New-York tribune., 1920-03-17
Eight Measures Aimed
at PrOfiteers and One
to Relieve Housing
Crisis Slated to Pass.
Committee Holds
Hearing March q
Aldermen Instruct Board
of Estimate to Draw
Up Building Program
From a Staff correspondent


ALBANY, March 16. Senator
Charles c.. Lockwood, of Brooklyn
chairman Of the joint Legislative COM
mittee on housing, made public to-
night the program adopted by the COM
mlttee to solve the housing problem
and curb rent gouging. Legislative
'eaccro in Conference with Senator
Lockwood and other members of the
housing committee have agreed that
nine bills proposing remedial legisla-
tion shall be advanced to the order of
final passage in both branches of the
Legislature by special rule.
These measures are in sense COM
Elementary and will all be put on the
order of third reading before March
23, when special hearing will be held
on all nine. After the hearing all, or
at least the majority of the measure
will be passed and sent y to the
Governor.
Eight Anti-Gouging Bills
Eight of the nine aim at checking
the rent profteer. One is intended as
stimulus to building, by exempting
from taxation income from MORTGAGES
up to $4,000. The purpose is to in
duce Congress to make a similar ex-
emption in the Federal income tax, so
that building loan mortgage money
may be made available.
The eight anti-rent profiteerine
bills follow:
CD A bill permitting courts in
cities OF the first and second class to
grant stay for such a period as may
be deemed proper where summary dis
possess proceedings are brought against
tenant who holds over and to impose
as condition for the stay that the
tenant shall pay the rent at the old
rate and such additional amount, if
any, as the judge may deem fair and
reasonable, payment to be made to the
landlord or to the clerk of the court.
The bill further provides any clause
IN lease waving the provisions of
this act shall be deemed against pub
Zig policy and void; the act to take
effect imm ediately and to remain in
force until November /, 1922.
2-An act providing that no sum-
mary proceeding to dispossess tenant
TOR non-payment of rent at an in
creased rate shall be maintainable un-
less the petitioner alleges that the rent
is no greater than the amount paid DUR
ing the month prior to the commence
ment of the proceedings or has not
been increased more than 20 per cent
over the rent as it existed one year
prior thereto.
3-An act applicable to all cities, pro-
viding that in an action for rent de-
tense may be set up that the amount
demanded is unjust, unreasonable, and
the agreement under which it is sought
to recover is oppressive. The landlord
may prove the reasonable rental value
and receive judgment therefor.
Thirty Days Notice
"A bill providing that a landlord
seeking to dispossess on the ground that
the tenant is Objectionable must estab-
lish that fact to the satisfaction of the
court. Under the present law the land
lord need only show that he has acted
in good faith in stating that the tenant
is Objectionable.
"a bill providing that all tenants
must be given thirty days notice TO
terminate a monthly tenancy.
GA bill repeating section 232 of the
real property law, permitting verbal
leases and providing that unless def
mite time is specified for a verbal lease
it shall end on October l.
IA bill providing for a stay by de-
posit of the amount due with the clerk
of the court and payment to the petit
toner on demand in summary proceed
Continued on page four