New-York tribune., 1907-12-28
CITY IN TENANT STRIKE
Complaints Against Landlords Hid
Fight for Lo7cer Rents.

e.irr.ishinc continued yesterday in the war on
the East Side for lower rents. and while no de-
-i.iye action was fought there much 10
encourage The leaders OF the movement For one
-rirS the city departments began TO take notice.
srd while the Health and Tenement House de-
4ertn5ents neutral they have TO take cogn-
zsnce of complaints that landlords violating
,Re Sanitary Code or the provisions of the Tene-
,~eu- House Law And many tenement house
landlords &C. greater or less measure violate
toth il IS said
THe first victory by the tenants was in
e-srrcn street. Or. Wasserman, who owns the
,f house at No IS to %. convinced that he would
-ose II the enc by submitting to legal delays and
attacks the condition Of his house, decided TO
reduce the ren1s in accordance with the demands.
enc signed an agreement made 10y Jacob Panken,
tie lawyer who the leader OF the tenant forces
This news spread rapidly through the crowded
sections where the trouble promises to be most
VIDE spread. and caused great rejoicing.
Miss Newman was busy il all the spare time she
mad yesterday. which was not much. and az night
she talked four hundred women and filed them
with renewed zeal III their self-a appointed task Of
rroselyting. The women around all evening
talking 10 every who would listen TO them, and
1Hey refused 10 leave any tenement they visited
WITH they had a promise Of active support.
brownsville put il bid in the morning for any
-snsnts who have TO move. Real estate agents
from that section OF Brooklyn. which has already
gained greatly IN population owing TO the destruc-
ION of many tenement houses TO make way for
new bridge approaches. were busy all day painting
II glowing colors the advantages OF that part OF
tFe city. and promising low and model dwell
t7ss 70 al who move there. But rents viii have
70 be low 10 make up for the cost Of riding 10
and from work each day. and the Brownsville Of
fe-s not worrying the landlords much.
There are eviction cases pending now, but the
ee ders Of the tenants say that these must not be
taken seriously. Many tenants always in ar
7egrs and the rent strike movement has nothing
70 DO with them The tenants who deserve serious
eonsi deration. according Panken and Miss
oThers Who feel that they are not earning enough
now 10 pay higher rents than they were required
II O. until Z year ago
Neither Nj Panken nor any of the other law
zsrs who have volunteered to fight dlspossess pro-
raed rss VIII take the cases OF those who are
.I~es DIX IN arrears. The they have offered 10
Fcht are those Of tenants who refuse 10 pay rent
,-hen The demand is made next week for the jan
nary rents. Then the strength Of the movement
VII he seen. and then the landlords will he able
10 decide what to do.
Many Health Board violation orders are likely
70 be served today. and many landlords will. II
K thought offer reduce the rents if the tenants
vi consent 70 rayinE fer necessary repairs ms
s. what D-. NasserInan tried TO get his tenants
- 60 hut they wanted an unconditional surrender,
and rhev finally got it They have promised, how
ever in return for the concession, 70 pay rent
7,ror1ptIy and no effort Will be made by any Of
The strikers TO help those who DO not live up TO
this premise.