The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-04-09
ASKS STATE AID
TO BUILD HOMES
Governor Smith, of New York,
Urges Passage of Drastic Laws
to Curb Rent Profiteers
LOANS TO HELP WORKERS.
Local Boards to Help In Providing
Habitations 900
Apartments Needed In New
York City-Othsr Needs.

Albany.-The use of state funds to
encourage through loans the building
of adequate workingmen's homes and
the creation of housing commissions
to bring about greater efficiency and
economy through wise placing of these
loans was urged upon the legislature
In a special message by Governor
Smith.
These measures are asked in addi-
ton to the pending housing legislation
against rent profiteers, who are vigor-
ously denounced. The governor de-
clares that the real causes of the hous
ing crisis are deep and of long stand
Ing, and that only constructive pol
icy for the future can give real relief.
The governors request to the legis-
lature took the form of urging the
adoption of recommendations made in
the report of the Housing Committee
Of the State Reconstruction Commits
sion. This report, presented after
more than a years careful study, not
only urges the legislation outlined, but
gives startling figures as to the immc-
date needs in New York and the ap-
palling conditions they are causing
among the poorer classes of the city,,
especially on the East Side. Forty
thousand apartments are needed.
1t declares that supplying tenenents
is not and may never again be prof
table investment for private capital
and that direct encouragement from
the state is required. 1t urges remis-
sion Of taxes and other measures, in
addition to the state loans, as part of
the effort to relieve evils which are
declared to be of many years stand
ing.
Specifically, the recommendations of
the majority of the committee, which
the governor urges the legislature to
adopt, are as follows:
Enactment of laws providing for the
appointment of local housing boards
in communities having population of
more than 10000, the members to serve
without pay, and for the appointment
of central state housing agency for
cO-ordinating local effort. The func-
ton Of the central and local boards
shall be: Aiding each locality in meet
ing the immediate need for sufficient
homes; collection and distribution of
information relating to housing and
community planning: assisting in the
preparation of housing laws. zoning
ordinances of statewide regulatory or
restrictive housing and building codes !;
studying means of lowering the cost of
housing thorugh better planning and
construction of homes, and through
their proper location, and development
of a means of using state credits to
apply to housing at low rates of inter-
est without loss to the state
Enactment of constitutional amend
ment permitting extension of state
credit on large scale and at low rates
to aid in the construction Of moderate
priced homes. This does not mean that
the state itself Is to build or own
homes or offer q subsidy for construc-
ton, but that it shall be enabled to
loan money on its credit to limited
dividend corporations or to individuals
light and air as the state or cOmmu-
nifty may determine to be desirable, the
rentals Of such houses to be controlled
and the loans to be secured by Rde-
quate mortgages.
Exemption of the bonds Of the state
land bank from state and federal tax
alton.
Passage of an enabling act permit
ting cities to acquire and hold or let
adjoining vacant lands and, If neces-
sary, to carry on housing.