for example is one-not the
most valuable, but one OF the average"
The landlord took IT from tile mans hand and
read
To whom it may concern: This is to certify that
we have found Mr.. Smith most desirable tenant,
PRO N an ts as III ms nsoS agree
we have no house In the neighoorhood where he
tenant. EDISON Il EPsoM Agents.
No. read:
To whom 1t may concern Mr.. Smith being about
to move to another locality where we ind it i'm
possible TO accommodate him with house, we wish
to state that it has seldom been fortune to meet
with such an agreeable gentleman, and one for
whom we would make greater sacrifices a tenant
than Mr.. Smith. JOHNSON, JOHNSON Il Co.
The landlords face looked serene. VERY good
letters; excellent" ne said, land I'll give you
an answer about the house TO- mo rrow"
"Credulods cbappIe, that" murmured the
would be tenant as he smlngy bowed hims If
out of the landlo rus presence
The credulous chappie put on his cappie,
And went at once 10 Edison s. EPSON. VINO con-
frmed The authenticity Of their letter OF refer
eDce.
Fine man. fine man! excellent habits" they
said, aud Johnson johnson & Co. said the same.
Then the 'credulous cbappie" went 10 The
Landlords Protective Union Uhis all happened
In Providence, Il. I.), ana laid the case before
them. Turning over The leaves Of the great
ledgers they finally came to the name of Smith,
George Washington, aud just beneath was an
outline of his character In lull.
" Disadvantages home drunk every night
heat. his WlfP-lreaks and furniture and
furnishiGgs-causes complaints among The neigh
bors-moyes on an average every TWO mouths
never pays any bills-enters Insolvency period
icaIly"
Armed with this record neatly copied on the
unOu's blank OF their oniOn-skln paper, tile
credulous chapple called second lime on the
two real estate firms previously mentioned.
Please explain this, gentlemen" said the now
My deah fellow" said the talking member OF
the hrm, eff you had been anxious to get rid
OF him as We were, yon, too, would have given
him the most itatleling letters Of reference you
could compose"
Here In San Francisco no such organization
exists. The commercial agencies fill certain
need, but the subscription 10 those is so high
that few petty landlords feel like assuming the
expense for such limited service. The highest
rate paid by any landlord in Providence, r. l., is
$l5, or about 81 20 a month. For ills
price the union furnishes complete record Of
each tenant, and details men 10 look up
special Information whenever II Is required. 1t
also has system OF correspondence with other
cities so that when new people apply for houses
pie leave the city their records are Gent on 10
their new dwelling places. When the system be-
comes completed II Will be great drawback 10
travelling deadDeats and great boon 10 long
suffering landlords.
The real estate men In San Francisco keep
blacklist. but IN city like this where there are
SO many Incoming strangers, some landlord al
ways has 10 suffer before the new mans name is
cred on this blacklist. "Wby" suggests a
victim, cannot an association be organized, trst
as a branch OF some one OF the comm Tcial
agencies, and later on as an independent AFFAIR.""
Ii an interview with one OF the largest real
estate firms in the city Is any indication of public
sentiment, an association OF this sort would be
willingly and gladly supported by the landlords
Of THIS city Of ever shifting, fcke population.
EMELIE TRACY Y. SWEET.