The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18

three family houses" and advised the
enactment OF State laws exempting at
once from taxation all residential build
.nss within the city of New York for the
nrst two years after their completion.
!hen, II our financial men are ready to
40 their part, the Senator said, he Ia
conndent the builder will be quite ready
to begin his work.
Right on top Of all this Frank Mann.
tenement House Commissioner, said that
because of the activities of his depart
nent ana the cooperation of the Bureau
OF Buildings n new era is dawning in
housing conditions at Coney Island The
Dig news In his declaration Is that the
Two family house down by the seashore.
winch has been made to accommodate as
many as seven families and boarders Dc
sioes, IL going out and bone fide tene-
hent houses are coming In.
EVIL conditions following the packing
OF Coney Island folks like sardines into
Two FAMILY houses resulted in prosecu-
lions OF the owners and lessees. and
since the first OF January nearly a hun
dred apartment houses, some costing
over 100000. have been planned.
Inc latest housing investigational
pooy In the field, the Joint Legislative
committee. announced yesterday that Il
u obtaining data as to the working out
OF the Federal Farm Loan Act. as TO
the new proposed Federal Home Loan
Act, the plans adopted in Montreal, Kan
sas City and other American cities,
and also the plans in effect in England.
france. Belgium, Australia and New
zealand. The committee will meet in
the City Hall on Tuesday. Thursday
ana Friday. Nathan Hirsch will prob
ably be the first witness. The commit
nv a.
formation which II was unable to get
from Mayor Hylan on Friday as TO
facts on housing unearthed by the
Mayors Committee on Rent Profiteering.
Report by the Commission.
In its statement copcerning the or
ganization of a Housing Reconstruction
Corporation with a capital stock Of S5,-
100000, the Reconstruction Commission
said:
The corporation will be authorized
TO purchase, own and sell as we'll as to
mortgage real estate and to erect, man
age and lease buildings within the city
limits Subscribers 60 the stock will
have the right to name q committee to
manage the distribution Of the funds of
the corporation. The loans are to be
amortised and when the surplus reaches
30 per cent Of the capital invested, the
corporation Is to terminate.
1t 10 not, the purpose Of tho Recon-
structior Commission either to finance.
manage or direct the corporation. The
commissions sole intention Is to point
the way to relieving existing distress
and to bring about a condition that will
lessen the unrest that Is constantly
growing because wage earners and per-
sons Of moderate means are suffering
from lack of housing facilities that has
placed them within the power OF prof
iteers.
Gov. Alfred f. Smith, Chairman
Abram I. Elkus and other members Of
the Reconstruction Commission ex-
pressed satisfaction yesterday over the
outcome Of the conference between the
Governor and members of the commission
and persons of large means and heads
OF great financial institutions over the
housing situation. Both the Governor
and Mr.. Elkus declared that the way
has now been cleared to bring about
the advancement Of large sums of money
for building operations, and the break
ing Of the deadlock that has caused a
suspension OF housing operations since
the beginning Of the war.
1--WE need houses and must have
them at once for the wage Garner and
Smith. NO relief can come from any
modification OF the tenement house law.
In fact, I am opposed to any modifica-
ton Of tho law that will let down tho
bars or be In the nature Of a step back
ward. No legislation will mako houses
grow on empty lots. I do not believe
that the housing crisis IL to be solved by
legislation or that State funds are avail
able to bring about the relief that Is i'm
tix,A M t,,,r
Homes for $500 Family Units.
Alfred E. Marltng. president of the
New York Chamber of Commerce and a
member OF the commission, told the
gathering at the Metropolitan Club that
| under the plan an expenditure OF So
000, 900 will give housing accommoda-
tions-four rooms-to $500 family
units. These calculations were based on
new type OF apartment houses, in
block square units. having an open court
in the middle with Fairgrounds for chill
dren. One feature of the plan is erecting
homes in sections where land Is cheap
and thus being able to put more money
into the buildings themselves.
II have often advocated the amend
ment OF the tenement house law" Sen
ator Calder said yesterday. but when
did so I was attacked on every side
on the claim that favored dark rooms
for our working people. The fact Is i
was struggling for a change in the law
that would permit the man of moderate
income to live In a modern one and
not compel him. as we have done, to
live in one of the old fashioned dilapi-
dated teuements"
The Senator said that there have
been few tenement houses built for our
working people since 1907 and from that
year dates the shortage of houses. With
the cost OF building so per cent higher
than II was four years ago, he added.
the problem Is exceedingly difficult for
the builder and II we are to encourage
him to build, we must offer some in
ducement
my suggestion" he said. would be
TO amend the tenement house law SO as
TO exclude from its operation all three
family houses. Our building code and
present health and sanitary laws are
such as to make ideal family conditions
| IL the three family houses are con-
structed under their terms. would
further advise that the Legislature en-
act laws at once exempting FROM taxa
ton for the first two years after their
completion all buildings within the con-
fines of the city of New York used
solely for residential purposes"
Chairman Hirsch OF the Mayors Com
mittee has invited all contractors and
builders in the greater city to meet in
the Mayors ONCE tomorrow afternoon
at o'clock. He wishes 20 know what
they think ought to be done about the
present situation.
Henry H IaEartls CITY Marshal