New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-01
1000 Tenants. Were
Brought Into Court
During the First Three
Months of the Current
Year by House Owners
Seeking Greater In
come or Possession
of Premises Occupied

If you are liable to the whims of
the law of supply and demand, in other
words, if you are rent payer, it
would be we'll that you prepare your
self for your day in court because
there is every reason to believe lot
of renters will be compelled to plead
for mercy in the courts of the city
before the housing situation has been
materially improved. The fact that
you have been good tenant and have
paid your rent promptly does not make
you immune to eviction. The family
which has paid and is willing to pay
is no more sure Of it's home than the
family which cannot pay. New ten
ancy permits a landlord to establish
new rental scale far above what he
could expect or legally obtain from an
cid tenant. Under the guisc of urgent
necessity, based on the fimsiest of
reasons. eviction is asked for by a
landlord that he may cvade the % per
cent limit and greatly increase the
income from an apartment house.
Machinery of Justice Hard Pressed
Every municipal court in the city is
crowded daily with landlord and ten
ant cases. The Mayors Committee or
Rent Protitecring has done wonderful
work in adjusting rent disputes and
preventing evictions by explaining the
law to the landlord and to the tenant
also, when it is found that the renter
is not entitled to the protection which
the rent legislation provides. Five
hundred cases a week is nothing eX-
traordinary for the committee to
handle. But there are cases which the
committee cannot or will not adjust
q ,,,%o ~
for adjustment. There were more
than 100000 tenants in court last year
defending their right to live in various
apartment houses, and during the first
few months of the current year as
many as $4,000 were in court on the
same mission, but this year there are
rent laws to help them in their fight
against eviction and prohteerng
When the judges strip the COM
plants of landlords Of legal verbage
it is surprising how callous humanity
seems. Compassion is an unknown
quality in the makeup Of many Of the
persons who are in control of housings
and were it not for the broad view
taken by the Judges who hear these
cases, the evil aspect of the situation
would be very much worse.
Under pressure landlords admit that
the reason for demanding the premises
of families. irrespective of their char
acter as tenants, is to pass them to
others OF a higher rental basis. Not
every one who rents is subject to the
avarice # the protiteer in house rem
tails. Before relief comes in the form
of increased housing facilities it would
not be surprising if nearly every ten
ant who has lease for year or less
should be in court to explain why a
disposess should not be granted or why
he should not be compelled to pay a
rental out of reason.
Gcntlewomen Forced Into Court
Folks of every character and in every
section Of the city will be found in
court these days on landlord and ten
ant cases. Gentlewomen who have
never been before a bar Of justice have
approached the scene with the greatest
of horror. Business men are taken
away from their affairs to protect
their homes. 1t is the most exasperat-
ing situation folks have ever had to
contend with and repeatedly evidence
is given at these rent hearings that
good natured New Workers have reached
the end Of their patience and are out
for anything which will punish those