New-York tribune., 1920-12-22
Aldermen, Kill
Tax Exemption
OF New Homes
Proposed Ordinance Defeat
ed by Non-Pariisan Vote
of "a to 2S After Three
Hour Debate by Board
One Denies Emergency
Possible Loss in City Reve-
nues and Burden TO Other
Buildings Pointed OUT

The proposed ordinance eXcmptng
from taxation all new buildings erected
sor dwelling purposes, with certain
limitations, between April /, 1920, and
April t. 1922. for Il period of ten years,
was killed by the Board of Aldermen
yesterday by a close vote. There was a
three hour discussion, in which Demo
Gratis, Republicans and Socialists
Joined, and Aldermanic President La
Guardia left the chair to oppose it,
The vote--34 to 2s--was entirely non
partisan.
The resolution provided that III
buildings erected for dwelling purposes
within the stated period should be ex-
cmpted from taxation to the amount of
$4,000 for one-farniiy houses, $4,000
for two family houses and $40. 600 for
each apartment in an apartment house.
Democrats and Republicans divided al
most equally for and against the ordi-
nance. and the Socialists urged pro
gram Of municipal housing as sub
stitute. The weight of the argument
against the ordinance was placed on
the possible loss in tax receipts.
Haubert Opposes Measure
Alderman Charles II. Haubert, of
BROOK lvu, in opposing the ordinance
declared that the situation IN the build
ing be'i was not as acute as wnen the
Legislature passed the law Civ v.ng the
cities Il the state permission u pass q
tax exemption ordinance. He said that
- = 81 IN
son VINO owned property for five or ten
Years before it went into effect would
have to carry The burden that the new
construction would oe relieved Of, and
the owner of the new property could
charge any rent he chose, while the
old property owner would have to go to
the courts to prove that he was not
nronteer He declared the emergency
was not a real one at present time.
Alderman B. c. Nladeck, Soc alist
said that the Legislature should pass
a law to compel insurance compan es to
Loan certain percentage Of their sur
rlus in building loans and in this way
building would be encouraged
IF Mr.. Untermycr, Mr. Lockwood or
any newspaper man thinks this lnvesti-
"a ton going to breaE the build ng
combination they are greatly mis-
TAKEN declared Alderman Vladeck.
DR.. Copeland Makes Plea
Dr. Royal s. Copeland, HEATH Com
missioner, made plea for the passage
OF the ordinance in the interest Of the
health of tine community
Borough President Henry II. Curran
strongly urged the passage OF the ordi-
nance He said it was a proper home
,uie measure and should not he sent
back to the Legislature. He said no
change was needed in the law, out the
need was for more houses, which such
an ordinance would produce. He de-
clared that the ordinance would not
cost the present taxpayer dollar, but
Il would start the building of one and
two-family houses and permit the peo-
pie 10 i've like decent, rational human
beings.
Mai or La Guardia opposed the ordi-
nance on the ground that rents would
increase on the properties that would
have to carry the burden of the tax
exemption of other dwellings, and that
it would cost the City of New York
from $4,000 900 to $50 900 900 in ten