New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-24
Measure Providing for
jury Trials i'm Cases
of Eviction Expected
To Be Passed To-day
Legislature Asks y
Aid of Congress
Federal Priority to All
Shipments of Building
Materials Is Requested
From a sta1 Correspondent


ALBANY, Sept. 23.-The Legis-
lature reinforced the rent laws to.
day with four amendments designed
to strengthen the position of tenants
opposed to rapacious landlords, and
passed another bill, the purpose Of
which is to encourage building prof.
ects by providing a more extensive
market for the Land Bank and en-
abling building and loan associa-
tions to obtain funds more readily.
Both branches of the Legislature
adopted resolutions requesting the
assistance of Congress in relieving
the shortage of dwellings. The Fed
eral assistance sought is the grant,
ing Of transportation priority to
shipments of building materials; the
investigation of an alleged con-
spiracy on the part of dealers in
building materials to maintain or
increase prices and the exemption Of
income from mortgages from the
Federal income tax.
Even more drastic anti-landlord
legislation is expected tomorrow.
both houses being ready to pass one
Of the Lockwood housing committee
bills which would guarantee the
tenant against eviction by landlord
who wanted to get rid of him simply
because of his refusal to pay an un-
reasonable advance in rent. The
judge and jury are made arbiters
6f the question Of what constitutes
an unreasonable advance. The bill
aims at virtual abolition of sum-
mary eviction proceedings.
Grounds for Dispossession
When the bill becomes law only
three grounds may be considered by
the court for granting dispossess.
They are:
l. Where the landlord wants the
property for his personal uses.
2. Where the landlord has ap-
proved plans for new building to
put up in place of the old.
3. Where the tenant defaults in
his rent.
Under this bill it will be impossible,
according to legislators, for the mu-
nicipal court justices ~ New York
City. who have not interpreted the
anti-rent profteering bills as the law
makers intended to find in favor Of
profiteering landlords. The critics Of
the courts made it point to say that
an overwhelming majority of tho
judges of the municipal courts rose to
the occasion and interpreted the laws
as intended by the Legislature-in IA
vor of tho tenant when the tenant was
in the right
This bill, with others passed to-day
by both branches of the Legislature
virtually puts the dwelling houses Of
the City of New York under control Of
the judges of the municipal court.
The bills passed to-day TO give further
relief to tenants make the agent, man@
ager and superintendent of an apart
ment house equally liable with the own.
er or lessor for failure to render proper
service; authorize the court granting
q dispossess by defaul. to vacate the
warrant upon adequate grounds pres
sented by the defendant together with
an explanation Of his failure to appear
at the original hearing: stippiate that
at least five days must eiapse heswea&
the serving of dispossess notice and
its return date, and authorize the. Sus
preme Court or its Appellate Division
to stay proceedings pending an appeal
in hold-over action or one inyolving
failure to pay rent.
The State Land Bank act is amended
by the fifth bill, passed with the inten-
ton of stimulating building operations
by making bonds of the bank legal in-
vestments for sinking funds and trust
funds of the state or any city within
it. The Assembly passed all FIVE bills
unanimously. None OF the five had
more than five opposing votes in the
Senate, and two of them were passed
by that body unanimously.
Text of Bills Passed =
The bills passed to-day follow: =
Section !. Section 2040 of the Penal
Law is hereby amended to read as foI1
lows: :!
204o. Willful violation Of the terms
OF lease. Any lessor, agent, managert
superintendent or janitof Of any bu8ld-
ing or part thereof, the lease OF
rental agreement whereof by its terms.
expressed or implied, requires the
furnishing of hot or cold waters>heat,
light. power, elevator service, telephone
service or any other service or facility
to any occupant of said building, who
willfuily or Intentionally fails to
furnish such water, heat. light, power,
elevator service, telephone service or
other service or faeility at any time
when the same are necessary to the
proper or customary use of such builds
ing. or part thereof. or any lessorsl
agent, manager, superintendent az
!anitor who willfully and Intentionally
intsrferes with the quiet enjoyment Of
the leased premises by such occupant
Is guilty Of misdemeanor. \
z: This act shall take effect immedil
ately. ''''"eesi
SECTION !. Title Q Of Chapter II al
the Code OF Civil Procedure is hersha