New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-03
Governor Tells Legisla-
tive Committee He Will
Back Proposal When
Special Session Meets
La Cuardia Calls
For Quick Action
E. P. Doyle, Mayors Aid,
Opposes Plan to Relieve
the Housing Shortage

Building of. homes by the city to re-
lieve the housing shortage will receive
the full support of Governor Smith
when the Legislature meets in extraor-
binary session September 20 to deal
with the situation.
Appearing before the joint legis-
lative committee on housing at the
City Hall yesterday, the Governor said
that since crisis existed in New
York by reason of shortage Of about
100000 apartments, or homes fer $4,000
to 10000 families. he believed the
Legislature Knight we'll delegate it's
police authority to the municipality
to take care of an existing emergency"
The question as to whether the city
would find it practicable to go into the
business of building homes came up
after the Governor, sitting beside Sen
ator Charles Lockwood, chairman of
the committee, declared sixteen con-
crete suggestions had been received
from the State Reconstruction Com
mission and from other sources as to
what should be done at the forthcom-
ing session of the Legislature.
said, was SHOULD the city be author
lied by the state to build houses or
expend its credit for the building of
houses 2"
Urges Action by Police
ain the discussion of this proposal
said the Governor, "lct US have in mind
the public health and public welfare,
might we'll delegate its police authority
to any of it's municipalities so that
they may, during the existence of a
crisis and upon proper certifications
of the health authorities that the pub
lie health and the public welfare are in
danger, step in, and, in the exercise
of that sovereign police power of the
state delegated to them. take care OF
an existing emergency"
Divergence of opinion arose as to
whether the city ought to adopt a
building scheme. +. H. La Guardia,
Said he disagreed with an opinion of
the Corporation Counsel that a consti-
tutional amendment would be neces-
sa .sX. so, ~, ox,.o,,o,, hoxo nd
feel that there are sufficient decisions
in the courts to warrant the passage
of an act enabling the city to build
dwellings to the extent that the Legis-
lature might limit" he said at is
conceded on all sides that no builder
is building. We cannot wait until the
money market adjusts itself. The crisis
warrants the city to undertake mmc-
dately the building of dwellings,"
Over-Congestion Evils Feared
Mr.. La Guardia said that unless the
city spends $20,00o,O0O in building this
year 1--WE will spend treble that amount
within the next five or six years be-
cause of conditions that will result
directly from over-congestion of dwell.
mo war emergency ever existed that
is more critical or more dangerous tt
the welfare of the community than the
housing situation" The providing oil
homes for 10000 families by the city
would result in the adjustment Of
homes on fair basis, he said.
"What would you build, apartment
houses or dwellings?" asked Senator j
H. Walters.
"In the Bronx, Kings and Manhattan
would build apartment houses of per
manent construction" he replied. "1I
Queens and Richmond l would erect
small dwellings,
After he had said the city could MOI
I possibly DuilO as CucuPIy do ih"CStOI .
i Mr.. La Guardia was asked whether he
would base the rental on the cost Of
construction.
81 would take the cost of construc
ton, as we do with our piers" he said
land l would fix the rental on the same
percentage of 1-5. In thirty year!
the investment would amortize Itself
and, even considering the present higl
cost of wages and materials, we woult
still rent on a far less rental than thu
artifcially created rentals of to-day"
High Rents Reflected in Budget
Mr.. La Guardia declared high rent:
were being reflected in the city bulge
in increased items for relief Of thu
poor and for correctional and court ex
penses.
II tell you, Mr.. Governor, the Amer
lean breakfast has disappeared from
the table of the people of New York,
he said.
"On the same theory, can the city g
into the selling of foods to reduce
those costs? ?" asked, Senator Walters.
"If the people were starving w
could do it. The answer is Yes"
IL want to understand you." sait
CONTINUED on next pase)
~ nvo nf Girl