New-York tribune., 1913-11-30
TENEMENT HOUSE
BOARD ATTACKED
Brooklyn Realty Men Start
Move to Abolish 1t as
a Menace to City.
FLAT RESTRICTIONS
RUIN TO VALUES
Outlay of SS09,O0O Yearly Should
Go to School Purposes,
Is Contention.

The movement 10 put through the Legis-
lature i'm the coming session a measure
abolishlng the Tenement House Depart
ment has been started by the Real Estate
Protective Association Of Greater New
York, with the support of Tax Commits
sioner Judson G.. Wall. of Brooklyn. and
Superintendent p. J. Carin, OF the Brook
lyn Bureau of Buildings. The campaign
is under the active management OF the
Rev. W. Frederick Silleck, president OF
the association.
The contention OF those behind the
movement is that al present the city has
about fifteen bureaus and departments
which send ont inspectors 10 interfere
with real estate. and that the various
exactons of the inspectors are bringing
about crisis in the realty market that
menaces the financial standing of the city
itself They say that there should be
only one set OF inspectors, and that all
building regulations can properly be han
oiled by the Bureau of Buildings and the
branches OF the Department OF Health in
the several boroughs.
In his letter to Mr.. Silleck on the qucs-
ton Superintendent Carlin, who Is gem
orally looked upon as an authority In his
line, says:
Your proposed appeal to Mayor Kline
for the appointment of a commission pre-
liminary TO having the matter brought UP
at Albany, / am convinced. is the proper
course.
The stringent exactions OF the several
unnecessary municipal departments that
have, by degrees, sprung into being Mt the
request of some well meaning but mis-
guided philanthropists and so-called mu-
nicipaI reformcrs have imposed such bur
dens on real estate owners as TO make
their holdings not only unproductive. but
actually in many cases an expense "nich
many are unable TO meet. A number or
property owners are now bordering on
condition of bankruptcy, simply waiting
TO have their property contiscated accoru-
ing TO law and themselves declared Juds-
ment debtors.
"I sincerely trust that the movement
that YOU have undertaken ma nave inc
effect among others, OF abolishing the
needless Tenement House Department
doing away with the interference OF the
Fire Prevention Bureau I'm building con-
strllction matters and a revocation or that
part OF the labor law which authorizes
the Department OF Labor TO meddle win
inc construction OF buildings In cities OF
the first class
Mr.. wall issued a statement yesterday
in answer 10 a letter from Darwin IL
James OF the Bureau OF Charlues' III
which he saws that the present eXacuons
have caused loss OF tsn,"o.eO IN the
citv's property values and that the l'''"V
families living in three-room mats ana the
100 families living in four-room ha's
could have better accommodations ior 'he
same money II restrictions were ieSseheo'
especially in so far az the three-iafn'''
houses are concerned
,.p,udors nov.." he adds ARE com
nelIed 70 put up large tenement houses
with accommodations for twenty ta"ihes
or moro 10 make their investments pay.
Further. Brooklyn, with her " py J" ioot
lots is in a better position to put up tns
three.family houses than 10 buiIt nav
houses on such lots.
The reason that the Tax Commissioner
wishes the Mayor 20 appoint cofhihs-
sion 10 Investigate the whole question NC
fore bringing the matter 10 the attehuoh
NJ the Legislature Is because he is con-
vinced that the Tenement House Depart
mont IL 10 per cent overrated. His depart
mont ia able TO assess $1,000 parcels OF
land each year at cost OF &9l 900 by d.
yiding the city into seventy-hve sssess'
ment districts. while the Tenement house
Department achieves less at an outlay OF
sS09 600. This statement continues:
.This $500. 900 in cash every year from.
the city treasury is OF slight Importance
in my opinion. when compared win the
enormous damage done to properly
values. The city, however. IS III crying
need Of the money for other purposes.
This ,sos. 90 a year would place In every
school in the city one or more experts In
vocational guidance and home economies.
II would establish in every schooihouse
course of free evening lectures. IL Wouid
establish a permanent industrial ana mo
chanical exhibition, with free lecture
courses. night and day, TO old and young
The use of @O9C0O = year for either OF
these purposes would be OF incalculabio
value and importance to the entire conf
munity.
"The 100 600 orders issued by the Tene-
-nent House Department indicate degree
Of harassment and annoyance that has
caused the ownership Of tenement proper
ties TO become no longer an investment
but in thousands OF instances, liability
and a nuisance. Hundreds OF parcels are
ready 10 be turned over TO the mortgagee,
the equities having been wiped out and
the nominal owners ruined. The unfortu-
nate condition Of the market for tene-
ments has had a depressing influence on
the market for other classes Of real es-
tate"