New-York tribune., 1920-03-15
City to Seek
TabOr's Aid i'm
Housing Crisis
Mavor's Conference TODAY
will Ask Promise From
Leaders That Conditions
Will Be Stable for Year
Mass Meetings Planned
Realty Men Want Mortgages
of $40, 900 Exempt From
Taxation for Two Years

curb rent proiteering. making the re-
sumption of building possible on such
.erms as 20 attract capital. organizing
and bringing to bear on the question
the great pressure of developing pub
lie opinion and toward finding just
what power the courts already have
snd are willing 30 exercise in the pres
en-, crisis promise to make the coming
week the busiest so far in the fight to
improve housing conditions. 1t was
nredicted yesterday by the leaders in
this fight that the end of the week
would see definite progress.
The proposals which will be laid be-
fore the conference of real estate men
and labor leaders which the Mayor has
called fer 10 o'clock this morning took
final shape yesterday. They will in
clude q. least three lines of action.
Iabor's Aid Sought
Tho first will be the obtaining of as
.ursnces from the labor leaders that
labor conditions can be stabilized for
year, so that capital can begin work
with a definite knowledge Of the condi-
ready made by the union leaders indi-
cate that this will be done Supple
mentary to it will be the demand for
similar assurances from the dealers in
building materials that their prices
will remain fixed during that period
Second viii be the request for sup
mort Of the proposal of realty inter
ests that mortgages up to $4,000 on
buildings completed before December
81. 1921, he exempt from taxation.
This is urged as an offset to the fact
that building done now must be at
prices far higher than are likely to re-
+i,o \.
Of the tax will make it possible to keep
such buildings going at q profit after
rents have dropped.
Promises have been made that If
these two things can be done from
$4,000 600 and S100 600 900 will be-
come available at once for new build
ngs. sum which it is believed viii
provide housing for at least 80 600 fam
lilies and materially relieve the situa-
ton.
Third. Will be the demand of the
labor chiefs for support for their bill.
now before the Legislature, establish
ing state commission to end rent
prohteering. The unions are far more
interested in this than in the building
program. because the latter will be so
slow in showing results.
Another proposal that may be made
will be that the Mayor pledge the city
officials to follow the example set by
Jersey City, where protiteering land
lords are pestered and nagged by COM
plants Of violation of building, health
and fire ordinances till they are driven
70 see reason.
Two New Proposals
The Board of Aldermen Will have
two new proposals before it to-mor-
row night-that of Alderman Hannoch
70 empower the Commissioner Of
Licenses to revoke those issued to
lessons who sublet at exorbitant prof
it's and that Of Mr. La Guardia that
the city utilize It's vacant land for
the Immediate erection Of stucco
houses, such as were rushed to COM
pletion in Washington for the care Of
war workers.
Two meetings to focus public opn-
ion aganst the rent profteers will be
held during the week. Thursday night
tral Opera House under the auspices
Of the Central Federated Union, to
gather support Tor the Donahue- -Boylan
bill. on which q hearing viii be held
in Albany March %. The newly formed
Tenants Rights League will hold a
mass meeting for organization Satur- |
day night at the Washington Irving
High School
A suit to test the present power of
the courts to protect tenants in which I
new points of law viii be raised will be |
started tomorrow on behalf of twenty t
three tenants of the Garden Apart
ments, at Forest Hills, Long Island. 1t
Is alleged that increases in rents run
ming up to 200 per cent and sufficient
IN themselves to return the lessor Ia .
per cent on the value of the property +
have been ordered. The claim is made /
that a tenant has a legal right to re-
newai OF lease at g reasonable figure,
unless there is some valid reason to
the contrary. and that the courts can
and should protect this right.
Believes Courts Can Help
81 believe that there is adequate
power in the Supreme Court" said /
harold e. Aron, of Aron & Wise, who
are bringing the suit, yesterday, "to /
decree that Il desirable tenant, who has
luliy lived up to his lease, is entitled /
70 hold over for further term unless
the landlord can show a sale Of the
premise made in good faith, a bona /
Ade requirement for the space for him.
sell or family, an actual present in
,'ent to demolsh the building, or some
o,her reasonable cause except a cold
Diooded purpose to get all the traffic
VIII bear by taking advantage of exist
ing conditions. Such right would de
pend on the tenants Willingness and /
ability to pay such increase as the
courts might deem just. Courts have
oeen fixing: reasonable rents for centu-
s'es on existing tenancies, and there is
nc: no reason why they cannot do so in
this case.
Such power can be constitutionally
11eeSiared 1eS, by statute if the courts are
af1dent about asserting it, and | am
suggesting this to Senator Lockwood, /
VINO has talked with me about the stu