The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-27


 appeal to the landlord class in general to make such readjustments of his leases and rentals, as he believes in good con science is due, the tenants in a spirlt of compr romise We say this because we believe that there are hundreds or cases throughout the city where such read justment would be possible without ma terial sacrifice to the landlord. Anu further. because we believe that in some cases complaints would have been filed with this board if the tenants had been n nosition to give the time necessary to annear or prepare such complaints. BUSINESS PROPERTY
 While the board did not primarily con slider commercial leases or the matter oi rental charges for downtown stores ana business property, yet important mo. nation came to the boaro conceInins sn's class of contracts. No adjustment was attempted in the complaints from this ! source because the board felt that the more pressing field of service was Tn re- lieying somewhat the pressure from res- ! dence rentals. We feel however, that the question or ! rent levels in the downtown business sec 1 t;on is intimately related to the cost of 1 living in Birmingham as elsewhere From the facts brought before this board, II l is reasonably certain that many leases l for stores and similar purposes in the 1 central city have been lately executeo l which appear higher than are 1ustlfied
 by normal conditions. Normal conditions are going to return, we believe, and very l likely during the life of some of these I leases and the rental may then become | burdensome. Moreover, the excessive rental under the commercial leases re- | ferred to is bound to be reflected in higher prices for the merchandise sold in | the establishments involved. N l l. l lords reconsider any excessive leases ol this character and scale them down at | a time when they may become oppres- l sive to the tenants and, in turn, to l the ultimate consumer.
 | On the whole we conclude that the | permanent fixed solution of the renta I situation lies in building more homes. Wt l are gratfied to note a little more lift in the construction of homes. We ars informed that substantial reductions ir the price of materials since the beginning | of our labors back in July of this veal have taken place. This is notable ir the matter of lumber. We are informed in other lines. We therefore. consider I that the time is rapidly approaching l when it will be the part of wisdom fol more capital to be invested in the con
 struction of dwellings either for invest ment or for private ownership.
 1 COMFLA1Nl lO JU U0llFlED
 We have had several complaints from lessees of parts of dwellings as to the
 rentals charged, and the board has found many of these complaints justified. w
 are led to believe that this practice ol overcharging sub-tenants is more pre-. | valent than conditions justify. The board urges the commission. therefore, to ap' peal to this class of sub-lessors to make
 voluntary readjustments of their charges
 so as to lift a burden from the family purse of many a struggling wage-earner | We cannot close our report without ac- knowledging the valuable voluntary aid rendered in our work by the various public officials. city and county, by the l press of Birmingham, and by various 1 committees of real estate men, who have l given their time and talents in expedit- | ing the investigations necessary for the l performance of our duties.
 l Feeling that we have fully discharged l the duties for which we were appointed and trusting that our existence and la
 bors have been of value to the commun- ! ity as a whole.
 Respectfully subnsitted-R E. l.. Con- l nolly, J. Mercer Barnett. c. c. Daniel A. c. Crowder. 4. T. McWane, John De
 Shazo, Chas. L. Harold. A. c. Montgom- | cry, O. L. Bum.