The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-22

The Real Estate Board OF New York
has laid out a definite programme for
economy, efficiency and sane laws upon
which 1t is already az work. This pro-
eramme, which contemplates important
constructive work with relation TO city
departments, the Legislature. charter
amendments and the constitutional con-
voution, Is IA continuation of activities in
which the board has recently been en-
gagged.
The most important work already ac-
complished includes certain reasonable
amendments 20 the labor law; crystalliz-
ing sentiment for simpler method OF
building supervision specific recominenda-
items looking to the reduction OF the
enormous city budget of more than
$2l0,0UO, 900 as at first contemplated IN
the estimates Of heads OF departments
The tentative budget forwarded to the
Board of Aldermen by tho Board Of Esti-
mate showed "a reduction to Sl99.23s.VOO
and the Real Estate Board has suggested
further economies N view " the distress
inG conditions IA real estate. These
economies II granted would further re-
duco the budget by about 100000. III
these further reductions arc not granted
the 1915 tax rate will not be far below
the 81 mark
While this work II primarily for the
relief OF prop,r ty owners II Is only to a
button to civic progress and bot:arment /.
ana for this reason the Real Estate Board
looks for the support and cooperation or
civic and taxpayer bodies and of broad
minded and progressive city and state
officials In securing legislation requiring
that all salaries which must be provided
for in tho city bulge, be fixed by the
Board OF Aldermen and the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment. and that
all laws conflicting with such provision
or fixing other than eight hours az a legal
days work De repealed that the state
Labor Dcpartmeu: shall have Jurisdiction
only over the employees themselves and
the housekeeping OF the building IN which
they work and that the tax lein law be
amended 80 that the interest due on a tax
lien must be demanded In writing or by
proper publication before the lien can BE-
fcreclosed. and limiting the cost OF this
notice 10 a fixed sum IN foreclosure.
Charter amendments will be sought to
provide FOR a central purchasing bureau
by enl1rging the powers OF the board OF
City Record for d new Department OF
Buildings, 70 have entire Jurisdiction over
buildings and 10 take over the Inspection
functions now exercised ~ other depart
ments, including the state Department Of
Labor, that al. claims against tho city
be audited only by the Comptro.lers Office,
or II in the form OF contract by the
bureau OF contract supervision as wei
a. the Comptrollers ONCE, that water
taxes be collected by the Comptroller at
periods during the year when such collec-
ton Will not interfere with the work q:
collecting o.her taxes FOR II Board OF
Education small IN number. with paid
members 70 have absolute control over all
educational matters, subject only 20 the
state Board OF Education, tho Board of
Estimate and tho Board OF Aldermen /;
for tho consolidation OF the Department
OF Bridges and the Department OF Docks
and Ferries. for the consolidation OF the
Department OF Charities and the Depart
ment OF Corrections: that all hospitals be
put under one administrative head shat
there he ono administrative head for
parks ana that there nr one admu.stra-
tive head FOR public libraries.
Anne ndmcu's are TO ne urged IN the
Constitution for home rule IN cities OF the
first class that all real estate taxes must
be lowed both on land and the improve
mCnts on land and that any attempt %
decrease the debt limit now fxed IN the
Constitution OF 10 per cent. OF the as
sessed valuation ot real esate be OPP
raCat