New-York tribune., 1922-01-29
ALBANY Should
Specify Rent
1t Will Allow
Much Trouble Caused by
Lack of Definite lnfor-
nation: lawyer Suggests
Changes in Rent Laws
81 Aiontcf,orc Lew

- 'he rent laws
T'he rresen, rcn: ls~- sc~so $40 pur-
PORES:
To ,rotcct the tenant no is not able
% economically adjust him sclf 70 tom
-oraTy conditions ard the maintenance
of good feeling between tenants ard
landlords. thus eliminating class feel
snc, which would b. to tho serious in
jurT IF the community.
Tie later purpose needs no now
'sws. Statements. houcver. like Dr
topeIsnc's should bo discouraged For
tNc past 'ro ycars ie has done cvcry-
tang in his power to stir no feeling
betueca The landlord and Tho tenant.
Or. Copeland is intelligent enough 70
riferent!ate between personal feeling
sused by the raising II his rent and
his responsibility Health Cor1mls-
'oHcry r0pre sentinc all the people Of
tris CITY
rr. Copeland rcccut xnocch spread
'-r-.'- .-~prsh Tie ci'v People hccamc
sicN worry ing over his dire utteranccs.
70 charge pneumonia 10 the housing
congo tor. Tho lamcnfcd Pope Just
died from preu'ooria. Wcrc his hous
'7g conditions bad
rnc 1871 death rsto ha, been the
lowest wo have had IN yoare Worse
housing conditions then existed. Dr.
Copeland il given credit for our good
health record aud hc viii be blamed
= an adverse condition occurs The
otter cannot bc charged 10 status
TAlch has cNlsted iu our best health
year..
Laws Should Specify Rent Return
Ire rent law could he improved hv
more uniformity i'm rcntai returns. The
return should be ha sed upon either cost
Of the property or asecsscs valuation
plus % per cent
These alternatives arc necessary as
n some cases the landlord cost is
usy in excess of the sSzcs ssmcnt and
on TIE other hand there arc people
who IN pre-nar davs. whom the value
of real estate and dollar woro DIFF
'crea' pad low prices for their prop
erty
The assessed Valuation m itself is
not fair standard. ~ # is based upon
cash valuation. Mo. property is pur-
ehascd subject to mortgages If it
were othern e. the building industry
would come to Il staNdstill. The city's
valuation cannot be determined upon
whethc r'he owner has pawn-d his
property, which is really the cquvslcnt
Of mortgage
DC exempted from the rent laws. The
andlord should be permitted to rcgu-
At" their services. The Judge could
giant them s.ay where II is deserved
he rent laws should no longer cover
.hc tenant who moves or comes from
another section Of the country. lie
can protect hlmsclf. Where three
lnontts' ront has been paid the con
t7act should certainly not be re-
nIdiated. II hurts the average tenant
~ nc uncertainty Of contract and
.ta disccuraglne effect upon reality.
Nhcrc Z tenant is convicted of dis
oiccr!'ness IN a Criminal Court. it
s.ould he sufficient 70 Justly eviction
= Civil Court Two trials should be
unnecessary. The expense and trouble
makes II prob bitivc. A criminal con
f'otior is difficult To obtain. as there
tne defendant is given the benefit oe
cfery doubt
Exemption Law Abused
The 1aN Exemption Law should oul1.
protect buildings where reasonable
rent is charged There VIII he shont
oo.ooo.o0o worth Of roal property cx.
ompt from taxation This viii increase
the tai on non-cNompt propertv. which
- paid bv the old tenants. and onlv
the builders OF the tax exempt property
tPhp tNc brNCi'.
The upheep Of am apa7tmcr. should
'e better regulated hy the Law Upon
tenant going into possession of an
apartment he should be enabled to
nave the Tenement House Department
rN@mi1" the apartment and certify as
- 1t condition. Al that time. il
should be distinctly agreed between
he landlord and the tenant to con
t.nuc IL 40 god condition. The Tene-
ineni Vouse Department should have
iSc 'i"ht to proceed rs against both
TIE landlord srd The tenant. recurring
.'c responsible party 20 keep tho
apartment properly. This is for the
pcneht Of the god tenant He senar.
ally requires be- li'tic work The bad
tenant causes god deal of expense
.th tito result that tho landlord must
oad that to the cost Of the maintenance
r his house. and the amount is pait
sor pro rata by the good ss we'll a tht
bad tenant.
GOOD Tenant Should &c Favored
Under some other system. q eooc
tenant would get tho benefit Of keep
iag his apartment propcrly. and tn,
bad tenant would ho pcualized be
cause he solely would suffer the eN
ncrsc caused BY his neglect
In conclusion, TO make the law
Junction effectively, attention shoul'
he called TO the terrible concestion o
both cases and clerical work in tht
district courts. This causes untole
trouble and frequent miscarriage Q,
Justice. The judges and clerks cAnnot
tejp themselves. They have AL the
work they can handle. The relief car
Guy come from the Legislature anc
TIC koard of Estimate. Tho Logisla
t"re could rrcVide Tor tic appointment
Of temporary Judges snd referees tc
clear W the congestion. These off
cia's could try other landlord and ten
an, cases, lhc latter OF which could be
continued 20 be tried by the regular
iudgcs together with lNrics. it the ten
ants desire them
HE facilities Of the clerk could b,
:N'rroved by tho Nosrd OF Estimate
and A7pcrllonwcu, furnishing q sufTi
cent aumhcr Of spccial clerks to tide
over the emergency.
Plan S1.5OO.OOO Hotel