New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-03
LAWS AND REAL ESTATE
Protection of Public Has Not Dam
aged Property Values.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: When letter achieves admission to
the editorial page of The Tribune it assumes
certain public Importance. Judson G. Wallis
communication on taxable values in New York
is a tissue of inconsistencies and misstate-
ments which might be left to answer them
selves but for the prominence given them, in
your columns.
Mr.. Wall was appointed a Tax Commits
soner by Mayor Gaynor, but was not retained
in Office by this administration in spite of his
willingness to remain in the city service. II
is but fair to him TO state that the position
which he now takes in relation to the injuri-
Gus effect Of regulative legislation on real
estate in New York he took while in office.
He regarded himself as the natural leader OF
the group of real estate men in Brooklyn who
every year in one form or another strive TO
abolish the tenement house law in order that
they may be permitted TO reproduce in the
newer sections of the city the unsanitary
building conditions which we have been strug-
Cling to eliminate from the older parts Of the
city for the past fourteen years.
Neither he nor his associates avow this pur-
nose or perhaps believe that such would be
the result of the success of their efforts, but
designs under the guise of protest against
Single tax socialism" It would seem as II
at this day any man capable of holding an
important public Office in the city Of New
York would know that to talk Of a single tax
socialist is like talking Of white blacAbird
or a round square. The single tax and social
st policies are as far apart as the poles.
Single takers claim that their programme Is
the logical answer to state socialism and
that there is no other.
Mr. Walls logic may be judged by his state
men. that Single tax socialism" advocates
the policy of'"robbng Peter to pay Paul"
to which the reply might be made that he
seems to see no reason why Paul should not
be robbed to enrich Peter.
But the burden Of the attack Of Mr.. Wall
falls. rs it has fallen for years. on the Tene-
ment House Department. That the tenement
house law is the principal agency of single
takers 70 depress real estate values Will be
n surprise TO Robert W. de Forest, Paul era
vath, Alfred T. White and others who were
the sponsors of the original law and have
since upheld it. Mr.. Wall may say that he
does not objec. TO the law, but TO its enforce
ment But the tenement house law is a
rigid, mandatory statute, and its enforcement
is observed by scores Of real estate owners
insist upon their legal rights.
Let Mr. Wall produce his experts who claim
that the tenement house law had reduced val
ues $500 100000. An irresponsible real estate
dealer once made the statement. He has
never supported it by any figures. Mr.. Wall
seized upon it and has been brandsh!ng it
ever since as an irrefutable proof of his post
ton. Let him give the names Of any reputa-
Bile, disinterested experts who will sustain
any figure even approaching that which he
names. The sum mentioned is 10 per cent OF
the total real estate valuation. The produc-
ton Of tenement houses has more than met
the demand for accommodations for the past
twelve years. There are no tenants in New
York who earn living wage who cannot find
apartments within their means. How, then,
has the law diminished values?
The Tenement House Department has done
everything possible 10 encourage the construc-
tion-o small tenements short of permitting
them to be erected with dark rooms and with
out proper fire retarding provisions. II has
refused TO permit the fimsy work shown in
many two-family buildings, and hence there
is hue and cry raised by some builders tina,
the tenement house law nterferes with the
development OF new districts
Mr.. Walls ultimate suggestion is that the
Mayor should place the administration OF
regulatory laws in the hands OF business men
and tell them to demand nothing from owners
not necessary for the protection Of the public
health, morals and safety. This would be
personal government with vengeance. Were
Mr. Wall so appointed he would, judging by
his letter. regard the enhancement of real
estate values as Of paramount Importance
and any policy which worked in another di
rection as detrimental to public interest.
The truth Of this whole subject was clearly
stated by . frank architect who declared;