New-York tribune., 1919-06-06
Supremacy of New York
Over Other Cities in Dan
ger Unless Homes Are
:, Provided, Lawyer Asserts
Reiterates Other Charges
Explains Letter Accusing
Insurance Companies of
Withholding Loan Funds

The supremacy of New York over
other growing cities is being seriously
threatened by the acute housing situa-
ton here, Samuel Untermyer declared
Yesterday at the opening session of the
inquiry OF the Aldermanic Welfare
Committee. the latest body to join in
the quest for way out of the present
Z ANTIQUITIES. The committee is working
in conjunction with the Mayors Com
mittee on Rent Profiteering, whose
chairman, Nathan Hirsch, presided yes
terday.
Mr. Untermyer stressed the vital
need of providing immediate remedies
by pointing out the danger to the cty's
now undisputed place in the fore of
the nations municipalities His two
hours on the stand were spent chiefly
in reiteratlng and amplifying the in
formation contained in his letter to Mr.
Hrsch, made public on Wednesday.
Although at the opening of his tes-
timony the witness declared that his
Z
be mistaken as an attack on the in
surance companies, he proceeded again
10 point out alleged violations Of the
law by several of the largest of these
organizations. He also renewed his
attack on so-caled combinations of
dealers in building materials, who are
responsible. he said. for the present
abnormally high prices.
No Care for Workers
Nothing is being done in this city
70 take care of the housing for work
ingmen and their families Mr.. INTER
myer said, after he had testified.
The city is no. being made attractive
a 20 workers. They will 60 elsewhere,
where conditions are more favorable
and they can procure adequate and
proper housing facilities. This had be-
come big, gripping problem and those
interested in the welfare of the city
.-m must be ready to improve conditions"
Mr. Untermyer gave his host, Nh
Hirsch, an unpleasant surprise when
= he declared himself entirely out of
. sympathy with the crusade against rent
prof teers." Mr. Hirsch has been actively
pursuing a campaign of this kind in
-.- his city, havng taken up more than
.en thousand eases. Mr.. Untermycr
declared that high rents are largely
due to the excess of demand over
supply
He secuted the establishment of a
ystem of Federal home loans, declar-
-ng that the city would get at the most
s25.000,0O0, which he termed drop
n the bucket" New York's housing
pIoblem is peculiarly its own, he said
Situation Worst in Nation
imagine New York City is the
''orst off OF any community in the
ountry in the way of housing condi-
ions for the masses of its people," he
said, because it has grown rapidly
and 1t is five years since we have done
any building of any consequence"
he said that the two deterrents to
building in this city are the inability
ito borrow money and "the exactons of
criminal combinations among the build
-ors." He declared that every build
lng company should be investigated,
laying that the similarity Of prices
asked by each would bring out the
existence of combination
The price Of labor is not responsible
or the high cost of building materials,
re said. He added that there is no
likelihood of drop in wages, but
substantial increase is probable He
advocated a protective tariff TO main
tain the wages of workmen at their
present standard.
We will need protection now more
use shutting down immigration and
!etting IN the product of foreign labor.
We are in for tremendous competition,
more than ever before. 1t will be the
competition Of wretched, starving peo-
pie who are willing to work for any
thing
Foresees Protective Tariff
believe we are going TO have a
strong protective tariff, apart from
what is needed for revenue The
stronger our protective tariff the more
necessary our home competition must
De kept up. | think that we have got
70 prosecute every existing trust-no'
play with them as we have been doing
but suppress them"
The witness contcnded that there is
no better investment in the world thar
IN unencumbercd real estate in New
iork City. He said it is the safes
'ning into which money can be put
=. As an incentive to improve real estate
ne suggested that all unimproved prop.
efty be assessed for twice as much as
developed land
In mis- criticism Of the small aid tc
oulsding given BY insurance companies
ar. Cnterrnyer declared that fire in
slrance companies are worse than life
Insurance companies. The former, he
&. sac, make their profits entirely on i'm
proved real estate, and yet make nc
eHort to help it. He cited one com
pany which has assets of $4,000, 900
wlth but s2,lo0 invested in building.
Dir Hirsch announced that the presi-