New-York tribune., 1920-04-02
Laws to Speed
Building Asked
By Realty Men
Legislation Exempting New
Structures From Housing
Acts and Taxation for 5
Years Urged at Albany
Free Counsel for Tenants
City Prepares for Rush of
Disputes; Loft Users De-
sire Limit on Their Rents

A campaign for legislation to help
in getting building started was begun
by real estate interests yesterday i'm
mcdiatcly after the passage Of the
housing bills at Albany. Despite threats
OF suits to prevent the operation of
the new laws, none of the bigger realty
bodies Will take such action, though
it is expected there will be some in
dividual suits filed
The general attitude of the real
estate men is that the laws should
have a fair test, but that legislation
should be enacted which will encourage
building, so as to provide a permanent
rel1ef. They want new buildings OK
cmpted from rent bill legislation.
The Mayors Committee on Rent
Profteering prepared to take full ad-
vantage of the new acts. 1t will fur
nlsh legal counsel free to tenants and
will extend its facilities to take care
of the trouble that is expected when
the tenants seek to enforce their
rights.
Loft Users Organize
Representatives of various associa-
tions of manufacturers using lofts per-
fectcd an Organization at q meeting in
the library of the United Waist League
OF America, 20 East Thirty second
Street, in the afternoon, and appointed
campaign committee, with authority
to 60 to Albany if necessary to work
tor legislation limiting increases in
loft rents.
Robert E. Bowling, chairman of the
legislative committee of the Real Es-
tate Board. said he knew of no plans
TO attack the new laws, and while
1t was TO be expected that some one
would bring suit, the board had taken
no action.
".They have a right to a fair trial"
said Mr.. Bowling. They are merely
palllahves. Of course, but something
was needed. hope my fear that they
VIII check building and thus prevent
a real cure may be unfounded.
"All that can be done BY legislation
TO encourage building should now be
enacted, however, The Legislature has
gwen the tenant immediate protection;
to give permanent relief it must hasten
the construction oi houses In nv
OPINION that can best be done by cx-
cmptlng all mortgages from taxation.
| nc $4,000 limit proposed covers ONLY
very small operations and the city
needs around s1o0,0oO,oOo spent as
RAPIDLY rs possible"
The United Real Estate Owners AS
soclatlon will make no move as bodv
to test the new laws, it's president.
Stewart browne. says. He does not be-
l'eVc such an attempt would be sue
ccssful. On the whole, the laws arc
not unfair to property owners, and they
were badly needed, in Mr.. Brownies
opinion.
Legislation That Is Desired
II he association is concentrating at
tentlon on getting constructive lcgisla
ton. and a letter was sent to ali the
members Of the Legislature yesterday,
winch says. in part:
by passing the rent bills you have
temporarily protected the tenant. Don't
let the LEGISLATURE adjourn Without
passing the following constructive
pleasures to benefit all the people of
the state, with dctriment to none:
Amendment cXempting new build
ings from rent bill legislation.
"2 Exempt all new buildings (erected
IN 1925. inclusive, and land upon
which built) from state and municipal
taxation for five years
"' Exempt all mortgages without
limit from state income tax. The state
VIII gam double the income tax from
now buildings that it loses from mort
cages
Public Set Right on Laws
Misunderstanding of the new laws
"iNN NY VI. WV POIillS pN ON
clal statements during tho day. The
first was that landlords could now
compel tenants 10 renew leases as Of
October ard hold over them the
threat of eviction on that date unless
they signed now. To meet this Mr..
Shmmls. counsel of the Joint 1egis-
latlve Committee, wired from Albany:
Tell tenants not to sign leases now.
The landlord cannot bring any action
nlltll ((rtOhpr tl4b,,,,rL
threaten to pat out tho tenant to make
way tor new one, the now laws pro
VIDE that the present tenant must be
granted stay of not to exceed one
year Inc whole question of the in
crease VIII be reviewed by the court.
me tenant Is fully protected
Slmply notify the landlord or ten
amt OF your intention to renew the
lease"
- ON the other point, Arthur J. W.
Hlly chairman of the Mayors Com
mIttec. pointed out that the new laws
DO not authorize an increase Of %
per cent. but simply provide that the
landlord must prove rcasonablencss if
lhc rent is to 20 above this. He said:
j., ne misapprchcnsion has come
through a hasty reading of one Of the
measures. This merely provides tho,
the tenant may refuse to pay the rent.
ana in the action that is instituted
10 rcmoV" hlm he may intcrposc as =
defense tAat the rcn, sought 10 he
r,ccoVerod IS unjust and unreasonable.
IT 1T appears that the rent has been
increased % per cent over the rcntols
OF the year previous. then the rental
Will be presumed by the court to he
unjust and unrcas sonablc but the land
lord snail have fair opportunity to
""0" mat Il Is reasonable and fair"
frcsldent La Guarlia of the Roard
OF Aldermen has taken up with his
former colleagues in Congress the suc.
Ecs,'oh to exempt mortgages from Fed
crai as we'll as from state income tavcs
nave gotten in touch with Senator
calder and with Mr.. Fordncv rhoir
man Of the House Ways and Means
oommittcc,' Major La Guardia said
, mere IS prejudice there. however
/ do not think they realize the scrious.
ness OF the situation.'
crowd which discovered ! G. Fold
man, a brownsville landlord. watch,nr
1nc 1', cJec''on Of seven families from
ms iia's, at 1876 Douglass Street
brook lyn, in the afternoon. turned
upon him in fury. rcldman fed and
got TO his automobile lust n rcw foot
ahead OF the leaders.
ne meeting Of city marshals to plan
means for delaying eviction proceed
ing on May will be held in the opiccs
OF tho Mayors Committee nj r n -,