The Washington herald., 1915-12-12


sstate. syp1teatss escape with q frsc-
ton OF their legal burden.
foasisI wasnihsss. Usa-r ne Ls.A-
lera's JAsss.
The rFathers Of our Country. were
not essentially different from the
statesmen Of today. Come were high
minded and patriottc; some self-seek-
ing and grasping; some had UNDER
standing OF fundamental principles;
some lived In fogs. There were those
who dwelt on the heights; there were
those who touched pitch and were de-
hisd, A few saw In this National Capi-
tai m opportunity for gigantic land
speculation, and nome there were who
visioned on the banks of the Potomac
q city Of light and beauty. where Ii
berty.. Fraternity and Equality should
nnd fruition and . mighty nation
should sit enthroned.
What have we here? The President
has habitation. But of the govern
ment none others save a few army and
navy officers In post and barracks.
The President may appoint, but the
landlord demands his tribute. The
Cabinet administers the disbursement
Of . billion dollars year. but its men,
bers may not have a nightly lodging
until some landlord has been barsained
with. The Supreme Court deals Jus
tice to one hundred million people.
but each Judge has first to pay for
livinee equarters. Here come to legis-
late. Senators and Representatives. the
greatest law making body in the
world. yet each and all must fill the
outstYetched and itching palm of a
landlord whose very power and greed
! have bean fed by the 'half-and-half'
subsidy. The Administration holds the
appointment Of some forty thousand
employees in Washington. but not one
may do his work until he has made
terms for quarters. Verify the govern
msnt giveth but the landlord taketh
away.
Warrington a City Of Renters.
Have the ideals of the Founders been
realized in the National Capital or the
sordid ends of speculators and land grab
bers? The very key and archstone of the
Republic is the thought OF a hometown
ing and independent people. The census
bulletin OH the Ownership of Homes
Census of 1910. places the District of
Columbia at the foot Of the list of all the
political divisions of the United States.
Here is the largest proportion of rented
homes. the smallest proportion OF homes
owned. In 1910, 74.s per cent were rented
and 25.2 per cent were owned. OF those
owned SO per cent were clear and a. ]
per cent were mortgaged. In other words
only 1L6 per cent Of the homes were
owned free. when it can be assumed
that the proportion Of wealthy and we'll
o-do who own their homes clear will b.
mach larger than that OF clerks AMI
Wage earners. II must be evident that for
government employees and wage earners
this Is n city of renters and ''roomers."
In actual numbers there were Z, 80
homes reported in the District in 1880. OF
which Al. .s07 were reported as rented. 9.als
as owned free OF incumbrance and 7l7s
owned cncumbered, less than ! in 7 free.
Z out Of every Il owned, encumberei.
The statistics of the Comptroller of the
Currency show that December u. 1913.
the twenty building and loan associations
"f the District had s.s22 borrowing MEM
bers and that their loans on real estate
amounted to s1I. .Ia2.OSi. That represents
slightly above 2.Gy0 to each borrower.
compa rison with the Census report on
mortgaGed homes cannot be exact. but
even allowing for difference in dates,
census figures of Indebtedness are prob
ably too low as the enumerators merely
took unverified statements of house.
holders.
Court Records of Landlord and Ten
ant Cases.
And what is the condition OF the tenant :
Here are municipal court records Of
landlord and tenant cases for the past