New-York tribune., 1919-04-13
Landlords To
Be Crilled ON
Rent Increases
Committee Headed by Rev.
A. Ray Petty to Use s'Piti-
less Publicity as Weapon
in Fight With Profteers

Rent profteers will be attacked by
three separate agencies this week.
The moves against apartment owners
charged with unfairly increasing rents
to their tenants are:
| Appointment of a special commit
tee, headed by the Rev. A. Raw
Petty, pastor of the Judson Memorial
Church, which probably will hold pub
lie sessions at which landlords will be
given an opportunity to explain
> Conference of legislators, magis-
trates and tenants at 2 o'clock
this afternoon in the Bronx County
Democratic headquarters, 862 fremont
Avenue, to devise means Of forcing
apartment house owners in The Bronx
specifically and in the state generally
to keep their profits down to reason
able figure.
z The Central Federated Unions, rep
resenting every labor organization
in New York, will call upon Governor
Smith to send special message to the
Legislature asking for action against
rent profteers.
First Called Most Important
OF these three steps the first is
looked upon by the occupants of apart
ments whose rents are still soaring
skyward as the most important.
The appointment of the committee
first was suggested by Mayor Hylan
in letter to Nathan Hirsch, chairman
of the Mayors Committee on Taxa
tion.
Officially the new body will be a
Subcommittee Of the tax body, but it
VIII have a separate organization and
Will work on It's own responsibility.
with the sole purpose of forcing rents
down to something approaching nor
NAL figures.
The committee, as suggested by the
Mayor, will include:
The Rev. A. Ray Petty, pastor of
Judson Memorial Church.
Edward T. Hannah, president Cen
trail Federated Unions.
Peter J. Brady, president Allied
Printers Trades Council
Henry Bloch, lawyer, 80 Nassau
Street
The Mayor concluded his note to
MIR. Hirsch with this suggestion as to
methods of proceeding; "To investi-
gate and take such means as would be
lawful and proper to put an end to
condition which is most dcspicable in
the eyes of all our citizens"
Meeting Called for Monday
Mr.. Hirsch Immediately appointed
the committee and called meeting to
be held in his Office In the Municipal
Building tomorrow afternoon. While
members of the committee were reti-
cent about discussing their plans prior
to their first meeting, it was agreed
that the most obvious method of fight
ing extortionate rentals was by the
use of publicity.
If landlords are forced to submit to
cross examinations as to their reasons
Tor increasing rents, in some instances
as much as 100 per cent in two years.
1t is considered unlikely that they
would take such action without giving
the subject ample consideration.
~ coutoe, We maven peSuH our
work and it is impossible to say def
initely what will be DONE" said DR..
Petty. "As conditions look now, it
would seem that there was consider
able justice in the complaints Of the
tenants. However, we cannot suggest
legislation or any specific action until
fuii investigation has been made. We
VIII know just how thai will proceed
after Mondays conference"
Conference in The Bronx
This afternoons conference in The
Bronx Will consider the complaints of
bronx tenants rather than the general
renting conditions, because it is charged
by the tenants that they have been
gouged with less mercy than have those
IN other sections of the city.
Inc meeting, which was called by
Joseph M. Callahan, chairman Of the
bronx County Democratic Committee,
will reach conclusions as to methods
Of procedure, and probably will ask tho
Legislature for immediate action
against proftccrs.
"This is disgraceful condition that
must be met immediately" said Mr..
Callahan. Tenants are being mulcted
beyond all reason. Many are rendered
homeless. The Legislature can handle
this situation more readily than anv
other agency. Some measure can be
drawn that will tie the hands Of tho
most greedy apartment house owners
Action must be taken at once. and that
is what VIC hope TO do at this meeting"
Action by the Central Federated
Union was promised after the oruanIza-
ton had been assured that Il would
have the support Of Governor Smith in
any move that promised successfuj
prosecution OF proftecring landlords.