New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-21

The following suggestions of changes
in the city charter to permit the crea-
ton and operation of city housing
commission and municipal aid to con-
struction are offered by Mr.. Benz amin
Tulsa:
The city charter should be amended
SO as to cover the following matters
here treated in outline:
1. City Housing Commission.-Th COM
mission to consist Of the heads of the
Health, Tenement House and Fire de-
partments, the City Chamberlain and
three others to be appointed by the
Mayor-all of whom shah serve without
pay. 1t shall be empowered to acquire
land by eminent domain as we'll as by
purchase, but not to pledge or employ
the credit of the city in any of its oper-
atoms; to approve housing corporations
as to capitalization and assets, sites to
be acquired or improved, character of
structure to be erected or of improve
ments to be made; to approve bond is
sues by such corporations; to give or
withhold approval of all construction
contracts, fix the amounts of salaries Of
officers or employees Of such corporations
and limit the amount Of dividends or
other distribution Of earnings to stock
holders; to apply ex parte to the Su-
preme Court before or after default to
have receiver appointed to collect the
rents and take charge of the mortgaged
property where the safety of the bonds
in it's judgment renders same necessary.
It's expenses shall be city charge to
be provided out of the budget, but to be
refunded out of operations hereinafter
referred to.
2. Housing Corporations.-Wh Whenever a
corporation approved by the commission
shall desire to take property for the
purpose of improving same by erec-
ton of building or buildings for hous-
ing purposes, it shall apply to the COM
mission for permission to acquire same
and to issue bonds of the character here
matter described. Such application shall
set forth the location of the property
its assessed valuation, the contracts or
options held in respect to same, and
fully disclose all agreements, promoting
arrangements or other understa ndings
with respect to same, and the general
character of the structure to be erected
or Improvement to be made and its esti-
mated cost, together with the certih-
Gates of two competent appraisers as to
the value of the property sought to be
acquired
If the commission is satisfied of the
truth of the application and that the
proposed structure or improvement is of
character suited to the needs Of the
general locality, it shall issue its GER
tificate authorizing the purchase of the
property, and if the site is acquired
within a certain number of weeks after
the date of such certificate, such cor
poration shall be entitled to issue per
cent bonds in such denomination as the
commission may prescribe, but not in
excess of the amount fixed in the GER
tifcate aforesaid, which shall not be
greater than the amount paid for the
property, but which amount may be
thereafter increased, as the work Of
construction or reconstruction goes
forward, to the extent of 33 l-3 per
cent of the cost of the work as shown
by progress certificates of the com
mission.
Should the corporation be unable with
IN the time aforesaid to purchase the
site set forth in it's application, it shall
be entitled in the name of the commits
sion to commence proceedings to con-
denim same upon depositing with the
commission one and a half times the
assessed value of such premises as