The sun., 1919-05-24
LEVY ASKS ALBANY
FOR RELIEF ON RENT
Justice Favors Special Session
as He Looks for Trouble
Here October 1.
COURT BUSINESS JUMPS
'Profiteering Without Cues
ton" by Many Landlords,
Is Charged.

After submitting figures showing that
landlord and tenant cases in the munic-
ipal courts are increasing steadily
Aaron J. Levy, president Of the Board of
Justices, assured the members of the
Lockwood Legislative committee investi-
eating housing yesterday that he anti
cipates the greatest amount OF trouble
October /, when leases are due to ex-
pire.
Il do not think the courts will be
adequate in some parts of the city any
way to handle the business that will be
there" he said.
I'm spite of the intimate knowledge
that / have of the cost and inconve-
nience OF extra sessions Of the Legisla-
ture," Justice Levy said. II really be-
iieve that an extra session of the Leg
gle purpose. IL for none other. in the
hope of yielding relief to the people
of this city particularly. as perhaps in
other parts Of the State
Tho Justices report of summary pro-
ceedings in the Municipal courts showed
that during the first four months of
the year there have been 14,4S5 cases
In Manhattan, as against IA total of
1851 In 1915, 57.793 in 1917 and e.
Ss6 in 1918. In The Bronx during
January February, March and April
~
in 1916. 1858 in 1917 and 1860 in
1918. Figures for the other bureau. as
submitted. were as follows: Brooklyn,
1916, 21,495; 1917. 25,912: 1918, 21,777
Queens. 1916, 1.1sS; 1917. 2,042; 1913,
2,204. Richmond, 1915, 343; 1917. 397
1915, 406.
Justices See Much Prohteerins.
Justice Levy said there are many land
lords who are obliged to make normal
and reasonable increases in rent, be-
cause Of economic and other conditions,
but there are a greater number who
are absolutely profiteering without ques-
tion."
The Justice suggested an amendment
to Chapter 357 of the laws of 1889. now
requiring landlord to give a tenant ten
days notice in a holdover proceeding. so
that he would be obliged to give a thirty
days or sixty days notice. He ad-
vised also enacting a law which would
authorize the issuance of a stay by the
Justice after the proceedings were over
in spite Of the evidence and in spite of
the relations between the parties.
After making several other sugges-
tons the presiding Justice said in re-
Spouse to a question by Assemblyman
McWhinney that It might be well for all
the Municipal Court Justices to get
together and pass some recommendations
as to changes in the law before recon-
| mending to the Governor that an extra
session be called. He added he was
| sure that the Board of Justices. with enc
exception Ia Socialist Justice whom he
did not name) were all of one mind.
James B. Fisher OF 242 Broadway,
assistant manager OF the division OF
passenger transportation and housing
with the Emergency Fleet Corporation,
told the committee that real estate is
suffering from about as many disadvan-
tages as the ills that affect the human
body. AS everybody has suggestions of
remedies TO cure rheumatism and other
bodily complaints. he said SO everybody
seems to mix into the matter of trying
to fix up real estate. Mr.. Fisher said
there IL hardly a city in the United
States where there is not a shortage of
houses.
High Cost of Building Now.