The evening world., 1920-09-04
Lockwood Committee VIII
Ask for TenementS and
= Not Air Castles.
WHAT NEW LAW MAY BE.
Tax Exemptions and Suspen-
sion of Summary Evic-
tons Are Proposed.

their recommendations for The spe
cial session at Albany, called FOR
sept. 20 by Gov. Smith, to give re-
lief in the present house SHORTAGE
and rent prohteerins emergency.
The programme mapped out by
Senator Charles G. Lockwood. which
is understood to have Gov Smiths
tentative approval, is:
l. Suspend summary PROCEEDINGS
for eviction of tenants.
?. Start New York City on a pIon
to build and operate municipal tene. ]
ment houses.
.. Exempt new dwellings from ta1-
alton for period OF five to.ten years:
exempt mortgage income from In
come tax and memoriallze Congress-
TO exempt 1t from Federal income
tax; exempt Land Bank securities
from tax.
Some additional measures will re-
ceive consideration and may be en-
acted TO further the general scheme
Of relief, but foregoing are the sail
ent features Of the legislation out
lined.
The most optimistic do not hor.s
that final relief can be given hy e.;
Legislature, or that the laws TO ~,
lJassed will be an unnGxed blessing
10 either landlords or tenants. Il
may have a deterrent effect on any
building projects. But It will be the
Aest manner Of handling all abnormal
sltuation that the trainers of the
programme can devise, after long
drawn cut !avcgt;gat!on II which
every interest affected has been
given ample opportunity TO be
heard.
The third provision listed meets
e with the approval OF the real estate
interests. The others they have Bit
ieily attacked, with one notable ex-
cept!on-the United Real Estate
owners, Of which Stewart Browne Is
President.
Idward p. Doy lie, Secretary of the
Real Estate Board and also Secre-
tary Of Mayor uylan's Conference
Committee on Housong. was spokes-
nan for the opposition interests.
Robert L. Dowiing, President OF the
5ard, also appeared against it.
che principal objection to legisla-
Ion restricting rentals has been that
2. will discourage building Of multi
anlly dwellings by private interests.
hundreds OF pages Of record have
t,,cn written by the committees ste
.ographers on this point. Strangely
enough, not one single comprehensive
y.ogramme OF building by any pri-
rste interests has been offered by any
~ the opponents. They have not Of
,.red any buildings in the event that
lie Legislature will abstain from
restrictive" laws. Chairman Lock-
wood has sought in vain for any evil
Gence OF the private building enter
prIse that, theoretically, will be dis
rouraged. All he has been able to
bring to light have been air castles,
not tenements.
Justice Aaron j. Levy, who heads
the Municipal Court system, has ad-
vised the committee to leave the JUS
Ices considerable leeway i'll exercis-
ing their discretion. II finding for
tenants means an arbitrary stay for
a long period, Judges will hesitate to
work possible injury on a property
owner, Judge Levy believes.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST SUMMARY
DIsPosSESS PROCEEDINGS.
The summary proceeding to dis
possess, which many landlords and
tenants apparently have come to re-
gard as one of the fundamental rights
II property sanctfied by the Consti-
tuition, Is actually a special privilege
granted by the Legislature to land
lords, Justice Levy stated. He de-
clsred no rights will be infringed Il
the Legislature takes away or modi-
fies the special privilege. He ad-
vlsed that the law be reformed, dur
: ing the emergency at least so tha,
landlords would have to get the
courts permission to start summary
y proceedings. II the sworn petition OF
the landlord convinced the court that
he had the basis for an action, per-
mission would be granted. The ten
ant would then be summoned into
court to show cause why he should
not be dispossessed. This, Justice
Levy said, would end the present
abuse OF landlords dragging tenants
TO court month after month in hold.
over proceedings.
The municipal tenement building
plan would be established under &
general law permitting the City Gov,
ernment TO undertake any enterpris,
Necessary to the welfare OF its citl.
missioner OF Health that an emerg
Spcy threatening the public health
required such action.
The warmest advocates OF this plan
including Aldermanic President l.
0uardia, do not delude themSelve
with the IDEA that the city can bull,
- ansap'Y rs private enterprise. t3u
g., .ia..-.~,.. :; ".E vToS35e house,