New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-03
Trying to Justify Their I'm.
patriotic Act on Higher
Cost of Operation
Tenants at Their Mercy
Shortage of Modern Housing
Gives Them Whip Hand
Over the Lessees
BY ARTHUR r. NICHOLSON

anu private uNellluss are Acting toW-
ard their tenants with monthly or other
short-term leases in way that will
not cause any one to speak we'll OF
them. Just now, when they have been
called upon TO give proof of their pa
triotism, to do nothing that would re-
tard the cause for which heir country
has entered the war, they 10 most
reprehensible thing in "skyrocketing
rents so that they are, or will soon
get, a much greater return than they
ought from the money they have in
vested in their properties. They are
taking a mean advantage of the plight
that confronts vast numbers Of tenants
as q result Of the war situation and
are raising all kinds Of reatals-apart-
ment, private house and business.
Probably never in the history OF the
city was the supply of modern apart
ment house sites so small in compari-
son to the pressing needs Of the hour,
and the longer the war the more acute
will become these needs. In the face
of this these landlords are trying to
Justify their despicable act which be-
comes more reprehensible the more one
talks with the owners as they are
gloating over their ability, their power
to get higher rents. talking as If they
should be considered like business men
II l4rHV
more Justify an unpatrlotic act than
you can prove that gang OF yeggmeh
is not dangerous. BY the time man
becomes a big landlord he ought TO
have a pretty good sized thinking cap.
At least. his experiences in the local
real estate field ought 10 have taught
him his duty TO his fellow man ana
toward this country, whether It be ms
country by birth or adoption. Most OF
these landlords long ago passed the
milestone Of youth; a few, however,
are of conscriptable age. The only
place where the majority could capably
serve their country is, therefore. IN
their home town, serving thus by help
ing TO tighten the heavy burden that
war will bring to many residents mere
and by seeing that those who have
been called 10 do active war duty do
not dodge that duty No, you do not
have 20 be in the first or second line
trenches, constantly facing death, or
on some board or committee in charge
Of the war machinery, 10 be as true a
patriot as ever lived. You are such a
patriot il you will conseerate your
waking and sleeping hours to perform
ing loyally and intelligently whatever
service YOU can render for the benefit
of this country. In some instances X
NAV be absolutely necessary for land
lords 10 raise rentals to meet carrying
charges. But it is a dastardly act 70
boost rentals just to fatten one
pocketbook.
The Landlord Speaks
This is how one of these unpatriotit
landlords speaks about his realty af'
fairs: "You know, | got topheavy
with realty in the boom days just prior
to the opening of the subway. in 1904
| became owner of some OF the specu'
latively built fathouses OF that period;
most of the houses were built more
for show and TO sell and not to stand
hard usage. I bought when prices were
highest and when they began to break
| had TO pay good stiff bonus TO
renew the mortgage. And ever since
that mortgage has been constant
worry to me: | have always been fear
full that might not be able 70 have 1t
extended in financial crisis or depres,,
sion. and then the house would be sold
under foreclosure and | would lose my
interest in the property.
an 1907 things looked very black for
me. | had many vacancies at the
height of the realty depression, and
had to make very liberal concessions
before I could get new lessees. win
he vacancies. however, the total yearly
rent roll was greater than the cost OF
maintenance and other charges
The Turn for the Better
ain 1913 | began TO feel confident
from the increasing number OF m
cuiries for suites in the district that
the city had grown up to that section; !.
that j. il was no longer suburb or
the metropolis. but an integral part
81 the town. 7 increased the rentals
slightly and each renewal or new lease
LaS been at a higher figure than at the
nreyious contract. How happy my To-.
would have been had the expense OF
keeping the property in good rentaole
condition not gone up. in many cases
much faster than the rentals? or late
,ve'ye had tenants unions threatening
% erntv our tCuses, coal men eharg-
INC ms 90 or 50 and even more a ton
for coal than they did few years ago.
md oven then we cannot get the neces-
sarv supnly Of coal. Cold flats have
noIe tenants very angry, and we nave
bai n stop threatened lawsuits by re-
drc;rc some rents for few months,
II Il true we have increased rentals all
,iorc tho line. We are getting from
t2 to & room more in the majority
~ cases The times warrant even Dig
cor Increases than have been placeu'
Tho call TO arms OF men between TWEEN
t,.'ore and thirty will result IN many
families looking for smaller quarters
90 cleo thew will open their door 10
boarders, to young women VINO a. a.
Going TO take places LETT vacant uy w
sterner sex in the commercial ana plo-
fessional world. These home upset
t,rgs and ventures Will mean NOR
baZards for landlords. We are certain
building repoirs will cost more Jus,
how much no one can say. huhnfeos
Of very efficient plumbers VIII ne ID
~ bo,tle trenches. We feel that We
viii mot get as good Jobs done as we
have OF late years. i,
A man so bent on grasplng the 40, :
lar should never have been permitted
10 no New York landlord for any
length Of time.