The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-28
NO SHOPPING ORDER
BOON TOREALTY
Mayors Action Will stop An
noyance and Costly Build
ing Changes.

There is volume Of encouras ing news
in the little note which Mayor Hylan
sent last week to commissioners Of rati-
Gus city departments having inspection
forces under their jurisdiction. asking
them to have their inspectors stop
shopping" The message has gone forth
as the result OF many complaints which
reached the city's chief executive, and
its issuance came at time when real
estate owners were sorely in need OF re-
lief 1t Is in n sense a war measure,
since the food of complaints which
spurred the Mayor TO action were with
out doubt caused by war conditions.
From the tone OF the letter u is ep-
parent that the Mayors attention must
have been called to some rather startling
Incidents Of the result Of the activities or
overEealous inspectors. He opens his
communication by referring TO the
drastic action Of inspectors while making
investigations and the annoyance caused
property owners by compelling them to
make unnecessary changes in these war
times"
The fact that the complaints Of the
real estate owners have at last found an
attentive ear is cheering. but the sddi-
tional fact that orders have been issued
which will put stop to the inspection
oppression which property owners have
Icing sought to throw OF is the most en-
couraEing news which has circulated
throughout realty circles In many day.
Mayor Hylan's letter really IS the ful-
fllment Of q prediction promise made
lust about "a year ago. The promise was
in the form Of a statement ~ where
he stood" in regard to a series of cues
tons appertaining to the subject of in-
spection.
Real estate owners have not been
alone in the suffering which Is now
TO be alieviatcd. but practically every
merchant. manufacturer and shop keep
er has been annoyed and orerregu-
lated for years.
One OF the most prominent real estate
men in the city, who through actual
experience has reason TO be elated over
the Mayors recent war measure,
cited some instances which indicated
the broad effect the new attitude would
| have uron real estate.
"Overinsyection with its kindred
| evils is stated TO have taken $4,000
| 600 out OF the pockets OF owners and
| tenants during the last few years" he
said, land the greater part OF this
money positively was wasted as far as
| accomplishing any real benefit was con-
cerntd One statistician Of recognized
standing has estimated that the Fire
connection with the labor law has cost
| Greater New York the staggering sum
! O. $500 900. Geo during the last five
years and that it has cost approximately
| 100000 to the taxpayers during the
| last six years for the city TO maintain
| its Fire Prevention Bureau"
This real estate man said that after
1900, 900 Inspections had Seen made
by the uniformed fire force in 1913 and
| es.sTe cases reported. 10000 OF which
| were either thrown out or corrected
after s., 600 formal orders had been Is
| sued by The Fire Prevention Bureau. and
after the Court OF Appeals had decided
| that thousands OF orders had been I'M
| lawfully issued and Illegally enforced
and that millions of dollars had beer
spent by owners and gone beyond re
call. the Real Estate Board OF New
York submitted the letter which brought
| forth the prediction promise Of Mayor
| Hylan which is now to be fulfilled.
What great effect this will have
on the realty market cannot be over
| estimated according to this real estate
man. Property which is now on tn,
market for no other reason than that in.
vesiOrs hesitated TO purchase L because
! Of the fear that overinspection would
| eat up any, prospective profits while Il
! was being modernzsd will begin &c
move Freed from this threat, there Il
! every reason to believe that many usahl,
! buildings which need only a few sim
PIE changes to make them serviceabl,
will change ownership. In this time q
! StaGUatioN in new construction, tn,
necessity for conserving every inch o
! space is apparent, and the Mayor,
order will do much toward relieving III,
| ,arSa Sgrvat