The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-13
RUSS RAISED THE RENT.
Halter Meussdorfer saysHe
Will Move Out.
A TREBLING OF PRICES.
A Game of Tit for Tat in Which the Russ
Estate Holds the Winning
Hand
TREBLING OF PRICES.

People that Of late have surged and tired
on each other before the Meussdorffer hat
store on Montgomery street have been so
to catch glimpse OF the notices that Mr..
Meussdorffer had glued up on his plate glass
front to tell why he was about to move out.
Notices on his window is pet scheme of
Mr.. Meussdorffer. 1t catches the eye OF
the giddy throng as it goes troOping By and
brings it right up on its heels to see what
can be the trouble.
This time there is trouble enough. In one
Of these notices Mr. Mnessdortfer ironically
announces that might makes right. Russ
wins the fight"
Another announces that SIN order to avoid
shameless imposition" Mr.. MeusSdorffer is
about to shake the dust of the Russ House
property from his feet and betake himself
and his hats elsewhere. Omittlng the in
veetive, Mr.. MeussdoTffer's complaint is
that the Russ estate has suddenly and with
an intent 10 Inconvenience him, raised his
rent from $500 to $1,000 a month.
1T is piece OF spite work" says son
Of the pioneer halter Henry Is. Russ, one
OF the heirs of old Russ, is member Of the
Pioneer Society, with which my father is
also connected. 81 couple of years ago Russ
was anxious to be elected president OF the
society and solicited my father for his vote.
My father was interested in the choice If
some one else and declined to give Russ his
support. From that time we have been sub
1ected to petty annoyances, of which this
present affair is the climax. TIVE years ago
when we contemplated making extensive
improvements in the store Mr.. Wegener. the
agent OF the estate, assured that there
would be no increase in the rent, which was
then $3.50 month.
Nv e made our improvements at an eX-
pense OF between $1,000 and $1,000. and We're
then notified that our rent had been raised
to $500. We prote sted, but continued to Oc-
cupy the premises at that rental.
"A couple of weeks ago my father not-
fed Mr.. Wegener that he would vacate the
store on December 81. Almost Immediately
we received a notice that our rent after the
last of October would be $1,000 a month in
stead Of $500 1t is TO Inform the public of
this underhand piece of work that We have
posted these placards on our windows"
+. .. Wegener. the Russ agent, laughed
heartily when informed Of the charges
made against him and his principal
81 am quite sure Mr.. Russ has no per-
sonal feeling against Mr.. MuessdOrffer," he
said. 1T is simply question Of whether
we shall be permitted 10 manage cur prop
erty in the way that pleases US OK not. Mr..
Muessdorffer is disposed 10 be contentious
and crusty and be has con Institutional OBJ
lection to paying his rent IN advance. This
has given rise TO all this trouble. Years
ago we had a similar difficulty With him
and then we met him half way. We afforded
him a privilege that We denied our other
tenants, and agreed that We would be salts
fed il he paid On the 18th instead Of the
1st of the month.
''He acQuiesced in this and had 10 mere
trouble until a few weeks ago. when he de-
clared his resolution that he would not pay
until the 31st We we're equally intiexible
and, having the whip-hand, we proposed to
have our rights. We accordingly raised his
rent TO $1,000. That is the true inwardness
OF this teapot tempest"
AS displaying this peculiar phase OF Mr..
| Meussdorffer's character to which ne had ~
luded, Mr.. Wegener recalled the contention
between that gentleman and his Market
street landlord, Mr. Phelap. couple Of
Years ago his lease for that store having ex-
pred his rent was raised. The pioneer
natter at once erected over his door an I'M
mense sign in which he announced that
sowing to an exorbt8nt raise ia rent De
was about to move. HE did not move"
said the agent. "but that sign cost him an
additional 500 a month"