Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-07-31
Two Owners Do Not Appear at
Hearing Before Board OF
Trade Committee
HOLD HEARINGS WEEKLY
Another Tomorrow Night---
Mrs. Cohen Admits Raising
Rent of Undesirable Tenant

Facts which seem to point to the
guilt Of some of the landlords as rent
profiteers, were brought out last nignt
at the hearing on complaints OF rent
profteering made by tenants Oh va
rious houses IN the city.
Although four cases we're to have
been heard, only two cases came 10
the attention of the committee, pe-
cause OF the fact that two landlords
failed to put in an appearance at
the hearing.
This failure on the part of the land
lords to appear, in view of the fact
that all the tenants who had .g3s-
tered complaints which were sched-
uled to be heard last night, were
present lends the opinion that either
the landlord is prof1teering or else has
no respect for the government, under
whose auspices the hearings are
heard.
The committee is composed Of
three members, one representing the
manufacturers, one real estate ana
one labor, although only two mem
bers were present at last nights
meeting. They were DR.. /. M. White,
representing the manufacturers, ana
Daniel A. Shirley, real estate. Will
liam H. Sellers, representing labor,
was not present.
The hearing was called to order by
Herbert Grant, of the Homes Regis
tration Division of the Bureau OF In
or pass on q verdict, although EFFORTS
dustrial Housing and Transportation,
u. g. Department of Labor, who ex-
rlained in detail concerning the curb
ing of rent profiteering. The commit
tee will meet weekly, stated MT.
Grant and IS here to draw out eyi-
dence, but he pointed out that the
committee could not Judge the case
or pass on a verdict, although enorts
l. -. GQfiQfaG-
tory agreement between the tenant
and landlord.
The first case was that of Mrs. @.
Hartung of 385 Madison avenue
<Vagainst Mrs. galley Cohen OF State
street.. When this case was nrst
opened, Mrs. Cohen. the landlady, had
not as yet put In en- appearance.
that she be allowed to speak for her
mother. Her request was granted.
tJpon question by Mr.. Grant, she
stated that their rent IN March 1919.
was sis, In April 1917 # was raised
to $40, and IN July 1917 II was raised
TO s2s. On the seventeenth OF this
month she stated that they went 70
nav their rent and that Mrs. Cohen
refused TO take the money and told
her that she must pay $40 or get out.
She stated that there had been no
improvements made to the house and
that the Board of Health had visited
the place twice because of its uii-
healthy condition and said they would
notify Mrs. Cohen. but no results were
shown. She stated that they could
not use the bath, as Mrs Cohen had
shut off the water. They had been
without the bath for the past six
months: there are four In the family
occupying five rooms on the third
floor.
Cohen arrived. She at once put up
objections when she learned that the
daughter was testjfying In the moth
er's place The daughter was allowed
to continue her story.
The daughter stated that she is en-
ployed In the Evans munition plant
and that other girls were working In
shirt waist factories and war plants.
She stated that there were no men
in the family. She said that the three
other families in the house had also
been raised.
Mrs. Edward Ely, who occupies a
house also owned by Mrs Cohen.
stated that her rent had been raised
70 $40 and that she formerly paid
s21. She stated that her husband is
a shipbuilder and she has a daughter
working at the government plant at
Morgan.
she said they havc no gas. that the
stove will not burn, cellar Is flooded,
and when II is not II ls Impossible TO
slime. She also stated that she had a
son I'll from the foul smell about the
Mrs. Ely stated that her family oc-
cupied i've rooms. that 1t Is a two
story house containing four families.
In closing her case Mrs. Ely stated
that Mrs. Cohen told her she was not
80 ~ ~
Both families stated that they were
trying TO move but could not find suit
able houses. Mr.. Grant informed the
ladies TO continue 70 stay In the prop
erty.
Mrs. Cohen was then given an op-
portunity TO state her side OF the case.
The houses were new, said Mrs. Cohn,
having only been built ten years ago.
They had been rented for $40 but she
had only been able TO get the rent little
by little. She maintained that the
daughter was not working and that
the people do not live respectfully.
She said that new tenants could have
the houses for s2i II they We're re-
spectacle people. 1T Is breaking my
heart" stated Mrs. cohn. ito make
them get out"
She then told how they were de-
stroying the property, breaking down
etoops. burning up blinds and doing
other damage 20 the houses. She main
tained that II they did not get out for
$40 she would raise the rent TO 800.
Mr.. Grant then tried to settle the
case satisfactory 10 al concerned.
Roth Mrs Hartung and Mrs. Ely were
Nilling 10 pay e33 per month for the
property, but Mrs. Cohen refused 70
make adjustments in either case.
The next case was that OF Mr.. and
Mrs. r. Lund, Of 10s DeKalb avenue.
vs. iandlady. Mrs Augustine Cheren-
slgy. Mr.. Lund stated that they rent
ed six rooms IN January for $50 an3
that the rent nad been increased 20
$50. He said that Il had been iInpos-
eIble 70 use the bath room tor some
months and that II was only fixed a
short time ago. The trouble being
dirt and rust IN the pipes. all that was
done was 70 take the pipes apart and
run wire through them. The raise In
rent came shortly after this had been
done.
Continued on page Sd