Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-07
No Cause for IfySteria
nominee

D edmond shows signs OF becoming
IN hysterca over the rent situation.
Granted that it is bad. it is little, IL any,
worse than it was at this time one year ago,
when excited rumors had it that thous-
and families would be set out on the streets
without shelter on September /. Tho an
nual moving day came and passed and
every family in Richmond was cared for,
perhaps not in the most convenient or COM
Portable manner, but there was shelter for
all, and there was no suffering The hys-
terics OF last year were proved to be with
ont in fact, and it would be unfor-
tunate indeed if this year were to witness
an unnecessary repetition.
1t is a time for cooler counsel to prevail,
a time for getting together and taking stock
OF just what housing accommodations Rich
mond can offer. II this be done it will be
found, as il was last year. that there will
be ample TO 20 round. Some families may
have 10 content themselves with poorer
quarters than those to which they have been
accustomed; others may have to double up
in apartments, and some may have to store
their belongings and board for while, but
in time OF abnormal conditions min0r
hardshipS may BE- borne more patiently.
While there may be shortage of modern
dwellings, and apartments there is no real
tent TO accept what they can get for the
next year or two, it is reasonable TO believe
that the condition will soon work itself out
satisfactorily.
Rents are high, to be sure, and they may
20 higher. But. while there are isolated
cases of protiteerng, it is unjust to write
sweeping indictment against real estate
agents and landlords as a class. Least OF
all is ii necessary TO call special session
OF the General Assembly to take up the
rent problem. There are too many regu-
latory laws on the statute books now, and
there are ways and means to meet present
rent difficulties without adding to them In
the main, rent increases are justiiiable.
Owners OF dwellings and apartments must
have reasonable increases if they are not TO
accept positive losses OH their investments,
and investigation will prove that the rent
increases generally have not been out OF
proportion TO the greater cost of construc
ton and upkcep. In the cases where there
has been proftcering, it is frowned upon
by representative real estate owners, and in
nine cases out Of ten it has been made pos
sible by the panic of tenants who agree to
eXorbitant rates in the fear they may find
nowhere else to 60
buildings are going up in every section
OF the city. There are not so many, OF
course, as there would be under better ma
terial and industrial conditions but the
number is sufficient to demonstrate that the
law OF supply and demand is 1T work, and
it is merely matter of months until the
demand will be met in large measure and
the problem OF high rents will adjust itself.
llysteria only adds to the acuteness Of the
situation and enables the proiteer to com
mand his own figures for what he has to
rent. Where there are palpable attempts
at gouging. let the tenants hold out and re-
main calm in the assurance that they will
be assured OF quarters when the annual
moving day comes. Any other course mere
~ aggravates an unsatisfactory condition.