New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-17
III eR4aal Estate IS;
Discuss Vital Topics at
State Realty Convention

! announcements of a MISUNDERSTANDING
| character hereafter authorized, we VIII
/ finance them-as to those made suDSe-
ouent TO the adoption of the resolution
and before January 1, l9l6-one-quar
ter 10 be carried in the tax budget
three-quarters of the cost TO be de-
| frayed through the issue OF similar
fifteen-vear serial bonds; those author
lied in 1916. one-half in the tax budget
and one-haif the cost through the
issue of fifteen-year serial bonds; ano
/ those in 1917 in the proportion OF
three quarters and one-quarter Ano
/ il is our intention-and | believe that
no future Board of Estimate that sits
in this city will ever reverse the
policy-that in years subsequent 10
| 1917 all public improvements of non
self-sustaining character shall be car
ried wholly in the tax budget of the
city. Now, as | said, that may seem to
mean an increase in the tax burden
that real estate is called upon 10
carry, and it is true that in the lmme-
diate future il will mean somewhat
increased burden. But there VIII be a
peak which will be reached. and after
that point has been passed II VIII
mean, in my judgment, If not de-
crease in the burden. at least no
greater burden"
Mayor Mitchell also spoke of the work
Of the advisory commission on taxa
ton. II was to study the whole held
Of taxation and the possibility OF de-
vising new sources OF revenue. he
added that its work may result IN hght-
ening the burdens of taxpayers. IN
relation to the subject of "overlnspcc-
ba /
duty of government not TO attempt
a downward step, but rather to de-
wise means for making the necessary
and inevitable supervision as light and
as little irksome as possible.
Resides President Motfett, William {.
Rreed. vice-president of the Merchants
Association, welcomed the delegates at
the opening session. Mr.. Breed said
real estate men were certainly the ad-
vance agents of the prosperity OF the
CITY of New York. He referred to the
strained relations that existed not long
ago between citizens of upstate and TINS
c;ty. But the time is now here when
upstate and city men can vote on the
same question, ne added. in the same
fashion. Thomas j. Overtruf, OF buf-
falo. the next speaker, said he was
never so proud of his citizenship. Up
state there were bountiful crops, the
cellars were we'll filled and the only
disturbing note to that peaceful scene
was the European war.
The proposed bill to license brokers
aroused lively discussion from some
advocates and opponents Of the meas
IRE at the morning and afternoon SEES
sion. The discussion was opened by l.;
d. Woodwork. of Rochester, who said
the bill was nobody's hobby. we want
a perfect bill if the convention tayorS
the proposition" he exclaimed; Alfred
II. Wagg, vice-president OF the Long
island Real Estate Exchange, was
heartily in favor Of the measure with
modification. He advocated two com
missions. one with headquarters at Al
bany, other this city.
Herbert A. Sherman and +. A. Tread
well. ex-president of the Real Estate
Board. both said there was no JUSTIN,
qble ground for making the proposed
bill a law, either in its present form
or modified. 81 have no reason to be-
lieve that there are any more crooks
in the business than in any other IN
promotion to the whole number OF
brokers" said Mr.. Sherman. III a
business is to be regulated because
there are crooks in it, we may as well
prepare to regulate them all. %,
+ A. Treadwoll declared the pm
would result in handing over II poht..
zeal machine the freedom of activity Of
brokers. He argued that realty men
would not control the proposed com
missions. but Fourteenth Street or
some other centre Of political power.
Ira ]. Ettinger. of the United Real
Estate Owners Association, said that
| although a committee of the organlla-
ton had voted. IA to IS, against the
bill. he favored the measure provided
| the necessary qualifications to become
a broker were clearly defined.
/ At the afternoon session, after ad-
/ dresses by Mayor Mitchell and By }. j.
Halleran, of Queens, the discussion on
the license bill was renewed. with K. A.
Borland of Norwich. \. Y. who is
called the father of the bill"; Fltz
James f. Browne, of Montreal, telling
about the benefits that would accrue
if the bill were law, and DIR. Abraham
Koln. of this city. aligned with the op-
ponents Of the bill.
The early part of the afternoon Sos
sion was spent in a study Of New
York's telephone system. Following
luncheon W. +. Schmidt, of the New
York Telephone Company, gave brief
talk on the telephones part in the
business activities of the country, and
then came moving pictures which de-
picted the training and work of the
telephone operator and showed how she
handles emergencies reported over the
telephone.
In his talk Mr.. Schmidt laid particu
lar stress upon the value of courtesy
in telephone usage at pays in max
ing friends, in minimizing friction, II
raising your standing with those with
whom you deal, and in the personal
satisfaction you derive from knowing
YOU have done the right thing by youl
neighbor. ! know of no better thought
to leave with you in this matter OF
telephone courtesy than the little motto
used by our company: The voice with
the smile wins.
In the afternoon. after the regular
business of the convention was finished
! the delegates went on a sightseeing
tour of Queens Borough. The dele
gates visited the headquarters of the
/ Queens Borough Chamber of Com
merce. where they listened to addresses
by Robert w. Higbie, president of that
! organization, and Maurice +. Connolly
Borough President Of Queens. Last
evening was real estate night at tho
! Electrical Exposition. Addresses were
made there by Joseph p. Day, Allan
Robinson and Gage +. Tarbell.
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