Evening star., 1927-04-03
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Discussion OF the "cost Of living
was active IN Washington half a GEN.
tury ago with particular
High Rents reference to the price Of
Protested. meats. In addition. the
ing letter signed tenant" In The Star
.'The good effect OF the discussion
which has been going on Of late,
through the medium OF your valuable
journal, relative to the excessive price
of beef at retail over that of whole
sale, prompts me to ask you to pub
lish this communication on another
subject important to the residents Of
this city. namely, rents. The exces.
sive rates charged for all degrees and
qualities Of dwellings in this city has
long been a grievous burden to ten
ants and In these times Of business
prostration more grievous than ever.
1 venture to say that the rents de-
manded here are higher than in any
other city in the Union. and in most
cases the conveniences are the poor
est, and in other places would not be
termed conveniences at all. Large
modern-built houses are much lower
than smaller ones, but are not in such
demand. The vast majority Of tenants
are now getting only from $500 to
81, 200 a year, and in the main are
respectable, intelligent and honest.
To procure anything like comfortable
and respectable quarters they are com.
PEELED out OF this sum TO pay from
SIS to $50 a month, according to the
number OF rooms required. leaving
which to procure the necessities Of
life.
while business has never been as
prostrated AZ now, rents are kept up
to nearly war rates, when they should
be reduced to ante-war rates. It
would be well for landlords to con.
slider that 1t is for their interests as
we'll as tenants and be a little more
liberal with the latter. There In no
dearth Of unoccupied dwellings,. Many
have been advertised and idle for
nearly two years. simply because
owners refuse lower rents. Tenants
cannot afford to pay the rents they
did in more prosperous times and
landlords should recognize the fact.
II the latter will accept $40 for what
they insist on keeping at $50; $40 In.
stead Of $40, and 50 on down the scale
for cheaper dwellings, 1t would cer-
tainly pay them better than having
their houses idle.
These reductions would only cor
respond to those in other cities,
especially in the East, where the prop
erty is kept in repair and water rates
are paid by the owners. The better
class of dwellings would soon be filled
with desirable tenants, who would be
more permanent. Naturally, those
living in rtckety, inconvenient and un-
slightly old roOkeries, which are a dis
grace to the city, would seek better
quarters, for 1t must be remembered
that many respectable families are
compelled to occupy them because of
their limited means. These rookertes
would give way soon to more respec-
table looking, modern style dwellings.
giving employment to 1aborers and
mechanics and new life to business" !"
kk
The following letter printed in The
Star Of March 20, 1877, indicates the
Bell-Ringing preeslehie .anes wbIeh has not @ al.
r.,:.. together been abated
"A'ooo' in Washington:
Compromise Is the order Of the
day. have no reference to the South
Carolina or Louisiana questions, but
one much more vital to the peace and
comfort of our good wives In our own
good Washington homes. I refer to
the question of the fraternity Of door.
bell ringers. tramps, beggars, 'tato.'
appo' and fresh feesh' men. In the
neigtborhood in which I reside the
bells are rung by this class OF per-
sons on an average>of Is times each
day between am. and pm, and
in some neighborhoods the nuisance IL
no doubt much greater.
Now for my compromise proposi.
ton: If within the power of the
chief of police, let him issue instruc.
tions to his officers to arrest every
beggar, including tramps, seen on the
streets pursuing his or her applica-
ton after. say. s o'clock am, and
every street vendor who pulls a bell
at any hour of the day or night. The
vendors can always be heard by those
who wish to patronize them. In view
of tIA prevailing diakresA nrs4nna fs1es