The New York herald., 1920-12-26
Realtors Take a Birdseye
View of Their Year, S Work

L. Ingraham. He explained the status
OF the pending cases. the meaning OF the
various decisions In the lower courts and
the plan for proceeding with the appeal
lie emphasized the point that the at
tempt was being made. IN effect. to
establish the fact that real estate in
New York Is a public utility. He laid
stress on the serious situation that would
be created II this should be established
as the law OF the State. He hoped. how
ever, this would not be the final result.
A. c. MacNulty. counsel to the board.
referred TO the so-called emergency un-
der which the rent laws we're passed. He
said one OF the first things to be done
at Albany is to have an amendment
passed that will provide for the payment
of rents to landlords by tenants. with
out prejudicing the case on either side.
Perhaps the Legislature could be con-
vinced that several of the very drastic
provisions Of these laws are uncalled for
and should be repealed. Certainly, II
the Court Of Appeals holds the pro-
visions unconstitutional. we may expect
a very different set.of laws In the pl9ca
OF those we now have.
Tax situation Is Critical.
Edward p. Doyle. manager Of the
bureau OF information and research,
ask the members 20 do would be 70
see their Asseniblymen and Senators
IN regard 70 having the city aui
county governments reorganized. He
said Il was the first time sirce
ereater New York had become
city that Il found itself unable TO levy
It's entire budget because OF the con-
stitutionai limit OF two per cent. and Il
was obliged TO leave out $2T.0o0-ooo.
The levy. which will give tax rate Of
2.S5. he said. stlll fails to provide for
the s27 10000 70 run the schools from
August ! to December 81 1921. This
will either have TO be raised by direct
State tax or by the Issuance OF tax notes
by permission Of the Legislature. II
will, however. have 20 be reflected In
some succeeding tax levy. There must
be some reorganization, and all wasteful
expenditures must be stopped. MI
Doyle stated that the city government
committee OF the Real Estate Board had
recommended the consolidation OF several
bureaus and departments under one
head also the election OF the City Cham
berlain, with greater power, and the TAX
| ing away OF the vote of the Borough
] Presidents In the Board Of Estimate rels-
/ tive 70 appropriations
/ Meade G.. Dobson. executive secretary
I OF the New York State Association OF
Real Estate Boards. spoke OF the work
OF his association in organizing local
boards throughout the State. There arc
now fifteen OF them and several others
arc being organized.
Laurence MCGUIRE os the Board OF
! Governors and chairman Of the mem
! bership committee said
you have been made aware OF tho
situation which confronts u.s. and now
the only question Is. How are we going
/ to meet III We are organized 20 meet
/ Il and we ought to be equal TO H. am
/ going to review briefly the membership
/ Of the board In 1913 we had i54 menu
bers, In 1915 we had $50 members. in
1920. that is, on September 30. the end
OF the fiscal year. i,342 members, and
to-day we have 1902 members.
"Now. we are going 20 celebrate tAa
twenty-hfth anniversary Of the board.
which win occur at the time OF our an
nual banquet In February. We want
TO Increase tho membership 20 1000. In
coming from t5i members IN 1918 70
1902 members In 1920, that splendid
result Is due entirely 70 the loyal menu
berahip of the board. Those members
appreciate what the board is trying 20
do. and recently you have been advised
of the new bureaus created here and
, others % be created. These plans art
placing the board IN q position where u
Is Of great benefit not only to the mem
bers but to all OF the real estate inter
, oats OF New York generally"