Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-03
EUerybody's Column.
HOusc Rents In Tulsn

What are reasonable and what are
usuriOus house rentals charges in
Tulsa
usury IS an unreasonable profit
and every renter in Tulsa today IL
paying usurious rentals.
Renters should pay from ton per
cent to fourteen per cent per year on
II reasonable valuation OF the prop
orty. and no more, A renters league
formed for this purpose can remedy
the evil by refusing to pay more
and allowing the houses to remain
vacant even II having to forego
some discomfort by doubling up In
to smaller quarters and by insisting
on remedial Legislation by city or
state. They should pay not more
than fourteen per cent on the tax
assessed value OF the property and
go TO the assessors books for data
az to the valuation on which the
owner pays taxes.
This would result in all property
owners paying their fun and cqui-
table amount OF taxes from which
the city and county would benefit.
and at the same time would allow
reasonable margin OF profit after
the owner has paid interest, taxes
and repairs. Rental property today
Is paying from fifteen per cent to
thirty per cent net after taxes. re-
pairs and depreciation has been met.
This is uHurious and the Tulsa
county council of defense should
support the renters cause with all
It's power, as a war measure, for the
reason that the building of houses
while not entirely prohibited by law,
Is discouraged in many ways.
The moral effect OF a crusade on
high rentals could be made effective
by the total social ostracism of all
those property owners who persisted
IN exacting exorbltant rents by put
tinB them In the Stacker class and
thus deprlVing the great mass OF
residents from having any surplus
left out OF their monthly earnings
with which they can subscribe to
war bonds, and Red Cross funds.
This phase of the question puts
the matter squarely up to the city
council OF defense,
Commercial club. Rotary club. Lions
club, Womcns clubs and all Others
interested In the successful prose-
oution OF the war as we'll as the well
fare OF the people of Tulsa. and its
future growth. Tulsa has had the
reputation OF taking the bull by the
horns, but this is one bull that all
have either purposcly ignored. or
telt unequal to the occasion, so let
us hope we will not have to pull
down our sign--"Tulsa WIN" and
substitute the sign Tulsa Cannot"
Employers of labor should sup |
port this move. because high rents !
and high cost OF living Is the princi- |
pal cause OF unrest OF the employees |
A city ordinance could. no doubt, |
he made effective against us,Irious |
rents tho same as against usurious
money rates, and would give sun
port to the local courts against /
'VictionS OF renters refusing To pay
more than reasonable rent based
IN the tax assessed valuation.
III state legislation is necessary,
ct us have state legislation against
lsurious rents In all it's forms but
I seems that Tulsa could handle her
'wn affairs--will she? u
The newspapers OF Tulsa can do !
10 greater service at this time, with 4
he fourth Liberty loan now upon I
Is, than to open their columns TO
IN open discussion OF tho house
entail problem and II they are lame I
n this respect II but depicts a de-
'lorable condition next to homeless.
lessS, but this we arc not nrcr,roJ