New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-25
.Hylan Issues
Plea to Stop
Rent Strike
Mayor Declares Against Vio-
lence by Tenants Who
Seek by Walk-Out to
Avoid Paying Landlords
Vandalism Is Denounced

Investigation Will Cover
Storekeepers Who Have
Been Victims of Gougers
Vigorous and immediate action will
be taken by Mayor Hylan against rent
strikers who attempt sabotage or vio-
lence OF any kind, he declared yester-
day. Chairman A. j. Hilly of the
Mayors Committee on Rent Profteer-
ing said the committee stood for law
ana order "frst, last and all the time "
and that it opposes any "mass action. u
announcement of the Mayors posi-
1lon was made after he had a confer
ence with David Hirshfeld, Commits
sloner OF Accounts, on the reports of
.nreatened strikes on May / by $4,000
tenants IN Brownsville and the Bronx.
The Mayor declared he not onlv
regretted talk of rent strikes" said
Mr. Hirshfield after the conference
but he will do> everything in his
power to prevent vandalism and to
punish any perpetrator OF it.
Protection for Merchants
AT the same time the Mayor ex-
pressed his belief that the legal tri
bunals will see their way clear to ex-
tend the proper protection Of the new
laws to store-keepers who are beinc
forced to pay unwarranted rentals
The imposing Of unfair rents on these
storekeepers, the Mayor thinks. ia
helping to keep up the prices of food
stuffs.''
"The Mayors committee, as we'll a.
the courts, looks with disfavor on any
mass action in connection with the rent
troubles.
STRIKES, sabotage, vandalism and
other action of the kind threatened.
and already used to some extent. are
llkely to initiate against the tenants
and result in the undoing of much good
work that has been ACCOMPLISHED
Tenants should consult the committee
rather than pay misguided agitators.
Advice is given free and it is the best
advice they can get"
Ihere was a general hope among
real estate men yesterday that the
voluntary raise of 81 day given the
100000 men in the building trades,
amounting to 100000 week, will re-
suit IN building boom. Labor troubles
nave been one of the most serious
impediments to the resumption of con-
struction, because Of iusta bility of con-
dltlons and uncertainty as to q supply
OF men to complete projects once be-
gun.
This raise, it is hoped, together with
the promise of another one next wear.
unless the cost of living decreases, will
stabiilze labor conditions and make it
possible for contractors to count with
some accuracy on the cost of projects
Sons Record Saves Home.
The fact that her son had been
killed in action in France after show
ing exceptional gallantry saved her
home yesterday for Mrs. Esther Rosen.
Of 987 South Fourth Street, Brooklyn.
Mrs. Rosen, with other tenants of the
apartments, was in the Lee Avenue
court for failure to pay the rent.
Justice Dunno arranged compromise,
which provides for 81 increase, with
years lease from May /. Each ten
ant was asked whether this was salts
factory and all agreed until Mrs. Rosen
was reached.
!, Il guess it's fair enough" she said
through an interpreter, "but it will be
too much for me-"
The justice asked what was the mat
ter, and she produced a worn and dirty
document which proved to be citation
for extraordinary bravery, issued to the
commander of the First Machine Gun
battalion of the A. E. F. 1t told how
benjamin Rosen had stayed at an ex-
posed advanced post, under direct shell
tire, holding off the enemy until killed.
her old rental" the justice ruled. He
promised to bring her case before Con-
gress in an effort to have her allow
ance of $28 a month increased. She
has seven children.
Failure to Raise Rents Charged
Because Of the alleged failure of
the Rotary Realty Company to main
tain rents on apartments in it's posses
sion at their current rental values,
action has been taken to have the
company pay to the owner Of the
property the sum Of $8,493. This sum,
in the opinion Of 1. Maurice Wormser,
referee, Of 120 Broadway, represents
the amount in addition that should
have been charged the tenants.
The report of the referee will be
submitted to the Supreme Court in
Brooklyn tomorrow.
Miss Rose Palmer, Of 1882 Park
Place, Brooklyn. a lawyer, with Offices
at at 0S Park Row. brought an action in
the, Supreme Court to compel the
realty company to render to her an
accounting of property at 1894 and
1896 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, this
property consisting Of sixteen apart
ments. She gave the company a deed
to secure mortgage and asked them
to manage the property for her. Not
satisfied with the returns she was re-
ceiving, she asked for the appointment
Of referee 10 determine what, if any
thing, was due her.
1t is stated in the referees report
that the realty company "has uncon-
scionably and unjustly kept the rents
Of the apartments in the premises
far below the value of such apart
ments in the general neighborhood
and willfully and negligently failed
and refused to increase the rentals
after repeated demands by the plain
tiff to do 500
The report states further that the
called upon to do So"