The Monmouth inquirer., 1920-03-25

taxation for two years new dwellings, |
so that building would be encouraged,
houses be more plentiful and rents
reasonable. The latter would require
a landlord to give three months notice
before eviction and prohibit the dis
possession of tenants between the
months of October and May.
Question constitutionaIity.
The constitutionality of the meas
ures was questioned by Assembly |
man Tozer, of Bergen, and Assembly,
man William George, of Hudson. But
a no lesser legal light than George L.
Record was present to allay their APP
prehensions on that score. He de-
clared that If the exemption of bank
stock from taxation, as upheld by the
Supreme Court, was constitutional,
then the exemption of buildings from
taxation would also be valid.
Commissioner Cannon asserted that
the housing condition was acute as
the result of scarcity of houses. I'VE
think the Legislature can help us"
he said. He stated that eviction was
sad under any circumstances but
that it was especially so when families
whose sons were in the service were
made the victims
Increase Population.
George L. Record admitted that the
passage of House 100 would SAVIOR of
the single tax idea, but declared that
it was necessary to relieve the pres
ent housing situation. He said that
to exempt buildings from taxation for
a few years would mean a wonderful
development in building houses and
that the additional homes would in
crease the population of the state be-
tween 10000 and 100000.
"Will not the exemption of new
buildings from taxation be an injus-
tice to the owners of houses already
erected?" asked Assemblyman Young
1T might be an injustice in few
cases." Mr. Cannon replied, but as a
whole the great majority of people
would benefit therefrom If the pro-
gram were carried out there would be
such activity in building that within
three or four years there would be
added to the assessed value of prop
erty in the state between $25,000,000
and $30,O00,0O0"
Mr. Cannon explained that those
owners who built before the war had
a big advantage over those who seek
to build now, and the exemption of new
buildings from taxation would equal
ize conditions to an extent
John T. Gregory, rent investigator
of West New York, told of housing
conditions in that town. He said that
rents had been lacked up from 20 to
so per cent in many cases. He pre-
sented 1000 signature Of alleged vic
Tins of rent profitecring from that
town. He said that the apartment
houses were owned by foreigners in
many cases and that these landlords
cared nothing for the boys who went
overseas for service and were as will
ing to gouge their families of exor-
bitant rents as any other
Robert Wallace of the Jersey City
Chamber of Commerce urged the pas
sage of both bills sponsored by Com
missioner Cannon.
Mrs. Augusta Gerke of Newark. the
mother of a service man, told of her
landlord. who is not even a citizen of
the United States, increasing the rert
Of her fat by 100 per cent in two
months
Unless the legislature takes immedi-
ate and effective steps to remedy ex-
isting deplorable conditions created by
heartless rent gougers. there will ensue
a serious and far-reaching uprising.
That was the opinion expressed by
Mayor Charles P. Gillen of Newark.
Mayor Gillen called attention to the
situation in Newark, where he had en-
deavored to find some form of relief,
but discovered the laws such an obsta-
Gle as to practically block all efforts
in that direction. He declared that
rentals were jumped by as much as
125 per cent without cause or reason
and that people were driven into frenzy
by their quest for homes; that rents
have been advanced to such unreason-
able heights that in many instances
poor families are unable to procure
decent clothes or shoes for their chill
dren who must attend school.
State Expense $4,000, ooo.
Expenditures aggregating $12,000,-
0eO, it is understood, viii be provided
for in the annual appropriations bin
to be introduj ed in the legislature this
year. Fifty per cent of these eXpendi-
lures will be devoted in maintaining
state institutions. An increase of be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 will be made
in the annual appropriation for salaries
for members of the judiciary. One of
the big items of the increase will be
an appropriation of 100000 for bo-
muses. for state employees.
1t is the intention of the committee
to have the bill ready for submission
to the legislature at least one or two
weeks before final adjournment is
Ff1v Il.