New-York tribune., 1914-11-22
PROTEST AGAINST
HEAVIER TAXES
Well Known Brokerage
Firm Says Owners Are
Overweighted.

Goodwin & Goodwin, we'll known real
estate brokers, have uttered strong
protest against placing n heavier tax
burden ON real property. II is eN-
pressed in communication addressed
90 the real estate editor Of this paper.
We read with much interest an
article ln the press says Goodwin d
Goodwin, "lu which DO was stated that
" the proposed tax on real estate for
1915 be adopted by the Board of Alder
men 10 viii necessitate an increase OF
nearly twelve points over that of 1914.
"As real estate brokers of many
years standing and IN justice to pron-
orty owners we hope that our vigorous
protest to such, or any. increase will
carry some weight with the formulated
campaign against any further hard
ships TO those who own real estate. Il
seems To us that the burden which is
already imposed, and which is proven
burden, by reason of uncollccted taxes
OF Sll6,OO0,000, should in itself be a
sufficient warning TO those who control
this avenue Of the city's resources.
New York City. or for that matter
the entire world, Is parasitical. every
one living of of every one and each
ono supposedly financially benefited by
reason of conflict. but If a mastodonic
parasite comes along and absorbs the
susteuaucc from the many. then the
latter must perish, and that is the pre-
else thing which will occur If the city
lthc mast0dOn) makes taxable laws in
the harsh manner which is under con-
sidcration, thereby destroying the use
fuIness for its existence"
TouI oefafa Iapu ~ M ,f flfa
city must be fully awake 20 the fact
Ct the difficulties which owners are en-
countering in the profitable renting OF
their holdings, whether they be stores,
apartments, lofts. private houses, etc,
outside Of very limited localities, such
as Broadway and 42d ST., upper Fifth
av., 34th So, and few isolated spots
downtown, where owners can command
the prices, the rents Of all other sec
tons are made hy the public, which IN
practically al cases owners are COM
PEELED 90 accept or allow their proper
ties 90 lay idle; but rather than do
that they are compelled By already
too hc0yy TAXATION 20 be satisfied with
an iulnItesimal percentage on their
Investments, and In many cases come
out even
"The city is also aware OF the hard
times which exist generally. and cOnse-
guontv hunters for stores, apartments,
lofts. private houses, etc, are not able
20 pay as much q formerly. A. an ex-
ample showing the trend of the times,
one of the heads of one of the largest
department stores In answer 10 our
question as 20 how business was re-
Piled: we are having just as many, or
more, customers, but our receipts arc
only about 90 per cent OF what they
usually are at this time. And still
taxes, insurance and interest on mort
cages have TO be met
we have yet 20 meet a single prop
Crtv owner who refuses 70 pay a le-
PItimate tax, knowing, as they do. il is
for the proper upkeep of the city III
which they are privileged 20 live.
There may be avenues from which the
city can create a larger budget with
out causing hardship. or retrenchments
may be possible, but this we do not
know; but we do know that piling on
additional tax burdens TO those already
CXist.ug win positively shatter the
backs of property owners, which are
already at q breaking point We would
even like 90 go a little further by ad
vOcatiug q lower taxation, or, anyway,
those localities in which properties
have had a suicidal depreciation by
reason of the public removal to other
sections. Finally, the city should re-
member that its principal vitality is
due to those who live and transact
business within it, and it behooves the
city in return TO see that 1t does not
create obstacles that will bring ruin
and misery"