The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-18
UNITING TO DOWN
TAX HALYING BILL
Real Estate and Civic SOcie ties
Join TO Oppose Herrick-
Schaap Measure.
HEARING HERE ON FRIDAY
Committees Of Taxpayers to
Fight Bill Then and Later
at Albany Meeting.

Real estate interests OF New York city,
fearful lest the Herrick- SchaAp bill now
pending at Albany become 4 law. held
,rce meetings yesterday at which plans
we're laid to carry on a widespread cam.
pa!gn against the bill. Committees repre-
sn,ng all OF the taxpayers orGanixa-
tons throughout the city and many OF
the civic bodies will appear for those op-
posed to the measure at a hearing on the
general subject before the Board Of ks-
innate on Friday at $3.50 o'clock. and
large bodies of property owners will go
from every borough to Albany on March
Ito take part in the hearing on the meas
ure before the Cities Committee, which
has the bill in hand.
The Herrick-Schaap bill 10 an out
rrov,h OF the Sullivan Short and Salant-
sehaap bills which provided q gradual
reduction OF the tax rate on buildings un-
III the rate equalied one-half the rate on
land In the four years the measure has
been agitated the Lower Rents Society
and allied organizations. which claim that
rents will be materially lowered by the
operation OF the measure, have worked UP
favor of II. which has made q big impress
sion on the members Of the Cities Com
mittees Of the Assembly and senats. Prop
srty owners, both Of vacant and improved
land not only declare that the measure
will not have such result as 10 claimed
for 4, but that II win wipe out some
real estate values. lower them generally,
curtall the city's borrowing power and
result in a general real estate upheavai.
At one Of the meetings held yesterday
under the auspices OF the Allied Real
Estate interests in the vesey Street
salesroom Allan Robinson. presiding.
made the statement with the authorization
Of william j. Schieffelin that the Citizens
Union is opposed to the bill and will join
with those opposing II in working for
It's defeat. At that meeting Mr.. Robinson
outlined the bill to a large body Of prop
erty owners who declined to take acti't
measures both here and In Albany -
have IT beaten. The meeting appointed
a committee representing all boroughs to
attend the hearing before the Board OF
Estimate on Friday and another TO make
arrangements for a special train to take
the members OF the Allied Real Estate
interests 10 Albany on March to oppose
the measure before the legislative COM
mlttee.
FOR Fridays hearing. He was approached
some time ago by members OF the Lower
Rents Society to grant a hearing on the
natter. so he appointed next Friday as
.he time and decided 20 throw the meet
Ing open to all who wished to speak
either for or against the measure. II 10
not a usual thing for public hearing
20 be held on bill pending In the Legis,
a,ure but this one In OF such popular
interest and Its effect may reach even to
the clty's borrowing capacity. % II was
der,ded 10 have a general discussion OF
40 matter with all the members OF the
Board Of Estimate present.
The committee that will appear for the
Allied Real Estate Interests will consist
of Mr. Robinson, Henry Bloch and Dr.
Wenner. president Of the West Side TAX
payers Association. Brooklyn will be rep
resented by william J. Niper. Edwin 3.
Piper and + T. Conn, president OF the
Manufacturers Association. From the
Bronx there will be Max Just. James L.
Wells and former Borough President
Cyrus c. Miller. President Ellsworth OF
me United Clvics will represent Queens
and Richmond will have H. q. Van Clief
and Edward p. Doyle.
At meeting of members Of the Real
Estate Board OF New York resolutions
were adopted declaring that single tax
propagandists having failed to pass leRis-
ut!DN ltfN utSlTt, nave tuIhSd W eiN A1Ss
-.ck-Schaap bill In an effort to get that
through AS forerunner of the single tax
The board declared that employees OF
the single tax propaganda have formed
sef-appointed committees composed OF
members who have been induced erron-
eously TO believe that such bill 10 in the
interest OF the citizens OF New York city
IN that II will reduce rents, increase wages.
stimulate new building construction ana
reduce population congestion"
The board declared that Il has given
caretul study to the measure and has
decided that II win have most DISASTROUS
results on every class Of citisens, "inas-
much as Il will deter mortgage lenders
rom making loans on New York city
realty. will increase rents and increase
congestion rather than reduce both as
claimed will decrease instead OF Increase
Tho erection Of new buildings and will
reduce the assessed value OF realty and
vii consequently further reduce the bor-
rowing capacity OF the city and may and
probably will cause the existing bonded
Indebtedness OF the city to exceed the
constitutional limit"
The board went on record As unalter-
tbly opposed TO the bill.
Over In Queens there was third
meeting ~ the Chamber Of Commerce,
attended by practically all the builders
ana operators in that borough. Alrick
" Man and Edward MacDougall were
appointed committee TO attend the hear
ing on Friday and committee Of Henry
g Johnston, Mr.. MacDougall and f.
De w. Simonson was authorized to COOP
crate with the Real Estate Board Of
New York and Allied Real Estate Inter-
ssts 10 take a trainlosd OF real estate
men To Albany 20 the hearing there
Queenss representatives will have
separate car.