The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-06
Judges Induce Many Landlords
to Compromise With
Tenants.
OTHERS GET EXTENSION
Army Unable to Furnish Cots,
but State Will Equip
Churches.

:" 'HS HNe porouBnb yesterday. COM
paratively few evictions were ordered
the treat bulk OF the actions being fur
Their adjourned to give tenants an oppor.
tunity to find homes. In many instances
the Justices managed to induce land.
lords &c compromise with tenants in the
matter of rent increases and the pro.
ceedings were withdrawn.
In practically all the courts 1t was
apparent that the Justices were deter
mined TO give to tenants all possible
latitude 30 far as consistent with the
law. in order that families should no,
be subjected to undue hardships. The
comment was frequently heard that the
judicial heart played n leading part ir
the days proceedings, and even some OF
the landlords accused OF rent proftcerins
admitted that they were glad II did.
Thus far not a single evicted family
In the city has applied for temporar,
sleeping quarters in any of the Methodist
churches, which have been placed at the
disposal OF the Mayors committee or
rent profiteering by the Joint Centenary
Committee OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Nathan Hirsch, chairman OF tn.
Mayors committee, announced last eve
ming that he had been informed from
Washington that army regulations for.
bid the War Department lending 1000
army cots to the city. 1t had beer
planned to set up these cots In the
churches. The army rules expressly
stipulate that no army equipment OF
any kind may be turned over to n mu.
nicipality except in the case of an earth
quake or some other great emergency
II was suggested that the State OF New
York might be able to help the city out
Mr.. Hirsch called Gov. Smith on the tele-
phone at Albany and the Governor
agreed TO furnish the equipment needed
as soon as the Board OF Estimate would
give guarantee that II would be re.
turned In good order.
Equipment available for this purpose
the Governor said, consists OF 500 cats
and 600 blankets from the arsenal and
1900 cots and an equal number OF blen.
kets from the Military Training Commits
sion at Camp Blauvelt.
Capt. Charles A Goldsmith, U. s. NJ
retired. who is looking after the church
housing plans for the Mayors commit
tee. reported to Mr.. Hirsch that tho War
Camp Community Service Is prepared &c
II needs after Thursday
Tammany lawyers were detailed at the
municipal courts TO look after the In
terests of poor tenants who didn't have
attorneys or were unable to look after
themselves. Some OF them had a very
busy day. These lawyers belong TO the
special committee appointed by the
Democratic organization to cooperate
with the Mayors committee.
Records for a days disposses pro.
ceed!ngs were broken in the Second
Municipal District Court in The Bronx.
Justice Michael J. Scanlon had $50 case.
before him for hearing. and he heard
them. too. According TO the Justice, no
two OF these cases were alike, and in the
entire batch only two indicated attempts
Mt downright profiteering on the part OF
landlords. There wasn't a single eyic.
ton.
Justice Scanlon said II was his obser-
walton that practically all the eo-called
rent profteerinG Is being done by persons
who lease buildings from the owners and
proceed to Jack up rents
Tenants Get Breathing Spell.
In the Second District Court OF Man.
haitian. at 264 Madison street, where
most Of the lower East Side ca ses are
taken, Justice Benjamin Hoffman had
before him $50 summons, which were
filed on May l. OF this number thirty
were thrown out on technicalities and in
the remaining cases tenants were allowed
from Ave to fifteen days in which TO find
new homes. Many landlords withdrew
their complaints after tenants agreed tc
nav increases In rent amounting to one.
half the sums originally demanded
However the landlords insisted that These
tenants should sign leases
Samuel Dicksten, who appeared, n,
attorney for any tenant who wished
che. found his most Interesting case &c
be that OF Fannie Dubowitz VS. William
Artz. Mrs. Dubowitz asked the court &c
evict Artz from 81 Ridge street. The
testimony showed that Jacob Dubowitz
her husband. owned the house up 10 a
few days ago. Artz declared he made
an agreement to pay $27 a month rem,
and subsequently Dubowitz boosted the
price to $50. Later. he said his land.
lord decided the property TO his wife and
Mrs. Dubowitz promptly demanded ss5
Because the tenant declined to pay he
was served with a summons. The Jus.
tice adjourned the hearing and ordered
subpoena issued for the production Of
tho Dubowltz books 20 see whether the
landlords expenses for repairs SC. Jus.
tlneu the advance IN rent.
Mrs. Alice Carroll OF 458 East 135th
street. who appeared in Justice Scan.
Ions court. was permitted to remain
where she is for three months without
molestation because she Is the wife OF a
gunner's mate on the Northern Pacific
She has three children and was slightly
IN arrears for rent Her husband Is still
in n hospital suffering from shell shock
Fifty-five tenants OF an apartment be.
longing to a Mrs. Jane Rudinsky de.
manded a trial by jury and will get II
The tenants went on strike in March
following the eviction OF one OF theiI
neighbors. Then Mrs Rudnsky ordered
three men whom she believed to be ring.
leaders 10 move. and this precipitated
another strike. On May the landlady
started the ball a rolling 10 get rid OF
everybody, The tenants say they would
like TO stay just where they are. The
trial was set for Friday.
Justice Wauhope Lynn OF the First
District Court, Grand and Lafayette
streets, granted continuance OF dis
possess proceedings against tenants oil
houses at 46, 4S and 80 Clarkson street
The court said II was understood the
Trinity Corporation Is the owner OF the
ground on which the houses are located
and which is under lease to Mary L
Kenney, widow of an Alderman.
Following the refusal OF the Land
lords Protective Association OF Browns
VILE to permit arbitration OF the de-
mand of the Brooklyn Tenants Unior
for n decrease OF 10 per cent. In rents
members Of the union are refusing e
pay rent and wholesale evictions ar,
threatened. Placards appear in many
windows reading as follows: 'Dowr
with the Landlord - strike Here n
This House - "Dont Sc1b!' I'VE De-
mand 10 Per Cent. Decrease :" NO Re,