New-York tribune., 1919-04-25
Plans for Relieving Stress
Here To Be Discussed;
May Ask Smith to Call
Legislature on Problem
Landlord Is Questioned
Tenants Present Grievances
to Committee and Ask
Adjustment of Claims

meeting to be called shortly 70 discuss
housing conditions in New York. Chair
man Nathan Hirsch, of the Mayors
Committee on Rent Profteering, Will fix
the time and place for the meeting
within the next few days.
This move was decided on yesterday
at conference of Mayor Hylan. Mr.
Hirsch. Corporation Council William
p. Burr and John P. Leo, head of the
Board Of Standards and Appeals.
The meeting will discuss various
plans for relieving housing conditions
and the advisability of requesting Gov
ernor Smith to convene q special ses-
sion of the Legislature to take action
on housing problems. One measure
which will be presented as possible
basis for legislative relief is the Dodge
bill. entitled can Act to Amend the
Tenement House Law Generally" This
bill died in committee at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature.
1t would make possible the convert
ing of old style residences which now
house only one family each into apart
ments which would give shelter to
many households. According to Mr.
Leo, the passage of this bill would re-
suit in providing shelter for 10000
families by next fall.
Endorsed by Authorities
The measure, it was said, had the
Endorsement of the Fire Commissioner,
the Tenement House Commissioner,
the Real Estate Board of New York,
the State Federation of Labor, the
Building Trades Employers Associa-
tion and other bodies. 1t had been op-
posed, Mr.. Hirsch said. by Lawson
Purdy, of the United Charities. and
John J. Murphy, former Tenement
House Commissioner. These men will
be asked to attend and voice their OBJ
Jections.
The meeting also will endeavor 10
launch a get-together movement be-
tween tenants and landlords to agree
on leases for longer terms. Investiga-
ton, Mr.. Hirsch said, had shown that
the plan of renting from month to
month without leases was productive
of many evils The question Of gov
eminent assistance also VIII be dis
cussed.
Corporation Council William P. Burr
suggested to Mayor Hylan that an in
ventory be made of all the city-owned
property to discover how many empty
lots are available on which buildings
may be erected and what vacant or
partly vacant city-owned buildings
might be used for housing Such an
Investigation, Mr. Burr suggested,
might be made by the Tenement House
Commission.
Housing Data Considered
The advisory board of the housing
COMMITTEES OF the State Reconstruction
Commlsion held meeting to consider
data gathered in the recent canvass
q the housing situation in New York
lhe public was excluded from the
meeting.
Why did you increase your rents ?"
asked Commissioner Hirschfeld yester
day of George Rawak landlord
brought before him for investigation az
TO whether his property assessment
shouN be increased.
So ~e can at least break even on the
property" Rawak answered at is
losing $4,000 a year even at the in
creased rentals
well you are not giving any of your
property away, arc your" asked the
Commissioner.
No. answered Rawak
Commissioner llrschfed ordered the
DOORS OF the Jacob New Realty Com
pany', o. winch Rawak Is president. re-
tanned Tor examination BY department
accountants jacques Sjlverman. virs.
pfssiaent ana counsel for the company.
ASKED thAt his expert accountants work
books y" s"e
IT my accountants cannot hnd out
|hat ls'in these books without any aid,
"'' ore thsfa, replied Mr. liirsehhed,
Neglected Mayors summons
Mr. kfVsk was sabpmnaed to appear
pstofe the Commissioner OF Accounts
alter ne had refused to heed sum
mons IRON the Mayors Committee on
Neht ffohteerng, to which complaint
Haa Deen made by one of his tenants
.John REV, artist, of $50 West Fifty
s'gnth street, the complaining tenant,
testihed yesterday. He said he had oc-
eupied seven-room apartment there
ssnce March, 1916 that no repairs or
aecorations had been made since that
NM ana that requests for repairs had
shet WIN no response. He said he was
notihed last year that his rent wonJd
ne increased from S45 to s52.50 Auonst
=, Asie, and in February received no
I'VE tnat April 1t was again to he ad-
a"sso to Sio. He was unable TO find
ang'ner suitable apartment, he said
Snu hao remained, but had not vel
been notified to vacate. ''"u No'
trew said the house was in baa ~
dition, and that in 1917 tenants Hon, ~
been told that they could havo a;+sel n@u
heat or elevator service, but mot hn.L
Ihey had chosen heat, ne said. and -.
had made no complaint because he roai
lzed the difficulty OF getting coal fhat
year. 's'
Rent Reasonable Then
"You took advantage Of him" said
Nr. H!rschleld TO Rawak, "and he put
up with it, for he was paying then q
reasonable rent. Now, without anv.
thing additional except elevator ser.
vice, you raise him $50" Frew admit.
Ted he had not been able to find an
apartment Of similar class for less
rent.
When asked what his property was
woorth Kayak answered, "What we
paid for H." He said he would sell
1t for $i16,000, and that it was as
gessed for $4,000.
Il am manufacturing milliner and
not q real estate man. he said. "We
wa y sell" He asserted the min
imgn ozs on the property IN question
nad been $4,000, although the com
p&ny owned some property which wax
breaking even. Rents, he admitted.
had been advanced on all such.
Wnere do you get the money 10
loser asked Mr. Hirschneld. '"
We have money" answered Rawak
we have other pieces which pay
"Why did you refuse 10 come dow,
wren Ms. Hirscb summoned YOU %
esksd hf. Hirschneld.