The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
LIMITED
IN Big RENT RAISES
Riverside Tenants Ask Dis
trict Attorney to Act and
Plan Civil Suits.

Charges that there is a conspiracy
on foot among New York landlords to
increase rents irrespective Of the terms
o. leases now in force were made yes
terday by Lloyd Willis, chairman Of the
Langhorne Tenants Committee, repre-
senting thirty-six of the forty eight oc-
cupants of the apartment house at S6s
Riverside drive, who have Just been
notified of increases in the rental which
they must pay after April 1, amounting
In some cases to So per cent.
Another instance, similar to the at
tempt that is being made to revoke
leases and raise rents in The Langhorne
was called to my attention this morn
ing" Mr.. Willis said last night. Walter
E. Rhein OF the Virgil apartments, 2240
Grand avenue, The Bronx, called me on
the telephone to congratulate the ten
ants OF The Langhorne on the fight they
are making.
''Mr Rhein said that the tenants of
The Virgil and The Katherine, another
apartment owned by the same company
at the corner of Grand avenue and
Buchanan place. had just been notified
81 rental increase OF approximately
81 per room In each OF the two buildings
effective April /. He also told me that
this was the second increase within a
year.
The 1easehold rights of every apart
ment dweller in New York city are in
volved in the fight we are making to
thwart the attempt at fragrant profiteer-
ing that has been launched at the ten
ants of The Langhorne. II is a test
case that will determine whether the
landlords Of New York can ruthlessly
set aside existing leases and under
threat of eviction compel tenants to
make new leases at an increased rental
based on the judgment of the landlord
as to how great an increase certain
groups of tenants will stand rather than
be put to the inconvenience of moving
else where
The protesting tenants OF the Lang
horne have placed the matter Of action
against the owners of the house and
their agents in the hands OF a commits
tee of six of which Mr. Willis is chair
man. The committee, under the advice
of its counsel, Henry Miller of 1S4 Mas
sau street, Is preparing to file a civil
suit to stay the eviction proceedings
Threatened by the owners. and accord
ing to Mr.. Willis will also prefer charges
before a city magistrate. The District
Attorney also has been asked to act in
the matter.
Mr.. Willis explained yesterday that
the ground upon which the owners Of
the Langhorne base their theory OF the
abrogatiou Of the leases held by the
present tenants some of which run until
1920, is that some of the lessees were
made parties to a bankruptcy suit in
which the property was involved and lost
their rights under their leases by failure
to put in an appearance when the case
was called. Those who were served
with notices OF the suit. and II was said
at the apartment house yesterday that
all of the tenants had not been SO served.
were said have been informed that
the service was only technical legal
step and that it's was unnecessary for
them to take any action in the matter.
member of the tenants committee
said yesterday that the unreasonable
attitude of the owners and their agents
was illustrated by their action in the
case of Mrs. Leon Robbins who was
notified of a very substantial increase
in the rental of her apartment. Mr..
Robbins is at present on his way to
France in connection with business mat
ters. and when Mrs. Robbins stated
that she would have to consult him
she was told that she could have four
DAYS in which to cable her husband and
get a reply. Due TO the exigencies OF the
censorship still in force on cable mes
sages nearly twice that period must
elapse before an answer TO any cable
ban be expected.