The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-16
RENT PROFITEERING
LAID TO LESSEES
"Gouged" Tenants Unable to
Find Owners in Maze
90 Of Agents.
g.
ACTION URGED BY ELKUS
Aldermen Will Aid in War
on Increases-Jersey City
to Use Tents.
ACTION URGED BY ELKUs

Sufficient evidence has been obtained
by the housing committee OF the Gov
ernor's Reconstruction Commission to
Justify the belief of the investigators
that much of the unreasonable rent
boosting, of which tenants are bitterly
complaining. is the work OF lessees of
'buildings.3 and not the owners. There
are many indications that certain les
Sees are in the "gouging'' operation for
all there Is In It, and tenants cannot
help themselves because there are not
enough apartments to 20 around.
VI Abram I. Elkus. chairman Of the COM
mission, said last evening the survey,
as made thus far, shows renting condi-
tfons to be serious. 1t was his opinion
that something fundamental must be
done
Many of the heads Of families on the
twenty-five typical blocks visited by
surveyors" confessed that one OF their
greatest difficulties was TO find out who
their landlords are. They knew that
their rent was lacked UP and they had
10 pay to the rent collector or get out,
voluntarily or by dispossess, but when
they tried to protest to headquarters
apparently there wasn't any such thing.
.~s Aldermen Back Hunt.
1.-THE Board Of Aldermen yesterday
ADOPTED a resolution empowering it's
committee on general welfare to inves-
tigate ront increases and to cooperate
with Mayor Hylans committee which is
cunning for rent profiteers. The alder
manic inquiry will be directed especially
% the practice of landlords entering
Into agreements with lessees whereby
rents are increased beyond a reasonable
amount The Investigators will have
tho power to hold public hearings and
Scompel by subpoena attendance of wit
nesses and the production of their books
sand accounts.
&, Nathan Hirsch, chairman OF the
Mayors committee, notified the Recon-
ssruction Commission yesterday his body
Will turn over TO the commissions hous-
ing committee all facts 1t obtains which
tplay be worthy of the State committees
consideration. At the headquarters of
ethe Reconstruction Commission It was
sand that Mr. Hirsch's offer is a move
towards coordination.
Mrs. Henry Moskowitz. secretary OF
the Reconstruction Commission, said
more volunteers are needed to assist in
Work connected with the block survey
sshe would like to have volunteers re-
port to Miss Helen E. Redding, Room
1909. Hall of Records.
AZ In Jersey City there Is such a short
cage OF houses that James F. Cannon,
Jr., director of revenue and finance an
nounced the City Commission may pitch
tents in city parks this summer to care
for the overflow" Experts have al
ready reported to Mayor Charles p. Gil
len OF Newark the necessity of arrang-
ing for tents in parks the surplus
population in the biggest city of Now
Jersey Is to be sheltered during the hot
spontha
Delegation Seeks Relief.
A delegation from The Bronx will go
TO Albany this morning to appear before
SENATE committees to advocate the pas
sage of remedial legislation proposed
sat meeting Of Bronx legislators, Mu-
snicipal Court Justice and county officials
last Sunday.
- IF nothing Is done at this session OF
the Legislature" Mr.. Callahan said last
night there will be another year Of In
action. We want, IL possible. to get
something in the way of temporary re-
lief in court proceedings. so that Mu-
nicipal Court Justices may have more
sdiscretion in the matter Of time in deal
ing with tenants against whom Gispos-
sess proceedings have been started and
thus prevent distress and hardships
which are now so common
Daniel w Blumenthal a LAWYER, at 35
Nassau street, issued last night a state
ment In which he declared the RESPONSE
bility for increases in rent and resultant
hArdships to tenants rest, not solely
with the landlords, but primarily with
real estate mortgage corporations and
individual money lenders. He said
something must be legally done in the
very near future to prevent exhorbi-
tant mortgage money being advanced
at the expense of the poor tenant. Mr..
Blumenthal said Chapter 303 OF the
laws of 1918 gives no rights TO tenants
and protects the landlord from every
standpoint. Under the law, he said, a
monthly tenant is subject to the will or
caprice of the landlords nve day no
! tice to get out.