The evening world., 1920-09-25

tenants VINO ask no more man luStlce.
The Legislature has passed emergency bills which
provide protection against gougng landlords NOW.
Practical relief measures urged BY The Evening
World have been adopted They will become law
in time to avert landlord tactics which threatened to
render thousands OF families homeless after next
Friday "WwwWvWWwugsss
Detailed study Of the rent legislation passed last
night will be necessary TO determine its full scope.
But it appears certain that under NE new laws
no tenant can be ousted from the premises he oocu-
pies save (i) where The landlord can prove 10 the
satisfaction Of the court that the tenant is dsorderly
or otherwise Objectionable; (2) where the owner -
the premises actually intends 10 occupy them as a
dwelling for himself and his family, or (3) where
the owner has been duly authorized BY the proper
authorities TO tear down the building to make way
for new construction.
II the landlord raises the rent he will have to
prove in court the necessity OF the raise II the tenant
so demands
Tenants who have signed leases and who believe
the rents stipulated therein to be unreasonable can
have the rates in question reviewed and adjusted by
Municipal Court
Nor can landlord hencefodh Gust a tenant BY
the device of taking the case from the Municipal
to the Supreme Court
This programme gives promise OF proving plain,
comprehensive and effective
lis paramount purpose is to give extra protection
to tenants a! a moment when the latter are at the
mercy Of landlords who see in housing crisis only
their own profit
Such protection had to be positive and prompt
Whatever steps realty interests may take 10 dis
pute the constitulionality OF the measures passed
the latter are bound TO appear formidable, for the
present at least, TO any landlord who is tempted to
try prohteehng tricks 60" -r@N~-
Landlords and realty men will complain Of The
drastic character OF the new legislation
They may be reminded that an abnormal eco
nomc situation involving an acute housing shortage
has reaeed-despiie the higher cost of labor, coal.
&c--much less severely against them than against
hundreds Of thousands OF wags-eamers who have
TO have shelter for themselves and their families
When supply runs far behind demand in the case
Of a necessity like housing, the people whose acute
needs constitute the demand get immeasurably the
worst end Of It.
And where greed and rapacity take advantage OF
such economic upset, first aid is due the victims
who are least able TO defend themselves.
The other side Of the housing problem-consd-
Grafton Of ways and means to get houses built-re-
mains, It is no less important II calls for con-
structiye planning and action without moments
unnecessary delay.
But tine more imperative need was the need of
immediate relief for families threatened with The
loss Of their homes Public health was involved
Public welfare and the maintenance OF community
standards were concerned
II is to the credit Of the Governor. the legislative
Rent Committee and the Legislature itself that all
three coOperated TO assure the passage of sorely
needed relief laws in time to forestall the misery
and confusion that mus, Otherwise have followed
OF. I.