New-York tribune., 1919-05-01
Mayor Appoints Committee
to Ask Governor Smith
for Aid to Bring About
Better Housing Situation
Charity Agents Attacked
Purdy and Murphy Blamed
for Failure at ALBANY
of Dodge Relief Measure

Mayor Hylan appointed a commit
Gee yesterday to ask Governor Smith.
on behalf of the City of New York, to
convene special session of the I.egis-
lature to consider housing legislation
The committee was appointed as
result OF public mass meeting to sug-
gest remedies for rent profiteering
presided over by the Mayor yesterday.
Forty-six speakers advocated relief
measures ranging from application Of
the golden rule to imprisonment of
gouging landlords and municipal con-
Struction.
The committee to wait upon Gov
ernor Smith will consist of Edward j.
Hannah, president of the Central Fed
Grated Union; Miss Mary Lilly, men,
Der of the State Assembly; Alderman
William Collins, Nathan Hirsch, chair
man of the Mayors Committee on Rent
Profteering. and Judge Robert L. Luce
To Urge Suitable Laws
They will suggest to Governor Smith
that the Legislature consider suitable
1 laws to prevent rent profiteering and
amend. if necessary, the charter of New
York City to permit the issue of cor
porate stock for funds to construct
apartments and pass the Dodge bill
amending the tenement house law to
permit the cheap alteration of old four
story dwelling houses into apartments.
John P. Leo outlined the provisions
of the Dodge bill and said it's failure
TO pass was due to the opposition of
Lawson Purdy and former Tenement
both of the United Charities Organi-
zation.
Mir. Leo said the bill would make 10,-
600 dwellings available for alteration
and provide immediate relief for 80
600 to 10000 families. Senator Dodge
spoke of the opposition to the bill and
said: eve have got to cut out these
up]ift societies, including the United
Charities Organization"
Murphy Opposed Bill
Who is at the head OF that organi-
zation?" asked the Mayor "Purdy and
Murphy" replied Senator Dodge "Mur-
saw it, and l am sure he had never
seen it, and later threatened he would
kill the bill"
Did Murphy sign the register Of
lobbyists at Albany." asked Mayor
Hylan. "lf he did not sign the boos
and talked to you about the measure,
is there not a penalty?"
"les, there is penalty" said
Senator Dodge but do not know
whether he signed the book"
Tenement House Commissioner
Frank~ Mann iadorsed the Dodge bill
aud ~s.@oa,cI federal law to pro-
Nss.e . Federal mortgage loan bank
asaeC tte iinei Of tho farm loan bank.
Aiae.s II. htterbury, controlling 500
moderate priced anartments, spoke for
the landlords. Gu have been listen
ing, 20 amateurs on this question" he
said The raisc in rents is common
TO everything IL life What you want
TO do Is to get private capital to buifd,
and tue way TO do il is to keep the
property cwncr rom beng bounded
and bedcvillcd by police. fire and health
boards and cthor agencies.
Tenant Pays for All
If the tax rate is raised the tenant
pays the bill, does he not" asked the
Mayor. Eventually it is nearly all
passed on 10 the tenant" said Mr.
s passed back to the tenant"
You are slower passing it back"
commented the Mayor. Mr.. Atterbury
was Kissed as he concluded his re-
marks.
Bernard Goodman, vice president of
the Greater New York Taxpayers As
scciation, said: "t am as honest d
young man as there is here or in Al
bany"
sv cred the Mayor
Goodman said the stories of housing
shortage were ridiculous. "Therc are
thousands of vacancies' he said.
People want a Waldorf with marble
III the vestibules. Why should not the
owner raise the rents? All Of us have
to bear the raises in everything. The
poor property owner is squeezed to
death from both sides. You who don't
brc
We sympathize with toe poor, but we
have to get money somewhere. If we
al could put our hands in Wander
bits pocket we would all be phlian-
tiaropists." He suggested lowering the
tax rate.
Alexander Law advocated taking all
o4 Long Island into Greater New York,
and that the city should build mill
IONS OF houses so every family might
have one.
Catherine Simms, of the Franklin
Inion, urged using cemeteries on
~h!ch to erect dwellings, Bruce Bliv-
esr, OF the New York Globe" said
mere was shortage Of $4,000 homes
ana urged the city to build. issuing
! necessary funds.
william Dalton, deputy comm sson-
er 81 corrections, advocated applica-
ION OF the Golden Rule and the DIV
i ing o1 apartment rent free to ten
ss.ss snas IN need He said he followed
Ars. George samuels suggested that
. sns plontsers be fined as food prof
III ana the proceeds be given to the
~. =. = MorSan, representing the Nav
" NsWarE, told Of measures taken
asefc; He said tomorrow 400 tent, tentu
~caid be opened for occupancy there
several tenants told their tronhIs.
and, at Mayor Hylan's suepestion 'tIs' u.s.
committee Of Tammany lawyers ai,d;na ~.
Ss. ss mayors committee arranged to
court r sn ta.nnrrn ne,orney at ;: each municipal
'shants In danger of dispossesgion
increasing of Rents