BX July 26, 1918

Rent Increase Provokes Anger – Overseas Man Tells What He Thinks of Landlords Who Boost Rent

Private James Heap writing to his wife here in a letter just received, over the raising of the rent of the home occupied by his family, states:

"It’s too bad about the rent being raised, and from what you say you must be lucky not to be taxed more. But, my God, when I come back, I’ll tell some of those devils something. Just fancy, I know the taxes are mounting up, but what difference is that going to make to the landlords if they can go on increasing the rent. It just amounts to this, that the soldier’s wife or anyone who is unfortunate enough to have to pay rent, although paying their fair share of taxes in dearer food, coal, clothes, etc., is called upon to pay the biggest share of the increased taxation of the landlord. They don’t realize for the moment what the soldiers are suffering in many ways, separation from home, family and friends, unknown privations with regard to food, a continual round of discipline, and in most cases a chance of being killed. Certain it is that every one cannot go to war, but I think some of them will bear some unpleasant things when the war is over. I may be wrong in my opinion, but believe me, any man who will tax a soldier’s wife for a paltry $2 a month is no god. It isn't the price, it is the principle.”