The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-03
HOMES FOR ALL.
John w. BreidenthaI Discusses
Plan For Aiding Laborers.
EIabOrateS the Idea Of Chica-
go RefOrmer.
MUTUAL INSURANCE.
Is Very Much Like 1t In the
Details.
Would Not Have to Die to Win,
However.
MUTUAL INSURANCE.

Probably no man in the state of Kan
sas receives more applications for en-
dorsements of reform plans than John
w. Breidenthal, state bank commission
er. Almost every mail brings one, and
sometimes three or four. The great ma
jority of them are, of course, imprac-
teal and find an immediate resting
place in the waste basket Some OF
them are so absurd as to be extremely
amusing. Mr.. Breidenthal gives them
all careful consideration, however, and
occasionally comes across move
ment'' with good features in it.
A few days ago Mr.. Breidentha1 re-
ceived the first number of new pa
per just established in Chicago, called
Universal Homes Its publisher pro
poses the founding of a society for the
purpose of building homes for wage
earners and allowing the wage earners
to pay for them on the inStal1ment plan
without interest. It is proposed to start
the building fund by soliciting dona-
lions from wealthy philanthropists.
Houses would be built or purchased,
and wage earnerS allowed to occupy
them and pay for them in monthly in
stallments, also keeping the house in re-
pair and the taxes paid. When they
have paid in the cost of the house they
are entitled to a deed to it. The idea
| attracted Mr.. Breidenthal and he has
| given it considerable thought.
THE plan has good features, he SAID,
| 'but it is not specific enough. There IS
| too much uncertainty about getting do
| nations from philanthropists. The man
| who proposed 1t asks for suggestions
and think 1 will give him some.
"A mutual society could be formed
| on this same plan similar to our ira
| ternal beneficiary societies, except that
| instead of having to die to win and the
| money going to the members beneflc-
! iaries, each member would get a house.
My plan would be something like
this: The rules should provide for buy
| ing or building houses worth 500, $1,Ooo
| and on up. In this country residence
/ properties rent for about 10 per cent OF
! their value, so that a renter pays out
| the value of the house he occupies in
| ten years, and at the end OF that time
/ he has nothing to show for it. Suppose
| the organization starts with 1000 mem
| bers. The average house is worth $1,000.
| The rental of a $500 house would be
| $3.50 a year, or $3.50 a month. II eacn
| member wanted a 81, 5U0 house he would
| pay in $3.50 a month, which would be
| sufficient to build houses for 1-3 mem
| bers every month or 100 year.
| The order in which members should
| receive their houses could be determined
| by lot. A man would be sure of his
| house at the end of ten years, and he
| the organization. If he got it then he
| would simply pay the same that he
would for rent, and at the end of ten
| years he would own his home.
| Il would make a provision that if a
| member died his widow or heirs should
| receive their house at once and keep up
| the payments, or could withdraw and
| receive back the exact amount paid in.
| L believe this scheme to be perfectly
| feasible and it would settle the question
| of how to secure a home without paying
| interest. It would also give a laboring
| man who has barely enough to keep his
family, a chance to build a little home
| with the same money that he would
otherwise pay out for rent Payments
| on a $500 house would amount to only
| $4.1215 a month";,
Mr.. Breidenthal will suggest this plan,
with additional details, to the publisher
| of Universal Homes" and organiza-
| lions for house building may become as
| popular as fraternal beneficiary orders
| are at present.