The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
BRONX TRADE BOARD,
PLANS RENT PROBE
Will Investigate Building
Loan and Mortgage Con-
ditions.
NEW HOUSES DEMANDED
Downtown Owners to Estab-
lish Free Renting Agency
at IA Second Avenue.
NEW HOUSES DEMANDED

The work Of the housing committee
OF the Governors reconstruction COM
mission ana the Mayors committee on
rent pronteering Is being supplemented
by inquiries along similar lines by vari-
Gus boards and bodies IN the greater city
with the object Of finding q way to put
a stop TO tho continued boosting OF rents
and to solve the question OF better hous-
ing conditions.
The law committee OF The Bronx
Board of Trade. which has been consider
ing these matters, has Just made re-
port in which the members believe It
struck the nail on the head when II
said:
"In the opinion Of the committee relief
will be found only in tho speedy erec-
ton of an adequate number Of apart
ment dwellings,"
The report OF the committee, Of course.
is confined only to the situation in Tho
Bronx. a situation that IL duplicated In
all parts Of the city and in many parts
Of the country.
1.-THE problem" tho COMMITTEES says,
"is one of economics and not OF law.
The scarcity OF housing accommodations
has given the inscriptions landlords an
opportunity to increase rents out Of all
proportion to rental values and has COM
PEELED the needy tenant TO submit
TinkerinE with the statutes will not cure
I this disease.
THE Governors commission on recon-
struction seems to have taken UP this
subject from the proper anglo. A thor
ough investigation of housing conditions
and also of industrial conditions in the
building trades and then of mortgage and
building loan conditions in the financial
world may lead to a getting together of
builders and bankers and to proper meas
| ures of substantial and permanent re-
lief
| THE law committee would recommend
that committee from the Industrial bu-
reau be formed. with which this commit
tee will be glad to cooperate, to make a
study of conditions in the Bronx and to
| tender its cooperation and assistance to
the Governors Reconstruction Commits
sion and such other organizations as
may be working to the same ends"
The report was adopted by the Bronx
Board Of Trade and the committees rec
| ommendation al to joint action with the
Industrial bureau will be carried out at
once. Tho law committee consists of
Herbert A. Knox, chairman; Joseph NJ.
Callahan. County Clerk: Francis Martin,
District Attorney: John Davis. T. Emory
Clocke. Douglas Mathewson, \. B. Nor
rison. Everett L. Barnard. Harry B.
Chambers and Louis Q. Van Doren
The Greater New York Taxpayers
Association, whose members own more
than 1000 houses. largely between the
Battery and Thirtieth street. proposes to
establish "a renting agency" without
cost to the public. Notices are being
sent out to members and non-members
| to send to the associations headquarters,
144 Second avenue, lists of vacant apart
ments with description and amount Of
| rent. The association intends to issue
booklet contain information about these
properties for the benefit OF home seek
ers and. It isn't going TO cost any would
be tenant penny.
1--WE will be able to furnish homes for
hundreds OF families Max Ferber. in
charge OF the Associations headquarters.
said Yesterday afternoon. There ism t
any doubt about this. During the war
when people were making high wages in
lmunition factories and elsewhere. many
moved out OF the East and West sides
They went into apartments where they
wanted steam heat and electric light
IThey lived beyond their means and now
lCannot keep up the pace. Now they
are seeking quarters with lower rents"
| The officers OF the Greater New 1orR
Taxpayers Association are: Meyer Gold
berg president; Samuel Isaaca vice
president NJ. Kahn, secretary. and
julius Feinberg. treasurer.
1t was announced yesterday at the
offices of the Governors Reconstruction
Commission. Hall OF Records, that the
survey of its housing committee, now
embracing thirty-three blocks in the
greater city, coon will be continued to
cover the State. Tenants whose rents
have been increased without rhyme or
reason, still are unloading their troubles
on the committee. Hundreds OF COM
plants are being analysed and investi-
gated.
Abram I. Elkus chairman OF the Re
construction Commission, wrote TO Nathan
IIIrsch, chairman OF the Mayors com
mlttee on rent prolteering. yesterday that
he and Mrs, Henry Moskowitz. secretary,
will attend the meeting OF the Mayor :
lcommittee IN Mr.. IIirsch's office in the
Municipal Building tomorrow a. i. NJ,
William n. Collins. chairman, and mem
bers OF the committee on general welfare
of the Board OF Aldermen, which has
been empowered 10 hold public hearings
on the rent question, also will be present
An effort will he made TO coordinate
the activities of all three bodies in the
hope of reaching the objective by the
| shortest DOsaibla cut