The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-09-23
DRASTIC CURB ON
EVICTION NEEDED,
SAYS LOCKWOOD
Quick Passage of Bill Urged
by Evening World VIII Give
Relief, He Adds.
By Sophie irene Loeb.
Especial Staff Correspondent Of The
Evening WORLDLY

Z
Evening WORLDLY
ALBANY, Sept 22.--"we might az
we'll quit ne not 70 pass a measure
that will effectively wipe out the dis
possess proceedings." said Senator
Charles c Lockwood, Chairman OF
the Legislative Housing Committee. In
answer 70 some Municipal Court Jus
tees who are not In favor OF abol-
ishing the summary dlspossoss.
''rhis a. the one measure that will
give relief TO thousands Of people who
have been brought into court by land
lords for the sole purpose Of putting
them out 10 they might get higher
rents from others. And unless VIC
pass thls bill the inscriptions profit
teering landlord will continue TO
harass tenants to secure Increases"
The proposed law. which 10 deemed
one Of the most effective before tho
present Legislature. IL TO abollshaurn-
mary dispossess or hoidover proceed
ingB except In three cases. Where a
house has become disorderly; whero
rcconstruetion IL 70 be undertaken
for dwelling purposes. and where the
owner actually wants TO occupy the
| premises himself.
This law has been strongly urged by
The Evening World. a. has the pro-
vision which places all the burden OF
proof for Increased rents upon the
landlord and eliminates the rs per
cent increase clause which has caused
20 much trouble to the tenant. be-
cause sadly misoonstrued both by
landlords and court Justices.
These proposed statutes will be con-
sidered to-day az the public hearing
scheduled az 2 o'clock.
LAND BANK BILL IS NOT oP-
POSED.
Bills which are generally accepted
a. non-eontroversial will be passed to-
day. Among these 10 the bill making
bonds Of the State Land Bank a legal
investment for State and local sinking
funds. Land Bank bonds are legal in
vestments for savings banks. execu-
tors, trustees and individuals. They
are exempt from the State Income tan
but subject 10 the Federal income tax.
| After the passage Of the Federal In
come Tax Law II became impossible
for the State Land Bank 70 sell Is ~
per cent. taxable bonds, ~ that the
bank has practically ceased to func-
ton. New York State has 254 savings
and loan associations with $4,000. 900
OF assets and 10000 members. Prac-
/ tically all the assets are invested In
small FIRST mortgages on homes. The
/ loans AFFORD a safe security and the
association are Of vast benefit IN pro-
noting home ownership.
Another important matter 20 be
| considered to-day is that OF amend
| ing the Tenement House Law 30 az
10 exclude the three-tamtly mouse.
! A tenement house now 10 a house
with three or more families. II this
amendment goes into eject Il would
1 make a tenement house building ono
with four or more families. The oD-
iect OF the amendment rs 20 relieve
| three family houses from tenement
house provisions as to courts. &C, but
10 retain tho nre-escape provisions Vi
the law, aR Il now exists.
II Is believed that this Will cause tho
quick remUdelling OF many houses mt
| three family homes. which will aid
very materially In the present crisis.
Thrce-family houses have been prao-
ticRl.y unknown since the Tenement
House Law went into effect, on ac-
count Of the compulsory features as to
air shafts, size OF halls and the like.
These tenement house measures
were discussed last night by the Lock-
wood committee. the Tenement House
Commissioner and representatives u
charitable organizations.
They will not be passed however.
unless health measures and proper
sanitation are assured In tho amend
. mcnts.
The bills that are most likely to
| call forth debate, such as the sum-
mary dispossess and exemptng new
buildings from taxation, compelling
savings banks ana iuAuruuCe com
I panies to lend more money on
real estate bonds and mortgages than
! they DO now--all such measures
which have been introducod-wil
: have their hrst discussion on the
, lOurs OF both Houses tonight.
Il is believed, however. that very
little delay viii be occasionod In the
; passage OF those which must be Cf-
l fective by Oct /. IL any benefit ls Il
he derived by the hundreds OF thou
D sands OF tenants who are now threat
. encd with eviction.
d Various members OF the oommitte,
70 would like to act on more drastic
= hill which would actually assure
70 lowering OF rents generally such N
10 the DoWlng measure, which provided
4 a II per cent, return on tho assessed
taxable valuation Of property; bu
q the possibility OF such meagure be-
y ing unConstituii is seriously con
. sldered As TO this coustit utiona
n quest on, Senator Lockwood make
N the following explanation;
Congress on May 81, 1913, enacto,
the salisbury resolution, whereof,
tenants In the District OF Columb!
holding leases for one month o
Il longer were protected from evictio
a OF increases In rent until the declara
-, ton OF peace. This law was declare
u unconstitutional by the courts In vii
j. son VS. Mcdonald Theroupop. In Oc
IN tohcr, 1919 Congress passed the Ia
act, providing for a rent commits
sion with power 20 IA rents In IN