New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-22

TO Fight All
Rent Bills
Continued from page one

members were urged to attend, so as to
onset a show of strength which might
be made by tenants organizations.
Lack of complete harmony among the
property owners appeared soon after
Mr.. Browne called the meeting to or
der. He recommended a conciliatory
attitude on the part of the landlords
declaring that the Assembly was de-
eermlned to pass anti profteering
owners agreed to be satisfied with rea-
sonable returns they would find that
the tenants would have their way.
We want all the income we can get
the same as labor does" INTERRUPTED
John Becker, SIS East 123d Street.
You won't get what you want" re-
torted Mr.. Browne There is no doubt
that profiteering prevails. It is the
fashion among all classes. Not long
ago at meeting Of this association
every member present agreed that
every other landlord not at the meet
ing was protiteer. Their position was
that they alone were free from the
charge.
The Assembly is going to pass some
of these measures. You may make up
your mind to that. The Real Estate
Board has said that it is hopeless to
prevent it. 1t is up to us to seek the
passage of some constructive measure.
We ought to be satisfied if we can get
20 per cent net from the investments.
If we don't we will get it in the neck.
lhe Assembly's judgment as to what is
fair income may not be anything like
20 per cent"
MIR. Browne Defines "Net"
Mrs. Rachael Ellison, a property
owner, wanted to know how landlords
would survive on 20 per cent
Good gracious!" exclaimed Mr..
Browne, don't YOU know what met
means? 1t means 20 per cent clear
profit after all deductions are paid.
We ought to be satisfied with that
Ira j. Ettinger thought Mr.. Browne
was too severe on the landlords Cup
in Washington Heights and in Harlem
many landlords have been found who
have not raised rents at ALL" he said.
There has been a great deal Of exag-
geration about profteering landlords"
Mr., Ettlnger opposed a proposed
court judges the power to pass upon
the reasonableness of rents in suits
brought by tenants.
They are playing politics and then
passing the buck to the courts" he
declared. "You don't hear of their
passing laws against the profteers in
food, clothing, shoes and milk. The
milk trust is fagrantly profiteering
yet not one step has been taken to
stop it,"
Mrs. Ellison, who sat in the front
row. wheeled around toward her audi
tors. and, shaking her fist, said: Il
want 10 know what right has Mayor
Hyian to pledge the support of the
city tc any one who joins rent strike.
Gu. public officials are supposed to
represent all the people and not one
class against another"
-frs. Ellison's question was left IN
answered.
Thee per cent is as much as some
landlords receive on their investm ent
according to DR.. Henry w. Berg. He
asserted his belief that all the pend
ing bills were unconstitutional. "The
story of 95 per cent of the so-called
protiteers is that they have to pay
higher prices for coal, plumbing, dec
Grating and other maintenance" he
said. "Some tenants are reasonable
Ny sister lived in a nine-room apart
-ment which cost her $4,000. The land
lord wanted to raise the rent to 5000.
Did she put up fight? No. She
simply moved to a hotel and contented
herself with a suite of rooms which
cost $4,000. If some of the other
tenants would do that there wouldn't
be such a cry about proliteerrng. The
tenants haven't got monopoly of con-