New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-20
lilly to Fight
For New Law to
End Evictions
Head of Rent Profteering
Committee Says Power OF
Dispossessing L enants
Should Be Curtaile d
To Prevent Law Evasion
Party Leaders Called for
Conference Before Special
Session of Legislature

The dispossess proceeding as the
ves,on Of the landlord against tenants
,,ho refuse or are unable to meet ex-
erbitsnt demands must go, says Arthur
J Il. Hlly, attorney and chairman of
ths Mayors Committee on Rent Prof
;.eering It's repeal is strongly urged
in series Of recommendation which
Nr. lilly has prepared for presenta-
ton to the Legislature at its special
session September 20, to consider the
critical housing situation.
4 preliminary conference with those
Interested in the crisis has been called
for next week by Governor Smith in
order that definite program may be
mapped out and loss of time avoided
through forcing the Legislature TO con-
sider separately the hundreds Of bills
expected to be offered by committees
and individuals. Among those asked
to go to Albany are Republican and
Democratic leaders Of the Senate and
Assembly, Senator Charles c. Lock
wood, chairman Of the Joint Legisla-
tive Committee on Housing: Frank
Mann, Tenement House Commissioner;
Abram I. Z hus, chairman o. the State
Reconstruction Commission; Edward
P. Doyle, secretary Of the Mayors
Housing Conference, and others.
Would Force Landlords to Sue
After hearing more than 100 600 COM
plants Of householders suffering from
oppressive rentals Mr.. lilly has come
10 the conclusion that the dispossess
proceeding is gradually forcing thou
sands of householders upon the rocks.
1t is his idea to compel exacting land
lords to sue for their unreasonable
rents in the courts. If this is done he
says that the tenant can set up the I'M
reasonableness Of the increase as q de-
tense, and VIII not have TO pay the ex-
eessye rates even though he has signed
q lease calling for the unjustifed
rentals.
"Under the law as it stands to-day"
says Mr.. Hllly. mo landlord can enter
into contract eXacting an unfair rent.
Il lease providing for such rental
is executed the tenant can refuse to
pay it. Should the landlord sue, the
tenant can claim it is unreasonable and
will be supported by the new rem, laws.
Can't Raise Rents Unfairly
"There is al impression that land
lords can raise rents up to . per cent
over wha- they were the year before.
As matter Of fact. they cannot 1alse
.ne rents al AZ II the increase IS IN
'air. lhey 60 around TINS ny merely
ee'AAs an ofcer OF eF-c11cf' Many
leA4i-'s alv --4e~.v-ieo al me sugges-
,.on q 'e-is p~S 1lo ana meet '1e
lGHa'O-r 5 ems :. s-'e1s resi- ana seg
stay rom ,sie coure. IL 1fie IandIe "a
were Up .st = 1''9 U-s9ossess el'-sly
ne hs ~oH'- .'ale 70 cone 20 terms WIN
n.s .el1-',s' a. zen. C-.ses Noulo li-eh
- ueO-uF" NyO~ ,--e justice CT 'JUSllce
:. '''e UV''--''-'S' ii7 u -'a'io' OVg' Woe u
Ae'. remain III possession q MS nome
uAaeT me terms OF tease
%. l1S .~.-AOlIs' ! oleseell-g 0hls' 40
9o' sue. 4hey SIMPLY OBTAIN an order
-. w e'.e--oA. : ne coul~' uitue1 lIe Nv,
.as- si1--S me tenant d en!es laoIlI;s
ga $50, uui-iis "''-eA me ne
us ana anV..ls- Pace or So oul.
go. -'.9 .ei-f'---s --4-9 i-o-u 1'.eit .;0H-ss a.
'ie liSei -l.' q tHG couII' 1ati-er OAai
80 go fl-.- ia. ~ * = y {
"4 no..- -"s s1@s mas sNp lled'
,.g Ig-''-i.i ''ee i''--,s-iu3 'Nao Iie
.aaa.o-l W c75'-sE1C o ms Qlsposse $
...O'1eo-i-s ana 19IO7u l1.lo '--@ 60 5
.os MS Unfair rents except n eeFtsin
.-. ..: -.,-
!. pa! g .-o.l9 9 l-'es, ege. '"ous, !
lasy nave signed leases stlpu4aelAg slcn
uniayrf,,i -. are r1t bird;1e.
Il would except. however. such cases
at where the landlord wants the prop
erty in coed faith for his own occu-
pancy where the tenant has actually
been guilty Of improper and objection
able conduct. and where the property is
wanted for genuine alterations.
we shall also try TO obtain some
measure OF relief for the small store
keepers whose rents have been advance
So high that in many cases they have
beer driven out of business. In other
cases the higher rentals have caused q
boost in the price of merchandise, so
tina. the increases were passed on to
the consumer already burdened with
high food and clothing prices
In view Of the great strain which
tenants and municipal Court justices
will face on October /. when the courts
will be jammed with rent litigants, Mr..
lilly is considering the advisability
Of calling upon public spirited lawyers
to assist tenants during the crisis. 1t
was Mr. Hilly's thought that six or
seven LAWYERS in each OF the Municipal
Court districts might agree to devote
one night a week 10 advising tenants
facinc evir-fp7 rrrrpnTircrS on OCtO-