New-York tribune., 1920-03-09
Hylan Invites
City Tenants
To Join Strike
csnunu.d from sass ~.

fully championed by the authorities,
rent strike in Jersey City, it is just
as effective so far as individual cases
go. Mr.. Hilly said. About 200 persons
day are joining the strike, or are hav-
ing their differences with landlords
adjusted amicably. The only reason
10000 instead Of 200 cases day are
not brought before the committee is
because the public generally does not
know about the strike.
ANY tenant who feels that his land
lord is trying to profiteer will receive
our attention." said Mr.. Hilly. "Ou1
method is simply this If the tenants
complaint is found justified, we send
for the landlord. If the landlord re-
tor him. Then we listen to his explana-
tion. 1t usually is the same-that the
cost of maintenance has gone up and
that his income doesn't mean as much
as it used to.
1--WE figure out the value of his in
vessment and the amount of yield.
Landlord Generally Yields
"If the yield is 20 per cent we tel,
him he ought to be satisfied with that.
He usually offers some other excuse,
with the result that compromise is
effected. A demand for a SO or $40
increase is often compromised on a
basis Of 50. The refusal of landlord
to compromise at all is usually over
come when we promise to send staff
OF tenement house inspectors to his
place.
Zone time committee representing
tenants in a whole row of tenement
houses complained that each of the
tenants were to be raised IS or 81 a
month. l inspected the row Of tene-
ments and found the landlord wanted
the increases to cover the cost of a
lot OF repairing which the places were
badly in need Of. Not a cent do you
get, I told the landlord. You want
these people to pay the cost Of repairs.
Do the repairing first and then come
and talk to us about increases Some
months later the landlord reappeared
and said the repairs had been done.
He compromised on 50 or SO increases.
"Of course strikes never will solve
the housing problem in New York. The
real trouble is that there is a shortage
OF apartments and houses. The solu-
tlon might be in the enactment of some
legislation which will encourage more
building. Let us have 50 many apart
ments and houses that some Of them
Will be empty for time. Then prof
iteering will cease"
Mayor Hylan did not indicate what
action he would take on Mr.. Gannon's
"His plan of dealing with rent prof
iteering in Jersey City has proved yery
effective" said the Mayor. 81 was much
interested in the details he laid be-
fore me. l shall give his excellent
scheme very serious consideration"
Mr.. Cannon said he was confident
that Mayor Hylan felt hostile toward
rent profteers.
Mayor Means Business
"The entire Jersey City plan, which
mas brought unscrupulous property
owners to time, was laid before the
Mayor" said Mr.. Cannon. "The rent
profteers of New York can be sure
Of one thing-your Mayor means bust
Twenty-four families in the Browns
vile section of Brooklyn, who Joined
q rent strike called by the Tenants
Union, were evicted yesterday after
noon. The tenants lived in two build
ings owned by Mrs. Sina Basin, 2410
Ocean Avenue. Notices had been posted
on the premises saying that the strike
was on. One thousand spectators
David Goldberg. City Marshal,
and his assistants pile furniture into
fifteen vans. The evicted tenants said
they would double up with neighbors.
E: w. Engle, attorney for the union,
said he had found that many Brooklyn
landlords were inserting an anti-baby
clause in their leases.
"In my opinion there isn't a court
in Christendom that would sustain
lease with an anti-baby clause in it,"
he said.
DR.. Royal S. Copeland, Health Com
missioner, will sit on the bench TO-
day with Municipal Court Justice
Crane, in the Seventh District Court.
500 West 125th Street, to hear testi-
mony in rent cases. The purpose of
the Commissioners visit will be to as