Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-15
REALTY BROKERS
DENY RENT BOOST
North Philadelphia Associa-
tion Assails "Tax In
crease Dope"
COUNCILS ARE BLAMED

An indignant reputation Of the accusa-
tions made by Joseph p Gaffney chairman
of the Finance Committee or Councils that
real estate men have used the tax In
crease to raise rents disproportionately, has
been launched by the TaN Protest Commit
tee Of the Nurth Philadelphia Real Estate
Brokers Association. The committee char
acterizos the tax rate increase dope as
municipal dope in its most virulcnt and dan.
gCrUus form
Particularly does the committee resent
the attempt or Councils to place the re-
spoustbilty for rent "gougns' on the
brokers'.
Councils. and Councils only, are rcspon-
sbe. this committee declares, and the pco-
ple-thc home-owuers and rent payers
win no, be deceived they assert. by the At
tempt Of the Finance Committee 10 shitt the
responsibility for the tnS increase from
their own to the shoulders OF the property
owners and the brokers.
This attempt TO place the responsibility
for the Increase of rents on the real estate
brokers'" their protest reads, In part came
out many times during the various argu-
ments on the subject before the Finance
Committee and the body Of Councils hht
we can say authorita.ivcly that no REM
is uciuE raised by any memher ot the NoIyn
Philadelphia Real Estate Brokers. Assoc'a-
tion except when written order ls re-
ceived from the property owner
"rha action Of councils In increasing the
tax rate was not taken without their hls'
having received due warning Of the ccono-
mic consequences that would result ne
chairman Of this Protest Committee toId lhe
members Of the Finance Commntee tha' tue
Investment purchaser. the man VINO owns
property and rents the same would take
care of himself and increase the rents
Sow they are accused OF increasing the
rents In excess OF the taz increase. hut
these property owners possibly are aSsun-
ing the position that the Chairman or the
Finance Commmlttee assumed and have put
their rent increase on the flexible basis
lust as the tax was SO put Perhaps II
remedial legislation Is passed in l9ls' the
rents will be decreased
ut is a prime rule Of business that any
action which decreases the return upon an
Investment, also decreases the Nhue "I lhe
investment and the Chairman of the FINANCE
Committee and the citizens or PhlIauelphl'
cannot blame the property owner Tor pro-
tcctIng his investment in real estate
"lt is asking TOO much OF the property
owners Of Philadelphia TO permit lh'u-
selves To become the butt OF every increase
in income that the city Of PhiIadeIphm re-
uu.rcs when there are so many other ways
Of raising money by taxing subjects other
than real estate. No calling OF names or
vilifcation OF the property owners Will deter
them from protecting the money
the saving OF Il ltfetime-that was lnN'sl'u
IN real estate bpttuSt bl lNS 'l''''' mummy
as an investment, which stability has been
impaired by the adoption Of flexible tax
rate"
Continuing. the protest advises an entire
revision Of the system of assessing property
in Philadelphia and the passing of legisa'
ton permitting subjects other than real
estate to be taxed.
The committee which signed the protest
IL composed of Charles II. vOn Tagen. chair
man; George Beck, Ernest Berry, Sylvester
Lowrcy and q. \. Wick