The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-01
CHAOS ASFALL
MOVING SEASON
OPENS IN CITY
Tenants. Officials and
Realty Men at ODDS Over
Conditions.
MANY TO SIT TIGHT
No Place to Go, They VIII
Carry OH Fights i'll the
Courts.
VAN SHORTAGE A FACTOR
Slight Fear Of Riots Although
the Police Are Ready for
Outbreaks.
VAN SHORTAGE A FACTOR


officials at odds as to what conditions
would be to-day Men engaged in the
leasing and renting of apartments and
dwellings continued to insist there
would be no end of confusion, but David
Hirshfield, Commissioner of Accounts.
and Arthur j. w Hilly, chairman Of
the Mayors Committee on Rent Profi-
teering. declared 1t viii be one of the
quietest moving days in the~nistory OF
the city. Despite the latter's conten-
ton hundreds of applications for NOV
ing vans were turned down yesterday
because of the strike OF van teamsters.
No action was taken by the city gov
eminent because the heads OF various
departments accepted the belief Of Mr..
Hilly and Mr.. Hrshfield that conditions
have been grossly exaggerated Real
estate firms that learned of tenants
who have decided to sit tight for fear
they may find themselves homeless were
at loss 10 know what to do. Re-
course 10 the courts was out or the
question since the emergency housing
legislation enacted in Albany last week
deprives the landlord of the most eff
fective weapon in combating the tenant
the right to dispossess.
A riot in Bartlett street Brooklyn
which was precipitated by the arrival
of a city marshal and a dozen deputies
TO eyict twenty families foreshadowed
a condition that may be city wide to-
day. Reserves had to be called from
the C1ymer street station before the
tenants of the three tenements at as. 80
and SO Bartlett street could be quoted.
Windows were smashed and many OF
the deputy marshals had their clothing
nj md hands scratched.
David Weicz. 36 years old and his
wife, Sadie of 157 Hopkins street, were
arrested on disorderly conduct charges
in connection with the riot.
Pitch Into Marshal.
The marshals went to the apartment
of a Mrs. Rudy on the first floor of 81
Bartlett street with a warrant TO dis
possess her and her seven childen. The
warrant had been obtained before the
passage of the emergency legislation
Other tenants in the building heard Mrs
Rudy arguing with the marshals and.
knowing 1t would be their turn next.
pitched into the marshals pummelling
them with their fists and trying to rip
the clothing from their backs. The
marshals fled to the street. followed by
the bowling groop of women, who were
Joined by others in the street. One Of
the marshals succeeded in breaking
away and telephoned a riot call to the
police.
Philip Sarta attorney for the tenants
of the three buildings. said the dispossess
proceedings were begun by the landlord.
Charles Goldstein. of 165 Mercer street.
not pay fifteen per cent. increase be-
cause the landlord refused to make re-
pairs in the building.
Commissioner of Accounts Hirshfield
Issued a statement which he said was a
summary of n lengthy investigation he
had made into moving van rates and
housing conditions. 1t was his opinion
the high moving rates would deter many
persons from moving and others would
realize 1t is cheaper to pay the advanced
rental asked by the landlord than sub
init to a profiteering moving van owner
There are very few houses or flats
available" he said. land / see no pros
'pect of any change in the situation for
many years TO come, probably five years
Thousands of notices were given by
charlatan landlords to tenants that they
would have to move by October /. Be
cause of the new rent laws the tenants
now that they cannot be disposed for
staying over the term of rental, will not
care to move. There are fewer vacant
places this year than there were last
Immigration has increased and thou
sands are flocking TO New York in the
belief they will obtain lucrative employ
ment here"
Estimates 5000 Movings.
Mr.. Hilly estimated that not more
than 5000 families are scheduled to
move to-day. irrespective OF the esti-
mates made by the men who actually
are renting and leasing apartments and
dwellings throughout the city. His esti-
4
from the courts and thousands Of per-
sons who have complained about profit
teerlng landlords. IL was Mr.. IIilly's
opinion there are vans I'm the city to
take care of all the moving to be done.
DIR. Royal S. Copeland. Health Com
missioner. classified the desire 70 move
among the many ailments of the popu-
lace. Moving Is a bad business unless
Il means moving into n better place"
ne said. II am fearful that In many in
stances moving this year means going
Into smaller and less sanitary homes
The reason is the excessive rent charged
by landlords and in some instances the
gradually declining incomes. Many fami-
lies are cutting down on things 20 cat
and wear in order TO meet their rentals
The penalty for this housing situa-
ton" he continued. will be an in
creased disease rate. This does not
mean that the increase will necessarily
be this month or this year. but these
conditions certainly make for an in
crease In chronic disease. Tuberculosis
especially will undoubtedly increase be-
cause OF the housing conditions"
Should large number OF families find
themselves homeless. the bureau OF en-
cumbranccs Of the street Cleaning De-
partment Ia prepared TO aid in salvaging
their belongings. The department has
thirteen stables in Manhattan. eight in
Brooklyn four in The Bronx and two
each in Queens and Richmond ut which
there is stationed a double and single
truck for moving encumbrances II will
take only vel from the Mayors
ofslrc. ois- official OF the department
sa1u, 10 place these trucks at the SER
vice of homeless families.
There was no change in the van strike
during the day William r. Kehoe.
business agent Of the Van Transfers
Union. claimed many van owners had
capitulater 20 the strikers. among them
two members Of the Van Owners Asso-
citation. This was denied by the Van
Owners Association in statement
which said many association vans were
beng operated by old employees who
had returned to work and several hun
dred new men who have been employed
TO handle furniture.