The sun., 1919-06-01
LANDLORD CALLS
TENANTS TYRANTS
Appeals to Mayors Committee
on Rent Profiteering
for Relief.
ACCUSED MUST EXPLAIN
'Let Your Children Eat Less
Is Ascribed to Another
House Owner.

Tenants in $50 Riverside ayenue,
Brooklyn, have been directed to appear
with a lawyer in Room 1919, Municipal
Building, Tuesday afternoon. to explain
TO Capt. Charles A. Goldsmith. field
agent for Nathan Hirsch. chairman OF
the Mayors Committee on Rent Profit.
ecriny. why they haven't played fair
with their landlords Heretofore land
lords only have been the victims Of the
committees Official gridiron.
Henry Steinhardt, a tailor. who owns
"the house Of trouble" as no calls Il,
cornered Capt Goldsmith yesterday and
demanded protection from his tenants
for himself and family. He said he had
stood 1t Just as long as he could and
like the worm, he had to turn. IA he
had read in the papers that the Mayors
committee had helped a lot OF tenants
wiggle out OF the clutches of profitcer-
ing landlords. he said, wouldn't the COM
mittee be SO good as to do something to
grant relief to poor landlord. ~.
Made Agreement I'm July.
On July 10. 1918. steinhardt explained.
he entered into an agreement with ali
his tenants to govern the renting OF his
apartment building for one year He
hot water every day. except during June,
July. August and September. when the
hot water now was to be limited to Fri
day Saturday and Sunday for bathing,
and on Monday for the family wash
ing. The rents were fixed to range from
$14 to VT. The agreement stipulated
that three members OF the Working
mems Consumers' League of Brownsville
and East New York should constitute a
grievance committee with power to
srbitrate all disputes between landlord
and tenants.
1t was perfectly plain from the agree
ment, as drawn, that the landlord didn't
have much 10 say about anything. Stein
hardt confessed that he signed the agree
ment for the simple but powerful reason
that some Of the tenants threatened that
It wouldn't be well for him to do other
wise
Not long ago the tenants went on q
rent strike" with the occupants Of a
lot Of other apartments in Brownsville
and East New York. This means that
they demanded reduction Of 10 per
cent In all rents and paid their rents,
not to the landlord. but to a committee
of tenants pending the settlement Of
their demands o.,
The agreement set forth that II Stein
hardt failed at any time to supply hot
water when hot water was due, he would
be compelled to deduct certain sums
from the rent of each and every tenant.
Last Sunday there wasn't any hot water,
and howl went UP. The landlord was
accused OF not living up to his agree
ment and was told that It was up to
him to make good.
Tenant breaks Heater. e.
But couldn't make hot water, Mr..
Captain" Steinhardt said "One of my
tenants went into the cellar last Sunday
and smashed the hot water range with
an iron bar. So I come to you as a
poor landlord to help me. I haven't
raised my rents. The agreement won't
let me. / haven't dispossessed anybody.
I don't want to. No matter which way
/ play. I lose. am willing to agree
to anything II my tenants will give me
a chance to keep my wife and children"
whereupon Capt Goldavi'h declared
that the Mayors Committee Eas formed
to protect landlords from tenants as we'll
as tenants from landlords. and Stein
hardt kissed the Captains hand and
walked out
According to a letter received yester-
day by the committee from n troubled
tenant in Forty-thTd street, Brooklyn.
rents IN the house have been raised 10
a month since last September and he
and bis neighbors protested. After
listening to their plant. the writer said,
the landlord replied. give your children
an egg less to eat each day and you can
pay my advances"
The inquiry OF the Joint Legisla-
tive Committee to investigate housing,
scheduled to take place at the BroFA
until Wednesday morning at the City
Hall