The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-03-29
Monday, March 90, 1920.
THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN
CITIES

The legislature OF New York has I'M
Sssrteken to curb rent prouteerinE pS
.the passage Of n series r bulls unit
R- the charges for rentals ana aei"'-
f. relations between the landlord ana
AZ. tenant. The most drastic ana inc
most revolutionary OF IN" bills PROVIDES
first. against excessive Pr"itre''"e ~"
4hs part OF the landlords; and Seeoh"
hectares that \ raise OF rent 81 "''''
than So per cent shall be pTeSn'''7''>'
sayidence OF proftteerlng. Another ''''-
stre prevents a landlord from aroitr"''-
~ dispossessjng tenant "'''"".
.,anse. and still another measure """'0
ssnsthen the time OF notice OF d.spos-
session and 6evelope the rights OF ten
sra.s under verbal contracts.
This legislation has. probably, been
made necessary by the great housing
nrphietn In New York City and IN o'nsr
cities Of the state. 1t is estimated that
m tho city Of New York alone. over
one hundred thousand new homes are
needed. and the shortages OF residences
IN other cities Is probably equally as
great in proportion. These conditions
mako for profiteering. Landlords with
.out conscience, without $ sense or res
,porsibility 70 the public and seeing
only the mighty dollar have, in many
cases, jumped rents to e1tortionate
figures. Needy families have been dis
.possesseG. Families with children have
Tnund Il almost impossible 10 lind a
place to house themselves and living
conditions have been made hard. even
for those who have reasonably aound-
mt means. This condition is against
public policy. Il tends to break down
the citizenship Of a community; to de-
.stroy homes and home life, and It Is
The duty OF organized society to end
ssah a condition speedily.
-. 1t is by no means certain that the
laws which have passed in New York
legislature are going to be the effective
cure. Temporarily they will certainly
operate to. check the activities or land
lords who have taken advantage or
public needs. but the real cure for the
'konditions in New York. as in every
bther city; IS in the building Of more
houses, and to build more houses, build
ing must DO made profitable. With
tho present high cost OF materials and
labor, house building is not an easy
Ihtng. The acute rent situation is only
the result OF the vicious circle Of in
crenstns prices, increasing costs and
Increasing wages
entirely aside, however. from the
s5uestton OF the wisdom OF the propriety
a,s state interference IN the relations OF
NJ q a q
nrganired society TO use every possible
Effort to create and maintain good liv-
ing conditions among the people. Today
Nhe state OF New York and every other
e1nts might we'll consider the advis-
ability OF tho enttre release from taxa
ton. OF the improvements upon real
ESTATE That would be a practical step
towards moro building. Municipalities
might wen consider the advisability OF
lending their credit 10 individuals and
corporations who desire TO build homes
saRd to improve property. This is no
new thing in sorne countries, but Mt
has not been done on large scale in
the United States. Yet public support
or organizations formed to improve
,Sacnnt hand and to build new homes for
Tho people, Is Just IS proper a. the use
Of public monies for the building Of
streets. sewers street lighting and
pther activities which We think OF
daily IN connection With our municipal
asfa-
GAS organized society becomes more
complex. new difficulties. new problems
.Rpd new responsibilities arise. The
housing problem is a serious one today
BvCywhere-