The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-07-03

Editor The Star. | arm replying 20
statements made by one who nigns
himself II J i" ia your issue Of june
20 regarding the landlords view
point. Ia which no gives brief out.
line an 10 what landlords have tn
contend with In the way Of operating
expenses
lilo contends that suggested the
lowering OF rents 10 the 1914 basis.
which would mean that he would
have 10 so out 81 business.
There was no suggestion made. but
statement TO tho effect that a law
had been passed In Great Britain. re-.
turning rents 60 the 1914 haHiH. said
law being IN effect today as stated
in letter 81 June -.
Undoubtedly. landlords. like the
rest 81 US. arc entitled 20 fair re
turn on their Investments. bat the
pfeasnt agitation against them Is
centralized on those who have failed
10 stop at "a fair profit and have
gone beyond the lines OF reason.
~ "a single item. many OF ua have
good reason 10 know that rent In the
heaviest. and II II. j." would come
forth and show un proof whereby a
landlord " Justified even allowing
for additional overhead chr Eing
$40 for single apartment with
kitrhenotte and bath that Mas 81.
many of us would be greatly en-
MEhtrned as 10 the enormous over
head and tho amount ~ coal and
calelminn" that many Of our char
riably inclined landlords used last
winter
IL must also 10 considered ~ II.
J that there are many people, who
have not benefited Ia wages com.
menuurate with the Increased cost u
living. which makes increased rents
harder 20 bear and which. In too
many cases. are entirely out Of all
proportion. even considering the UP
ward trend Of operation.
lilo also suggests that the com
moilties OF hfc 10 forced down IN
conjunction with rents. That $50 II
a task for tho government and a
huge one. bu, tho sooner action Ia
taken to tar all profiisers In a way
BETTING tho occasion. just that soon
will we feel that they also ara DOING
their bit towards the tightening Of
tho enormous financial burden which
haa.io be carried to neo this war 10
finish.
At present. the main cause Of agi
taton il focused on high rents. and
when that IL rrmHdicd and justice
done TO all concerned. II viii be a
great relief TO those who W~eltercd
IN the heat given off last winter b.
tT@s coal
IL tho cost OF coal Is ono OF the
main reasons for added overhead.
why is IL that rents have had a
tendency TO SO up with the war sea
son instead OF decreasing when very
little coal ia used
Your correspondent also Accfds TO
assume the roio Of a martyr during
tho lean ~ years preceding 1917. But
what OF those who. IN countless mum
berH. had not employment. let alone
plus J per cent
A home and food arc both ncces-
sary. and related TO each other in
every way consistent with modern
life. shelter and food arc ths basic
elements that go to the making OF
the morale OF any people.
As for prices. and as conditions are
today. our profitecrH can send prices
sky high at their own discretion and
In conjunction with others reap an
unjust profit. while working people
generally arc not in position to de-
mand wages to counterbaianco the
added cost OF living
II Is hardly likely that Uncle Sam
ls going to legislato people out of
business when there arc no grounds
for 80 doing The square deal IL
all that la wanted from tho viewpoint
Of tho renter. but when IL Is too one.
sided and beyond the pale OF reason
IL most azsuredly IL time for tho gov.
eminent TO take IA hand in the mat.
ter and make adjustments towards
the end whereby skyrocket prices may
he made To obey the law OF Eravita-
ton and come a little bit closer 10
Mother Earth. WA. SIIEARER.