The San Francisco call., 1905-02-01
TWO MEASURES
RECEIVE FAVOR
City Real Estate Brokers
Refuse to Indorse Bill
Covering Oral Contracts
VOTE is VERY CLOSE
Representative of the Los
Angeles Realty Board Is
Unable to Change Result

Representative men from some of the
large real estate brokerage houses of
San Francisco held two meetings in
the Mills building yesterday to hear
the arguments advanced by Secretary
Burdett of the Los Angeles Realty
Board in favor Of indorsing certain
legislative measures that have met
favor in the southern city. At the
forenoon session Frederic E. Magee
presided. At the afternoon hearing
Spencer G. Buckbee occupied the chair.
The results, so far as compliance. with
the wishes of the Los Angeles Realty
Board are copcerned, were mixed.
1t was voted to indorse a bill that
compels property owners to remove
weeds from and TO prevent the dump
g ing Of garbage upon any vacant LOT
within the limits Of municipality.
Very little discussion was needed to
obtain a favorable vote on this. 1t is
provided, in part, by the bill, that SUI
perintendents Of streets shall proceed
to abate nuisances of the sort indi-
Gated, from vacant city lots, at the
cost Of the lot owners, and where there
is no street superintendent the Board
Of Works may act.
The second Of the measures urged by
the Los Angeles Realty Board was not
adopted in original form, but the gen.
eral idea found approval. This bill pro-
posed to provide speedy way to oust
delinquent tenants. 1t appeared, dur
ing a discussion at the morning ses-
sion, that bill had been prepared to
the same general intent at the instance
Of A. j. Rich of this city.
The SAM Francisco real estate men
and the Lbs Angeles men came to-
gether on this proposition and the rep
resentatiye of the Los Angeles Realty
Board said that those whom he repre-
scented would accept Mr.. Rich's bill as
a substitute for theirs.
The third measure found stout oppo-
sition and also some favor. but was
finally denied the Endorsement OF those
present by a close vote, there being
fifteen firms in favor and sixteen
against on a roll call. The bill in
question legalizes oral contracts to sell
real estate. The text of the bill Is, in
part, as follows:
An agreement authorizing or employing an
egent or broker to purchaSe or sell real estate
for compensation or a commission: Provided.
that II. under oral agreement or authority
with such agent or broker by the owner OF real
property, or his or her agent duly authorized
in writing to make such agreement grant
such authorization sale or purchase of real
estate has been actually made by or through b
such agent. and the title TO such real property
has been transferred such oral agreement or
authority shall be valid and may be estab-
grantor or grantee shall be liable for but one
commission or compensation; and, provided
further that such agent or broker claiming e
com pens2tion commission. under an oral
agreement shall bring suit for the collection
OF such commission or compensation within sixty
days after the recording of the transfer eyi-
dencing such purchase or sale, and shall file q
written undertaking, executed by two or more
sufficient sureties, approved by the Judge OF
the court in which said suit shall be brought.
TO the effect that If the defendant recovers
judgment the plaintiff viii pay defendant s
counsel fee TO amount not exceeding 500
and all court costs that may be sustained by
the defendant In such suit, the exact amount OF
the counsel fee TO be hxed by the court.
Mr.. Burdett argued very strongly
and at great length for Endorsement
Of this bill. He suggested that the
brokers in San Francisco would not be
hurt by the bill, If enacted into law
and that Los Angeles would be largely
benefited. He also pleaded for CO.
operation On the part Of this section
Of the State with the south. Repre-
sentatives of large houses were found
on each side of the question when the
vote was finally taken
Among those who took part in the
debate on one side or the other were
George c. Boardman Jr, Frederic
Magee, ]. H. Speck, T. B. Surryhne
A. Aronson, Spencer c. Buckbee, G. T.
Spader,s N. B. Greensfelder, A J. Rich
]. de Ruyter, Henry Stern, Mr.. Jonsen
and Behrend Joost.