New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-03
MASS MEETING OF TENANTS.

Xh0 Wofkio8meu IN Aomphiusss4""Ao
The Rights Of Landlords and the
Wrongs Of Tenants-The Addresses 70,
and the Spirit of, the Meeting.
The skies frowned unproptiously upon the
mass meeting Of the tenants which held yesterday
afternoon in Tompkinssquare Two stands had been
erected near the center OF the square, and at the ap
pointed hour-three in the aiternoon-about 1000 per-
sons, including women and children. who formed fully
onehird OF the number assembled in their vicinity to
await the arrival OF the Committee and the speakers
The latter class was not numerous. however, and the
uncertain warning mood Of the puyal deity made the
prospects for large and enthusiastic meeting exceed
ingIy dull. Finally. II began to rain. and with the
shower came also the Committee. The attendance was
larger at the stand from which German speakers were
TO address the crowd, although there was goodly
number most Of whom nevertheless OF undouDted
Teutonc origin that preferred TO hear what Thoughts
might be uttered delivered in English. Those who had
promised TO speak In the latter tongue were tardy anu
under the influence Of the dring rain and the annoy
ance Of waiting. the crowd began to be impatient, oe
At this auspciOus moment, Mr.. Dieschman TOOK on
his hat having first mounted the platform, ana read
petition, copy OF which has been sent 10 AiDany'
praying the General Assembly to modify the Jaws re-
iating 10 landlords and tenants, so as to protect the
latter from the unjust eXorbtant and rapacous de'
mands Of the former Mr. d. then went on TO denouhce
the law it now exists aud to urge his hearers 1 70
the Legislature to remedy the evils Of which they COM
planned There was law. lie said to prevent inen
from receiving greater interest than seven peL cen %
from loans or money due them from debt, ana why
should the samo rule not be made to apply TO invest
ments houses and lands, Ills hearers had Tue power
TO remedy this matter OF exorbtant rents ehtireI ~
their own hands aud he hoped they would 80 maniess
ii at the polls that who would not interest MIN
self In this behoof to the fullest extent OF his aDnt
should hereafter have seat in the halls OF our state
Legislature He said he would be proud TO- represent
ha ba bpf
nue to oppose the aggresSons OF the rich upoa 'ne
working classes. 90
the Committee addressed the crowd for few moments
but his thoughts refused to take proper shape IN En-
glish, and he dogenerated into German winch ne NJ
tered very ueny and much to the gratlcation OF ms
listeners who appauded every sentence he spoke.
The central idea OF his remarks was the injustice OF
landlords many Of whom, at moments notice. turned
tenants into the street II they could not or would not
submit 10 new terms and increased rents at the end OF
every month He thought 1t important that all con-
tracts made By landlords and tenants should exist IN
altered until the end Of year or until the hrst OF May
in each wear save the Of nonpayment OF rent
in which event the contract being violated by the ten
ant sufficient notice should be given to enable him to
secure another home at cheaper rates before no was
thrust out Of doois.
AT the close Of these remarks, Mr.. Desohman re-
peated. in German. the remarks he had already made
10 English. While thus engaged. hr. SeiDaeher, rep
resenaye cane upon the stand, aud said ne had H.
troduced bill into the Assembly. which he had no
doubt would pass. and whose operations would remedy
the injustice they had long been compelled to endure
He also urged bis bearers TO give their votes only TO
those who while in office would protect the interest
that had called them together
Mr.. Creamer, another representative was then intro
duoed lie was glad. he said TO meet 30 large gather
inz OF his fellow citizens OF the working classes He
had presented bill to the Legislature. year ago for
the purpose Of relieving them from the unjust snd ex
orbant demands OF landlords lie now supported the
bill to which Mr. Seibacher bad referred In conver
saon with the Chairman Of the committee to whom
had been referred that gentleman who was from me
xp af fha ato n landlord
objected because gave the tenants too much power
Give the tenants power lie exclaimed; Why gentle
you have az the PS%S'w s s'es sO s nS
laws You are the fountain Of power ard Of law; be
careful therefore that you send only such men to your
legislative halls as VIII obey your interests and 40 as
back 10 Albany or not; but there here, he would
never be content until the working cses had an equal
right before the law with the rich. lie concluded
amid loud applause.
At the close OF Mr.. Crcamer's remarks ex-senator
Cozzens came upon the stand. He advised his fellow.
citizens not attempt any radical measures Their
present troubles from the fact that the agents Of
property had the power under the law, 10 com.
pei the evacuation Of his premises at a moments 20.
toe; to have warrant issued in the morning. made
rcturnabe In the afternoon. and executed IN the mi die
OF the night IL his terms not complied WITH a.
though he msde them known only at the moment the
ren. became due The notice in cases of non pay i
meat OF rent gave the tenant three days grace; bat
when the rent was advanced none was given. The
monthly receipt was offered In evidence that the con-
tract had only been made for month. when II II
had been for year. and there was no witness save the
wife Of the tenant she would not be permitted 10 tes
ty which left the tenant wholly at the mercy Of the
landlord or agent. The law now before the Legis. \
lature was intended to remedy this defect and
10 give the wife In cases Of this kind the privilege
Of making counter affidavit. He advised
them, Furthermore. 10 have written contracts with
agents In which event advance OF rent would be i'm.
possible until the time expired He oited cases he had
heard II wherein families had been thrust into the
street while their fathers nj work which would
ave been prevented il written contracts had been |
made. Others in which the wife had paid the rent In
The absence OF the husband the agent had denied the
fact and when the case came before Court the wites
rendered against the tenant The new bill would rem.
edy this defect in tho law. In the time he urged
them TO patience. IL they were compelled TO wait q
year. they wait; but to remember the power they
IN the baotb box. Let them learn courage patience
and long suffering from their wives but TO
sgitate the matter until they finally brought the law
makers to such terms as they might propose They
must not be radical or extreme-ony Just; for they
were true to themselves only when they were Just 10
Others He desired that the landlord should have bis
rent the agent his percentage. the workngman his
rights and % this end be would strive IL the future
he had in the past.
Mr. Lyons also a representative, made a short adj
dress but the rain descended more ana more rapidly
10 the discomfort Of all At the other stand speeches
were made by Messrs. Sulter, Chaible Goetner kah,
Kanth and others. in German. The meeting was not
turbulent or noisy but II seemed determined. There
was nothing violent demanded. nothing violent said;
but II was characterized by such sentiments sooner
or later make themselves felt and by such notions Of
Justice as being conscious Of power need only 10 be
heard 10 be successful We have. OF course given the
merest abstract Of the addresses but We have faithfully
nsaed them into our own Phrases and fairly stated
The spirit that Of characterized the meeting.
s-s-
Creton Aqucduct Deparsment-Award Of