New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30

from reconstruction of East Side tenc-
ments," said Alfred e. Marling, presi-
dent Of Horace S. Ely u Co, which
handles big and polyglot collection of
houses in that district. There are
still vacant places there-though, ! be-
lieve, the figure given Is far too high,
and that II there are anything like
that number of vacancies they must
be somewhere else than on the East
Side. But those places are utterly UNI
fit to live in--there are no words
strong enough to describe the filth and
squalor of most of them.
$50 far as our reports show, more
over, there are fewer vacancies there
than there have ever been before. The
stories that people are moving out Of
trlcts may be true, but if they are their
places are being more than filled. Our
own list of vacancies is lower than it
has ever been.
II am rather doubtful about the re-
construction plan. We went over that
very carefully last summer on the Gov
errors Commission on Reconstruction,
and, while there are some hopeful
things in the plan, it hardly seemed to
promise anything immediate. The only
way to 60 at it that we could see would
trouble with most of the vacant places
is their location, where nothing that
can be done short of general rebuild
ing will make them fit even for cattle.
The contest for plans for blocA oy-
block remodeling which was announced
Sunday is partly the outcome of the
study made than, and it will be long
time before that can produce results"
The rapidity with which apartments
have been removed from the vacant
list lately is shown in the annual Tene-
ment House Departments census fig
ures. In 1909 there were 67,847 apart
ments vacant in the he city; in 1915,
b3.541; in 1917. $685., and last year
21,4s2. In 1919 there was total Of
9S2,9 800 apartments in the city, so that
the percentage of vacancies was 2.18.
There are now about 400 fewer apart
ments than year ago, owing to the de-
struction Of old buildings. The law
passed last year providing for remodel
ing old-law tenements failed to bring
any appreciate relief, only nine at
tempts in this line having been made
since.
Last years figures show that the
greatest shortage was in the class of
middle-priccd places, while there were
ments available.
A tenant who is being oustsd as un
desirable has right to produce wit
nosses to show that the landlord is not
acting in good faith, the Appellate
Term of the Supreme Court decided
yesterday. 1t reversed the decision Of
the eth District Municipal Court, which
had refused to permit Samuel B. Wool
man, a tenant, to use such witnesse S
against the Gorham Construction Com
pany. The suit was brought on the
basis of the familiar form Of lease
which permits the landlord to remove
The court held that proof Of undcsir-
ability must be presented by the land
lord, that the tenant could present evil
dence of bad faith, and jury pass on
the question of fact. new trial was
ordered
The Office tenants dispute, which
started at 800 Broadway, spread yes
terday to 3O2 Broadway, which is
owned by the Vincent Astor estate.
Charles S. Roscnthal charged that the
rent on the Offices which he shares
with other lawyers has been raised
from $1,000 to $1,000 a year. Other
to $500, and from $500 to 5000.
julius P. Wilson. agent for the build
ing, declared that the charges were
ridiculous, but did not give exact
figures. He said the ground rent ran
from So to $500 square foot, which
is not above the average in the
neighborhood.
Frank M. Franklin, president Of the
Office Tenants League, announced
yesterday that there was a. big le-
mand for an Office tenants strike on
May /, but that he. was opposing it,
He said a committee of 100 lawyers
would soon be appointed to give adj
vice free to tenants in rent cases.