New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-01
A STRONG PLEA
FOR LICENSE Bill
Montreal Broker Says the
Measure Would Be Bless
ing to Realty Fraternity.
BUSINESS CLASSED
AS A PROFESSION
Law Would Keep Out of the
Market Men of Question
able Methods.

One Of the strongest addresses in
favor OF the proposed bill TO license
real estate brokers made al the annual
convention Of the New York Real Es-
tate Association. held on October 16
and II at the Hotel Aston, was 'deliv-
cred by Fitz-Jamcs r. Browne He is
president of the house Of Browne. Linn
tied. Of Montreal. and Is we'll known in
realty circles OF this city and state.
Anything that will be OF mutual
benefit TO the buyer. the seller and the
agent. as we'll as protecting the three
equally. must be a good contract, and
the licensing OF real estate men will
do this said Mr.. Browne.
81 have listened 70 the arguments
against the licensing of real estate
brokers. and there has been one domi-
nant feature that they always refer
20 the fact that il will not eliminate
the 'shyster' real estate broker: hut
there Is not a man that has referred to
the most iniurious-the 'shyster' pro-
prietor- without which the 'shyster'
agent could not live.
ITO begin with. real estate is not
business. but d profession. Name me
one profession that is not under regu-
lations. II YOU can. The doctors ave,
the dentists are. the lawyers are, the
architects and the insurance men are.
All these professions are under con-
troll. The country makes laws, but still
II has 10 have its iails and peniten-
tiaries. II is true that we have bad
men in every profession. but il is the
fear Of God that keeps a man good;
so il is the fear Of the law that keeps
2 man straight; but in SDite of all this
there Is always somebody who Is will
ling TO take the chance, end if il was
not for the law and the regulations of
the different professions what a very
sad state Of affairs would exist.
take in the medical profession, how
would YOU know what man to trust
The same can be said Of the dentists
and the LAWYERS. Take the insurance
business-what does protection do for
The insurance? Can any man sell fire
insurance for any company unless he
is a licensed insurance broker? Can
any man sell any fire insurance al
higher or lower rate than that given
BY the insurance company, and what Is
che position If the man who wishes 70
insure" He knows that the rate given
him by the insurance broker is the best
rate and the only rate he can get. and
.he position Of the insurance broker Is
that ne knows that if he places the in
surance he can get his commission. And
Il viii be the same II YOU license the
real estate brokers. because the pro-
urietor will place his property with a
firm under an exclusive contract. The
proprietor then knows that his prop
erty cannot be hawked around and de-
preciated. The buyer knows that the
price quoted by the reputable agent is
correct, and the agent knows that # he
sells the property he will get his COM
mission. so that the contract brought
about by the licensing Of real estate
brokers is mutual contract. protect
ing the three parties interested. and
is 10 not. therefore. the best contract
Gone Of the arguments I heard at the
real estate convention was that lt
would be detrimental TO the big firm
and the little man. How can IL? 1t is
beneficial 10 both. because 1t brings
the small man into the big firm and
gives that man bigger line of goods
10 sell. The big firm, by getting the
small men as sub-agents, will have
more channels and ways of dlsposlng
Of its clients property, thus developing
4: greater efficiency in sales, which IS
the backbone Of any business, for It
s. results that count And it brings the
small man under the protection Of the
big firm. who ere liable for his actions.
Consequently. 7 say in all sincerity.
the licensing Of real estate brokers
would be a gOdsond 20 the fraternity