Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2379

Letter to Heath at 11 Waverly Place, New York City 3, to Gibert M. Tucker, President, Economic Education League, Inc., 128 State Street, Albany, NY

July 22, 1954

 

 

Dear Mr. Heath:

 

In the pressure of other things I have neglected replying to your last letter. However, I am not sure that there is very much that I can say.

 

 The whole sum and substance of it is that thus far you have not shown me in any way, shape or manner what services the landlord performs to justify his appropriation of the rent. I would be particularly interested in knowing what service the landowner performs in a case where he holds the land idle, or in the case of city property occupied by a dangerous, disreputable slum building, for a long period of years and then sells the property at a big advance in price.

 

 Second, why isn’t such a landlord the recipient of an unearned increment? You apparently think it is psychologically impossible for me to entertain any ideas that run counter to these beliefs. Won’t you help me clarify my thinking by showing me how the landlord performs these services of value and how he earns the increment?

 

 We have talked this over again and again and written letters and you never even have attempted to explain the service that the landlord renders which would justify the huge profits which he sometimes gets. If you can enlighten me on these subjects perhaps we can get together but thus far all I have had from you have been words with no explanation. Maybe I am dumb but I just do not understand your position or your ideas.

 

   Very truly yours,

 

   /s/ Gilbert M. Tucker

       President

gmt/k