New-York tribune., 1920-08-19
Merchants and
Manufacturers
Join Rent Fight
Commercial Lessees to Put
Complaints Before the
Governor and Special
Session of Legislature
Many Plants Face Closing
Store Men Prepare Bill to
Curb Extortionate Rates;
Senator Abeles to Offer 1t

Merchant and manufacturing ten
ants who are suffering Oppressive
rentals have decided to add their COM
plants to those of householders at
the special session of the Legislature
called by Governor Smith to take up
the. critical housing situation.
The commercial lessees, particular
ly in the downtown manufacturing and
office building section, assert they are
in desperate straits as result of
the exorbitant increases demanded by
landlords, and declare that unless re-
lief is forthcoming many plants will
have to close. Lawyers, it was said,
are giving up their Offices and con-
Quoting their affairs at home because
they are unable to pay the high rents
asked.
The Merchants Rent Committee,
representing federation of forty
large mercantile trade groups and as
sociations, have sent a representative
to Albany to urge upon the Governor
the necessity of having commercial
leases included in any legislation
adopted to curb gouging landlords. l..
+. Schlecter and Samuel Blumberg, at
torneys acting for the commercial in
terests, also will ask the Governor to
receive a delegation of representative
business tenants and hear their case
before the Legislature meets.
Merchants Prepare Bill
Inc merchants have prepared a bill
which Senator Peter Abeles plans to
introduce, making it unlawful for
landlords unreasonably to raise the
rents on commercial properties. They
Will not ask that increases be limited
to 25 per cent, but will leave the ques-
ton OF reasonableness entirely to the
courts.
I'VE do not care what per cent
landlord raises his rent" said Mr..
Schlecter yesterday, $50 long as it Is
reasonable. We desire above all to
stop the extortionate advances which
are being INDUCED in, and which if
continued will surely drive hundreds
of firms out of business. Rents in
many cases have been raised from
$1,000 to $4,000, from $4,000 to $4,000
and from $1,000 to $4,000. We want
the courts to have the right to rule on
these cases"
about February 1. Laws passed during
September would give landlords and
tenants sufficient time to adjust their
differences in accordance with the new
legislation. The chief objection that
mas been raised against the limitation
OF rentals on commercial structures,
he added is that they would be un-
constitutional
Housing Laws Protect Health
The laws affecting housing, it is
pointed out, are permissible under the
constitution because they are an ex-
erclse OF the police power of the state
for the protection of the health and
welfare of the community Any at
tempt to limit rentals on commercial
properties, it is argued, would mere
ly be measure to regulate profits on
a commercial investment.
The first police case under the new
rent laws came up in a Brooklyn police
court yesterday. Harris Nevin, a real
estate broker, of IA Court Street, Brook
lyn, was charged with Interfering with
the enjoyment of tenants" and "willful
violation of the terms of the lease" Of
lenses created by the new laws. The
complanants were Rose Larocca, of 364
Sixty ninth Street, Brooklyn, and An
thony Digarario, of 115 East 116th
street. ManhatIan. they are engaged
According to the testimony given in
the Fifth Avenue Court, Miss Larocca
made verbal lease with Nevin on
July 81 for an apartment at ATS Forty
first Street, Brooklyn, at. rental of
$50 month, and paid one months rent.
Several days later Nevin told her she
could not have the apartment and Of
fered to return her money. Miss LARGO
ca was unable to get into the apart
ment and informed her fance. He es-
tablished tenancy by forcing an en-
trance by way of a fire escape and in
stalled two chairs and table. These.
it was testified. Nevin removed to the
cellar. Nevin was held in $500 bail
tor court. He denied ownership of the
building and preferred charges of dis
orderly conduct against Digarario.