The sun., 1919-05-02
COURTS HEAR PLEAS
OF 1000 TENANTS
Continued from First Pogo.

-
district. In ono case In which Mr.. Dick
stein interposed. q tenant. Max Bern
stein, 50 Willard street, complained that
his rent had been raised from s;5 a
month to ts5 and then to SIS.
About 200 cases came before Judge
Hoffman in the Second district yester-
day. There were somewhat fewer In
the First district. at Grand and lafay-
cite streets. In the Ninth district. which
covers the Yorkville section, there were
1874, q decrease of nifty over last year,
Pending the presentation to Gov.
Smith OF a request for a special session
of the Legislature to deal with the rent
profto ling situation here. 1t was an
nounc yesterday that the Mayors
comm would withhold further action
until & - word had been received from
Albany
Comp Its from many sections OF the
city continued to be received by the
committee during the day. As a result
Of one OF then Nathan Kaplan. So Lott
avenue, Brooklyn. appeared before David
Hirshfield. Commissioner Of Accounts
In answer to charge made by Mrs.
Rebecca Nebowick, one OF his tenants.
Kaplan admitted he had threatened her
with a raise Of SO q month. He said
he hoped to cause her to move. as he
had a cousin who wished to take the
apartment Kapian sent a letter to
Mrs. Nebowick in which he ascribed
taxes and the high price OF coal" as
the reason for the increased rental
Commissioner Hirshfieid told Kaplan
his assessment would be raised IN pro-
portion to the increased rent demanded
Fred Scheffer, 4s16 Sixth avenue.
Brooklyn. was another tenement house
owner to whom Commissioner Hirsh-
field promised an increased assessment
yesterday. Mrs. J. Hogan. who lives In
house owned by him at $50 Sixth
avenue. Brooklyn. complained that he
had subleased the fat to a Mrs. Jo-
hanna Brady. and that Mrs. Brady had
jumped her rent from s1s to $40.
Harry Fischel. a real estate dealer Of
81 Chambers street, submitted a plan
to remedy housing conditions in a let
ter sent to the Mayors committee yes
terday He would have the city bor-
row money at Az per cent. interest and
loan II to reputable builders at per
cent, the surplus half per cent. to cover
the expense of handling. Mr.. Fischel
suggested that the Board Of Aldermen
issue 800. 000. 900 worth Of bonds and
sell only enough Of them to meet such
applications as come in from reepon-
sible buyers.
One OF the letters received by Mayor
Hylan yesterday and forwarded to the
committee asked that the present agi-
tation regarding rents be stopped as
builders will not start operations until
they are satisfied that real estate Is on
solid foundation"
The difficulties which are faced by
landlords were depicted in a letter re-
ceived by Commissioner Hirshfield from
the Joseph Stern Company. music pub
fishers. II said that their real estate
had not paid a dollar in seven years.
The worm has turned the letter
went on. 'and the tenants howl because
landlords are trying to get back to
something like the rents which New
York real estate produced seven or
more years ago. Among the many
thousands of landlords who are trying
to save themselves and their property
and recoup their losses somewhat there
Is the smallest possible percentage Of
actual rent prohteering."
Tenants In the apartment houses at
$50 st. Jorn's place. Brooklyn. COM
planned yesterday that the new owner
the Artonbel Realty Company. had raised
| rents from $40 to SIS a month. giving
In some cases. but I'VE days notice for
the occupants to sign a years lease a,
the increased rentals or vacate. In sew
eral instances they charge that the In.
crease demanded amounts to - per cent
| a month