The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-06
FINDS GRAFT AMONG
APARTMENT AGENTS
Mayors Committee Learns One
Man Got $1,000 Bonus for
an Apartment.
TENANTS H0WLS GROW
Naval Officer Offers to Fight
Landlord Who Raised Rent
s17 in His Absence.
TENANTS HowLs GROW

scrn. agents and supcrintendents of
.rartrent houses are among the latest
!. ,ake advantage Of the get rich quick
r,ut profteering game, according to
,sn who are bearing the brunt Of the
vorS of the Mayors Committee on Rent
Prcdteerins.
csses are on record where the agents
and superintendents made anywhere
e-Drn $40 to $1,000 as a reward for
sndlaR apartments for sorely distressed
seekers OF homes
In one instance lease for an apart
,,snt. which rented for $500 year, ex-
rlred. The tenant sought long and dill
vsptly for another apartment and failei.
men he appealed to the superintendent
Al an apartment where the rents were
was looking for and the superintendent
got $1,000.
Men and women who have been COM
RELIED to take their rent troubles to the
committee for adjustment have given
information TO the effect that agents and
superintendents of buildings are making
hay while the sun shines, demanding and
rettIng big fees for finding apartments
IN buildings over which they are wholly
or partly In control.
Arbitrates IT Cases in Might.
The committee, Of which Nathan
Hirsch is chairman, is working with full
steam on. Complaints OF lacked up rents
are becoming more numerous as the
leasing date OF October 1 approaches.
Capt Charles A. Goldsmith arbltrated
cases for the committee from o'clock
Thursday night until 3 o'clock yester-
day morning in the Kings county Court
house In Brooklyn, and didn't stop once.
OF seventeen cases which came before
him thirteen were settled. Practically
all were adjusted on the $3.50 basis.
hat is, the landlords agreed to accept
one-haR OF the increased rentals de-
handed and give monthly tenants a
yearly lease. In one case alone sixty
two tenants were saved Sc a month and
the landlord was obliged under the
agreement to reduce by s4.464 the in
come on which he had been figuring.
As Capt Goldsmith was putting the
finishing touches to an alleged rent prof
iteering case in which he saved IS ten
ants S. each per month. somebody stole
the best silk umbrella he ever owned.
The bulk OF the cases are being han
needy. Assistant Corporation Counsel IN
charge Of the committees legal affairs at
headquarters.
The liveliest case before Mr.. Kennedy
yesterday was that involving Lieut. p. ].
Comerford, U. S. N, tenant, and H.
Stern. landlord. Before 1t was over the
Lieutenant offered to fight 1t out with
bis fists at any convenient place the
landlord would deign to select He de-
eared that he would be delighted to
take the landlord to a chip and pitch him
overheard
Comerford received Ave wounds in the
spsnish-American War and was in the
service dur 'ng the last war. He has been
a tenant in Stern's house at IA West
1i1th street and until some time ago
paid $50 month rent. Then the land
lord notified Mrs. Comerford that the
rent would be raised s5 and she de-
elined to pay. Later she got notice of
another raise of $12 a month, or SIT
: In all, and again refused, saying she
would have to consult her husband. who
was then at sea-
When Lieut.. Comerford returned and
heard the story of the rent increases, he
appealed to the Commit on Rent
Profteering for redress, saying that he
was protected from the increase by the
soldiers and sailors relief bill
Landlord IL Obdurate.
Stern commended that the Lieutenant
wasn't protected by the Federal act be-
cause he was no longer in active service.
The Lieutenant on the other hand IN
sisted that he is on reserve. drawing a
retainer allowance of $12 a month He
recently enlisted with the Shipping
Board and is expecting orders momen-
tarily to sail.
Mr.. Kennedy strongly advised the
landlord to permit the tenant to remain
IN the house. Comerford saying he would
land up the increased rental demanded.
The landlord. however. said he proposed
to stand on his constitutional rights and
nat the tenant wo1.t. nave TO get out
II was this stand that caused the Lieu
tenant to invite the landlord to fight II
cut.
Mr.. Kennedy said ne would look
further into the legal status and In the
meanwhile referred certain. alleged san
tary violations to the Tenement House
Department for investigation