Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-28

Dear Mrs. FELTON,:
/ an so much interested in a subject Of
great Importance. not only TO me. but 10
great many others. that do want 20 be-
speak your hearty and sympathetic CO.
operation
III can enlist your trenchant pen and
the hearty interest I shall indeed count
myself fortunate. Let me lay the case be-
fore you and see II you have ever thought
Of Il.
The many measures that are passed Tor
the fa7rher-lardlord are all right and
prorer and necessary. but the town land
lord Of small tenement houses Is absolute
" a. the mercy OF the shiftless, ever
changing class OF tenants that choose 70
rent. hut who move continually without
notice
we are absolutely helpless. my dear
Mrs. FELTON,. for there IS no law passed
for our protection. can speak from bitter
personal experience. We have some small
tenement houses. and the collecting OF
tie rents faus upon me-
Il Is putting Il very mildly TO say 1
rarely ever get what is due me by three
fourths. They plead lack OF work. sickness
Of, some member Of the family. but II We
tried TO take out a distress warrant they
can retaliate and take out what is called
a pony homestead after a levy Is made,
and with the sum OF s. defeat any opera
ton Of the law. have never made levy
q losing game We simply can't do any
thing with these tenants. They are heard
70 say. 1T is cheaper 20 move than 10
pay rent"
II, give you an illustration Of my trials
and reason for my disgust. had an
ahle-b0died negro tenant who had good
position in a plow factory. and who
agreed TO rent a house 10 live in. He paid
tOlerabIy well until he had an accident.
he went 10 bed and stayed indoors for
I've months. Because I was sorry for him
! allowed him TO live in the house. and
being sorry for him. helped TO feed him
and his family, reminding him occasional
ly that expected him TO act like man
and paw the rent when he went 20 work
again BY degrees His protestauons OF
eratitude were loud and reassuring, but
mark the result. When he got able 10
work he moved out OF my house. saying
he would remember me in his prayers,
etc.
Bur IL took 1--WE years. IN which he paid
only s. OF the IS due me. although he gets
SO a month as wages. He lives In plain
sight OF me and Is buying him home,
and has become, in a measure, tmperu-
nert IN action. II not IN spirit, when asked
20 pay the debt
II Is the same with others One is be-
hind sI9s. another SIS. another So. and
fourth one s15
I did not have the heart 10 turn them
out OF doors when they were sick or out
Ct work and thus the story goes
have no power 10 compel them 10 pay
or act honestly. This is notsright. Should
there not be some redress or some au-
thority 70 collect this rent money? The
lawyers tell me no law will touch them. In
some counties the landlords agreed upon
a plan among themselves and placed
lock and chain on the door. refusing 10
let. their goods 90 until the rent is paid.
Our lawmakers have been so timid
about the negro vote that we are helpless
WIN our white primaries overcome their
tir1idlty2 CIfm afraid not--Editress-) am
sick TO death OF this wretched business.
The houses must be rented or stay idle.
Dear Mrs. FELTON,, do write II up. talk
10 your representatives. use all your in
fuence for relief. Some relief must come
TO property owners These tenants Of mine
are weIl-to-do negroes. and are doubtless
laughing in their sleeves at my discom-
fiture"
The whole renting system. in town and
country, needs revising. The effort 10 get
what Is coming 10 you in rents almost
runs one crazy. and see no way. except
10 hire a sharp collector and save some
Of the rent instead Of losing ALL
This is truly a grievance. and something
should be done by the next legislature.