New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-06
HIGH RENTS on EAST SIDE
PROTESTS BY RESIDENTS.
Meetings of Tenement House D7cell-
ers CaLLed-Many EUictiOHS.

Tenement house jewellers on the East Side are
AT last becoming thoroughly aroused against the
continually increased rentals demanded by land
lords Meetings not only to protest against the
exactions OF the lessees and "cockroach' land
lords, but 10 consider ways and means OF out
whiting their demands. are daily being held
throughout the East Side. Two meetings have
been arranged for tonight and two Tor To-
morrow night 20 take concerted action.
Realizing that the courts could offer little re
dress the tenants OF the double tenement house
at Nos. I70-172 Nonroe-st.. It was learned by a
Tribune reporter yesterday have since last week
been resisting the increase o. rent demanded oy
the landlord. They won decided victory
yesterday not only successfully refusing to he
evicted. but compelling the lessee 20 revoke his
demand for increased rental. and TO have
printed on the receipts a promise that the rents
shall not be increased.
Henceforward the tenants Of this building
which houses some forty families. viii pay their
rent through their committee. Similar sue
cesses the fruits OF concerted and determined
action are reported all along the line.
This is the only way tenant on whom
cispossess notice had been served told the re-
rorzer You must go TO the landlord or lessee,
su together. and tell him thai you WILL all OF
you either refuse to pay the increase he de-
snands or else. ~ he persists leave the tenement
81 q body. When you make a landlord feel what
the alternative viii be no one but a blockhead
would persist IN his demand for increased rent
and see his entire body Of tenants desert HIS
house"
From Inquiries made by the reporter II ap-
,pears that the revolt against the landlord began
about three weeks ago. and strangely enough.
fn the GalIoian quarter. This quarter is the
stronghold Of the Austrian Jews who are among
the most ignorant OF the East Side population
The quarter takes IN Rivington, East Houston
Pitt Broome and Delaney SITS. The Galicans'
however, organized, and the concerted move
irnent 20 fight the landlords IS daily spreading
The increased rent seems 20 be attributable 20
the subletting by landlords OF their properly
and the lessees' further subletting each subse-
ouent lessee or "cockrOach" landlord, increas-
sng the rent Many sub-lessees, indeed. know
snely lease the tenements at cost for which
they are aware they can recoup themselves only
by Increased rents. 1t Is the tenement house
dwsller who has 10 foot the bill Increased rent
els are now systematically being demanded, not
only on the East Side. but in the poorer dis
tricts OF Brooklyn, and even as Tar out as Pater-
son, n. J. 80,
90 Harlem and The Bronx. Few among the jew
fsh papers apparently Joining the campaign,
with the exception Of Forward The socialist
,-he tudicIarv whose bailiwick the East Side IS.
sst sSr NV Increased rerts inciines 10 deprecate
she holding Of mass meetings ano the fonnentlns
Sustice Sanders last night:
While IL is true that the increased rents are par
italy due TO the avarice OF small landlords or
iessees who hold only A small equity in the prop
erty there are also many other reasons for dis
Tossess notices and higher rentals. The recent
fearing down OF buildings for public improvement
means evictions 70 the tenants OF the pullelrgs
themselves. and by curtailing the supply end in
creasing the demand raises the rents elsewhere IN
the neighborhood The repairs and improvements
entailed by the UNFOLDING OF the Tenement House
law last year also tend 20 Increase prices
None the less. I deprecate the holding OF mass
me
between landlord and tenant and the booming OF
she tenant by the notoriety which he Is receiving
The court is bound to enforce the law, and II the
tenant Will not pay the increased rental his only
alternative Is to go elsewhere
Justice Hoffman. while conceding the hardship
necessarily caused TO the tenement dweller by
raised rentals, saw IN completion OF the rapid
transit system the only solution to the problem.
said he:
] have stated in open court that the present
tendency was 10 increase rents. and am allowing
the tenant She utmost limit permissible The law
must be administered. however. and II the tenant
cannot pay he can but 90 elsewhere The only sOlu-
lion can IS in rapid transit.