New-York tribune., 1920-09-21
Housing Situation Called
Menace to Health of
the City and CONNER.
cial Welfare of State
legislature Asked
For Relief at Once
Suspension of Dispos-
sess for Year Sought;
Tax Exemption for
New Buildings Needed
From q StnH CnrreSnondent

From Staf Correspondent
ALBANY, Sept. 2Q.-Governor
Smith declared tonight that the
housing shortage was q menace to
the health 'and welfare of the COM
munity and threatened the CONNER
cial and economic supremacy of the
state.
This declaration was embodied in
a special message to the Legislature
which met here tonight in extraor-
dinary session to consider the hous-
ing problem.
The Governor suggested that the
Legislature Immediately pass laws
to meet the emergency. He grouped
his recommendation into three
parts:
Strengthening the so-called anti
rent profteering laws passed by the
Legislature last winter.
Would Aid Building
Laws to stimulate building con-
struction.
Laws to provide for a permanent
state housing policy.
He declared that the selhshness and
greed on the part of q considerable
number of landlords in New York has
brought about indescribable confusion
in the municipal courts and that there
were now pending before the courts
more than 100000 dispossess cases. He
said that the Health Commi missioner was
authority for the statement that
chaotic conditions caused by adjourn
nent--in which the courts have no
choice-were menaclng the health, and
welfare OF the city.
The Governor charged that these
practices of the profteerng landlords
have caused the breaking up CT famil-
les.
Reat Payers Helpless
He said ehst decent and honest land
lords coula LOT and would not object
t. strengthening the anti-rent prof
iteering laws. He said the willful,
deliberate profteer emong the land
lords was so intrenched mat the people
were helpless to deal with him.
The Governor suggested that the dis
possess remedy be suspended at least
for year and that no increase in rents
be allowed by the courts without the
landlords proving that it was neces-
sary.
He said that all cities in the state
were affected by the housing shortage
and quoted figures showing that in
New York City this summer there were
I'll dwelling houses less than last year,
due to the fact that more houses were
torn down to make way for business
buildings than were erected for dwell
Ing purposes.
Mortgage Exemption Opposed
The Governor went On record against
exempting incomes from mortgages
irom the state income tax, holding that
THIS proposal offered but little induce
ment for investors. He suggested that
The home rule act Of 1913 be amended
80 as to enable cities to build homes or
70 lend their credit to home builders
ne suggested the extension of the
credits of the state land bank as the
creation of new agency to administer
the money. He says that some inn
mediate relief could be obtained by
the state selling or leasing land owned
1or the erection Of dwellings.
with respect to the proposal that
poiicy the Governor declared that it
was not a new departure. He said
that such policy would not neces-
ssarlly mean the building Of houses
Dy the state, but the establishment of
housing standards, not only to take
care Of the present emergency but
with view to the future. He recon-
mended that in each community of
i;,S iiv,So9 or more a local board be estab-
ii.sned charged with the duties of find
.ns SoiutIon for the local housing
tso'aal'on, " the proposed state agency
" " coordinate these, to act IS a sort OF
siear,ng house, 10 which 1he local
;Soards would report. This state hous-
lug commission would recommend legs-
.Stion, and, like the local boards.
"ouid consist Of unpaid members.
,;ihe Governor said that large por-
s'oh OF the population of the state was
Deing forced back into houses of
I.ahoafd below that which the people
~ accepted as decent Anne rican
..ai,. as a means Of making more money
available for building purposes the
ooyernor suggested that savings banks
ana mutual insurance companies invest
greater portion Of their incomes and
"o.pius IN bond and mortgage.
Ane charges made before the Lock-
1000 housing Committee that the
building material men had entered into
. eonspIracy to FIX and maintain prices
.,honid be investigated by a special
legislative committee. the Governor
urged.
The Governors Messagc
part. II"
have exercised the power vested in
0e % The constitution 10 call tho
legislature into extraordinary session
oecanse j am convinced that an emer.
Eency confronts the state and because
stei that we cannot wait until ahe
NTrfar session TO find rena,.-t f., rs
relief. 80 '''
In the period Of reconstguction many
problems have been pressing for solu-
s'on which are not ordinary in their
nature, but are the direct result Of war
Conditions. None of them has 90 taxed
me agencies Of government as the aues-
sien OF proper housing facilities,
IN January Of 1918 charged the
reconstruction committee with the duty
g making an exhaustive inquiry into
sa's subject 70 ttsa end shst tbs isgisia.
Gen s.as..