New-York tribune., 1920-04-07
Opposition to Profiteer-
ing Landlords To Be
Solidified Into Protective
Legislation at Once
2 2 500 Cases Heard Here
MavOrs Committee Fails
90 Agree; Clashes at
Bronx Court Proceeding

legged plans of rea! estate interests, to
take undue advantage of the situation,
to break down the housing laws and
to provide defense for tenants in
volved in litigation, was officially
launched last night at the first meet
ing Of the executive board of the Jew
ish Tenants Defense League at the
headquarters of the United Hebrew
Trades. 175 East Broadway
An executive committee to carry on
the campaign and other fficials we're
elected, and it was decided to get in
touch with other labor bodies as we'll
as with all tenants organizations and
with others who are or may become
the victims Of grasping landlords, and
to invite their cooperation. No official
action was taken looking toward a gen
cral strike of tenants, but it was un-
possibility of calling one was in the
minds of the board, and will be used if
the situation becomes serious.
100000 Join in Move
The league already numbers more
than 100000 members, and Morris
Feinstone. secretary of the trades, pre-
dcted last night that it would soon
pass the million mark in New York
City alone.
More than $500 rent cases were
heard in the various municipal courts
yesterday, and as many more are ex
pected to-day In the majority of the
cases the decision was favorable to
thirty to ninety days being granted in
most instances where the justices were
unable to bring about compromise
between tenant and landlord
The new committee appointed by the
Mayor to prepare program to stimu
late building held a siX-hour secret
session, but reached no decisions. Sew
eraI points of disagreement developed,
chiefly concerning proposed moditica-
tions Of the building laws. The session
will be resumed to-day.
The disagreement in the committee
centers on the proposal to modify the
tenement house laws in the hope that
this will result in ma king habitable
some of the vacant tenements and one
family houses The original plan was
to empower either the Board of STAN
dards and Appeals or the Tenement
House Commissioner to permit de-
partures from the law, but a senti
ment has grown up for putting the
notifications which might be per-
mtted into definite form. There is a
ing can be done by law to improve the
conditions Of the old-law tenements,
which constitute 80 per cent of all
vacant flats, and it is unlikely that
the plan will be pushed.
There is considerable sentiment,
however, in favor Of modifying the
fire proofing restrictions which now
govern the conversion of old one ia
mily houses into flats. Commissioner
Mann takes the position that the re-
strictions are now needlessly severe,
and that a modification might result in
some of these structures being made
available. Others hold that changes
would simply legalize illegal conver-
sons which have already been made OF
old houses into mon housekeeping"
apartments and that they would not
result in any increase in housing be-
cause the buildings available are al
ready filled.
Mortgage Exemption Upheld
The committee is almost certain to
recommend the passage of the bill ex-
empting mortgage on real estate from
taxation in any amount. 1t will also
approve some plan for exempting now
buildings from some or all taxation,
and probably Will ask that new build
ings also be exempted from the new
rent laws.
Two courts yesterday contributed
almost half of the $500 rent cases
heard. The stormiest scenes were
around the 1st District Municipal
Court, The Bronx whore more than 800
cases were called. The tenants at times
became so threatening that the land
lords took refuge inside the tiny court
room and police reserves had to be
called out to restore order. After an
appeal from Justice Morris and Clerk
Steve Collins the tenants were driven
back and lane made, through which
the police escorted the landlords.
There were about 1,200 tenants outside
the building there was room for only
couple Of hundred insde-and the
We men, children, pcrambulators, dogs
and other members of the tanants'
households made bedlam for a hum
dred yards around the place. Threats
and billingsgate were hurled at the
landlords who demanded evictions. But
out Of the 500 cases there was not a
''ii6 ~ y Nie'io'' " '''tcu, ANU tHe tcHaHIS
calmcd down as the day progressed
In about 40 per cent of the cases
the justice decided that the papers
were defective; in 20 per cent an
amicable agreement was promised
through compromise on the rent; 10 per
cent were settled in court, and in the
other cases the justice granted stays
Of thirty days to permit the tenants to
find other quarters. He also told the
tenants that if they found they could
not locate new homes in that time they
could return and ask an extension
Many Cases in Brooklyn
The 7th District Court in Brooklyn
had the next biggest crowd, with 450
cases, and a crowd Of more than 1000
including many women with babies in
carriages or in their arms Justice
George II. Boycc also was in general
TREND of the tenants and obtained
the consent of many landlords to OK
tensions of time
There were $50 cases heard in the
Seventh District, Manhattan, most of
the decisions again bcingsin favor Of
the tenants.
The Office Tenants League, which
has promised to provide counsel for
poor and victimizcd tenants from
among the many lawyers in it's mem
bcrship, began preparing for this work
yesterday under Daniel w. Blumcnthal,
with the approval Of Aaron j. Levy,
president Of the board of Justices Mr..
Blumcnthnl spent the morning in