New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10
Three Tenants o. Minute
Go Through Rent Hopper
Many Interesting Cases Come Before Justices as 500
Are Passed Upon i'm Three Hours; Landlords
Eager to Accept Compromises After Warnings

on her investment. The justice makes
few pungent remarks on real estate
speculation.
"See here" lie concludes. 'sYou can
have your choice. ri set this case
for trial and then you'll be cut down
to about $40 a month. Or you can
agree to a years lease at $49 and with
draw your dispossess suit"
The landlady sputters for two min
utes, but compromises
A little man stops the line again
and begins rolling out long words.
"Your honor" he dec,aims, "this
increase is unreasonable, unjust, OPP
fiscatory," interrupts the justice.
Come back on the GOTH"
Hints of Striped Clothes"
Another case Of Spectator being
caught with house which will not pay
unless he can increase the rent The
justice begins digging around to find
whether previous owners were related
and finds they we're.
81 thought So" he barks. "This case
is dismissed. Maybe if we could put
clothes and send you up to the peni-
tertiary we could stop this kind Of
thing. Don't you dare try 1t again on
me-"
The next landlord is almost con-
cealed behind Wild West mustache
He explains that his apartments rented
;or $40 eighteen years ago, and that %
per cent on this makes $50, which he
demands. Two brow beaten tenants
produce receipts to show that rents
were $50 year ago.
UWo1I uo,,J %oI,o
lease or you'll get no papers in this
court" says the justice, turning upon
the mustache. of you want trial
you'll get that. too, and you'll get your
rent cut still more. What's the
answer"
Forty three" said the man behind
the mustache.
The next time the stream stopped it
was a darkeyed landlady Of about
twenty eight, who thought she could
get something on her eyes. The justice
listened grimly to sweet-toned en-
PLANTATION of how the tenants had
abused her in refusing to pay an in
crease which, she finally admitted, was
about So per cent.
"They don't need to pay" said the
justice. DO you want to take a %
per cent increase over last April or
stand a trial."
The eyes surrendered and passed on.
Ready to "Swat" Landlord
One dapper young landlord explained
that he had only come to withdraw his
complaint-a after the tenant had pro-
duced evidence that the landlord had
alleged non-payment of rent several
days after he had issued receipt for
1t. The justice glowered.
II can't do anything more with this
case" he said sorrowfully to the ten
ant, "since he has withdrawn it. But
If there is any more trouble come back
here. And if he starts another suit
III appoint counsel for you, pile up the
court costs and guarantee that he has
to pay them"
SO it goes on, hour after hour, while
the rent mill grinds. The barking gets
hoarser as the morning advances and
gradually the crowd thins down and
the baby carriages and noises depart
together: And every once in while
the justice states to some new land
lord the creed he is working under:
Pm trying to hold the landlords
down little and help the tenants up
little and get this thing square"
The day did not bring a land
lord who rejected the compromise the
court offered when its jurisdiction ran
short or single case where immediate
eviction was granted.