New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-01
CHOSEN HEAD OF
COUNSEL BOARD
Elk Justice Morgan J.
O'Brien Named by Adj
visory Council.

A the regular monthly meeting OF
the Advisory Council OF Real Estate
Interests ex-Justice Morgan J. O'Brien
yas elected chairman OF the board Of
counsel and Henry W. Hodge was
chosen chairman of the advisory stan
The council thoroughly considered
Tho question of reducing the expenses
al the city budget. After a close eN-
animation il was discovered that
large number Of the items "hich mig
he reduced were imposed upon the c'ty
government by mandatory legislation
passed at Albany.
In regard 10 this subject MEMBER
of the council said Yesterday:
"Since every reasonable objection
was raised to extravagant expenses OF
the city By the real estate ASSOCIATION
at the recent hearings on the OudgeO'
il is absolutely necessary that durlns
the coming year every effort be iha1e
either to pass a home rule bil Dy
which these expenditures Will be aoso-
lutely under the supervision oil the
city. or that these mandatory require
ments in the city budget be amended
by corrective legislation.
The council feels that no more I'M
portsnt work could be undertaken by
property owners than the passage OF
such ameioratory laws. The criticism
OF a CITY budget is a difficult matter,
and every objection must be absolutely
grounded upon substantial fact. Too
often real estate bodies have over
looked the Importance OF a thorough
investigation OF a question which they
hoped 20 raise.
ut is the plan of the council within
the next year 10 amalgamate and fuse
these associations which are now IN
terested in reducing the city's eNpendi-
lures. 30 that permanent committee
will be formed to take up the city
budget and devote many months 20
analytical examination o. the figures
and facts presented by each city de-
partment. By such a method d strong
case in behalf o. the property owner
might be presented at tnc neEt hearing
on the city budget in 1915. In the
meantime every effort Will be made TO
relieve the Board OF Estimate and APP
portionment OF the mandatory restric-
tons now imposed upon it.
The council has decided 20 appoint
a subcommittee to cooperate with the
Mayors committee on taxation in as
certalnIng new sources Of revenue for
the city. There is no doubt that real
estate IS now overweighted with taxa
tion, and is required to bear more than
its fair share of supplying the neces-
sary funds 20 finance the city. This
committee will make it's report direct
to the Mayors committee on taxation,
The advisory staff OF experts of the
council viii assist this committee in
its Investigations, and II is hoped that
some definite and constructive sugges-
tons for proper taxation from new
sources will thereby be recommended
"The council deems it advisable TO
request the Mayor 10 take some action
with reference TO the consolidation of
building inspection departments in the
city. The State Factory Investigating
Commits siOn has already proposed a
tentative plan, but inasmuch as all
but one OF the departments involved
are directly under the jurisdiction OF
the city. il il essential that the local
administration arrives az some plan by
which these various departments may
be united under one head. Ii has been
recommended that a commission be ap-
pointed on the part Of the city 10 take
some definite action in this respect,
for unless the city and the state Off
cials work consistently toward COM
mon goal nothing will be accom-
plished. To merely nave the state in
vestigate this question of the inspec-
tion evil and recommend remedies
will rot be nearly as beneficial as with
both the city and the state working
out their respective plans and then
ultimately endeavoring to amalgamate