New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-25
100000 Flats
Needed i'm CITY.
Asserts Hylan
$4,000 Apartments Must BE
Built Each Year to Ac-
commodate Growth Here.
~ae Declares i'm Report
1862 Now Under Way
Praises Present Rent Laws.
but Says Others Are Re-
quired to Meet Situation

Mayor Hylan made public yesterday
his report or local housing conditions
with recommendations for submission
to the Joint Legislative Committee on
Housing. The Mayor sets forth that
at least 100000 additional apartments
are urgently needed to provide homes
for the city's growing population.
A total of 1862 apartments and
homes are now under construction, he
says, but to meet the abnormal demand
a sufficient number of tenement houses
must be erected each year to provide
at least 10000 apartments" The re-
port is based upon the recommends
tons of the Health Department made
to the Mayor several months ago after
q survey.
After reciting the findings of the
Housing Conference Committee which
was appointed by him, the Mayor saws
ne does not anticipate chat the pres
ent landlord and tenant situation,
which is so satisfactorily being taken
care of under the rent Legislation now
effective, will grow more difficult
to handle IN the fall" There is a
general belief, says the Mayor, that
the present rent laws will be equally
potent and protective in October as
they are now"
Urges Additional Laws
Additional laws are needed to afford
protection to retail storekeepers and
manufacturers who have been the vic
TINS of gouging landlords, the Mayor
declares, adding that manufacturers
OF clothing, shoes and other wearing
apparel have been compelled to adj
vance their prices to the retailer. with
me result that the cost OF living, in
stead OF coming down, is going up, al
though the war closed almost two wears
ago"
The wisdom of enacting legislation to
curb protiteering landlords is cues
toned by the Mayor, who says in this
regard:
"All landlords are not rent gougers.
IN net. the great maj ority IF the land
lords are honest, ana l know of in
stances where the rent has not been
raised. Most OF the property owners
seek only fair and reasonable return
upon their investment. They should be
encouraged.
eve should, therefore, be careful of
restrictive legislation, which, however
much 1t may serve one purpose might
ultimately defeat the principal object
we have in mind-the attraction to and
not repulsion from the building invest
ment field Of available capital.
Immediate Building Program
81 respectfully suggest to YOUR com
mittee the necessity for taking this
phase of the matter under serious
acvisement with a view. if deemed ex-
pedlent, of preparing bills which will
by doing substantial justice to- all
concerned, accrue to the public good"
The housing conference committee,
the Mayor adds, will be looked to as
the agency to persuade financial and
lending institutions, building materials
men, builders and organized labor to
take up with renewed vigor an immedi-
ate building program and consider it
not merely from the viewpoint of per-
sonal interest, but of public policy and
as patriotic citizens, whose duty is first
to the community and artery ard to
themselves.
Legislation should be enacted au-
thorlzlng some responsible body to pass
on permits for construction-"o only
such construction" the Mayor states,
"as will relieve the shortage of living
as is in the public interest"
ut is Manifest he adds, "that to
the casual observer the only construc-
ton on large scale in this city is
the building of office structures. fac
tories, garages, lofts, theaters. etc"
1t is the Mayors opinion that there
is no need of attempting any repeal of
existing rent laws, that "they were
not only intended to protect the tenant
but also to serve the honest landlords"
The work of the Rent Profitecring
Committee is also reviewed in the
Mayors communication. "This COM
mittee,' says Mayor Hylan, "lnvest1-
gated thousands of complaints and di-
rected the appearance before it of
landlords and tenants involved in dis
putes.
"The very publicity of all the pro-