New-York tribune., 1920-07-12

Curran Asks Governor to
Call Legislature This
Summer to Enable City
to Build Apartments
Tells Of Acute Situation
Unless Action Is Taken Now
People Must Wait Until
Next Regular Meeting

henry n. Iurr&n, borougn PreSl0ent
Of Manhattan, has sent a letter to Gov
crnor Alfred E. Smith requesting that
special session of the Legislature be
called this summer to consider meas
ules for relief Of the housing situation
in New York City. The Borough Presi-
dent asks particularly that the Legis-
lature take up the question of amend
ing the State Constitution so as to
give the city power to utilize its own
land in the construction of municipal
apartment houses, such buildings to be
rented to families.
II think that the scarcity of homes
here in New York is an emergency that
fully warrants an extra legislative ses-
sion" said Mr.. Curran yesterday. AIf
this Legislature acts upon the amend
nlent to the Constitution, as / have
suggested, that amendment will come
before the next Legislature for final
consideration, and can be decided at
'.t,e polls not later than November, 1921.
Dut if the question is not taken up
until the next Legislature, under the
laws of the state, final action on 1t will
have to be delayed until new Senate
Is elected. The people in that case will
not be able to vote on it before Mo-
VemOeI, 1890 u0 SnoTta&0 VI nouSAi6
Is an emergency that, according to the
most conservative estimates, will be
with us for at least Ave years, and two
years. delay in adequate relief meas
ures may work inestimable harm"
Describes Conditions
:. The Borough President pointed out,
amendment is not the only method of
relieving an extremely critical situa-
tion, but was just one emergency
measure, to be confined strictly to the
duration of the emergency. He said
there were many other helpful meas
,,ures which the Legislature in spe-
cial session could and should consider.
The letter to Governor Smith follows:
"The housing situation throughout
the state, and particularly in New
York City, is in such deplorable con-
dition that on March 20 l addressed a
communication to the Board of Esti-
mate and Apportionment requesting
that the necessary steps be taken to
appropriate $1O,000,00O to enable the
city to build housing accommodations
on city owned vacant real estate. At
the same time l requested the Comp
troller to furnish the board with list
Of all city owned vacant real property.
"The question as to whether the city
had the right to engage in such an
enterprise was referred to the Cor
poration Counsel, and on April 6, 1920,
he declared in part as follows:
cit is my opinion, therefore, that
under the constitution and the laws Of
this state, the city has no power to
construct municipal apartment houses
and rent them to private parties.
Municipal housing is one Of the
many grave Industrial and social prob
lens the great war has precipitated,
and which will require bold initiative
and constructive legislation of a high
order to meet and properly solve.
"sUnhealthy living conditions, re-
sulting from overcrowding, as is gen.
orally admitted, not only breed dis
ease, but constitute the chief cause for
industrial unrest.
"'To remedy these conditions the
constitution (Article VIII, Section 10)
should De amended in such manner as
to permit the cities to incur indebted
ness for the particular purpose
Bill introduced Too Late
"The board thereupon directed that a
bill be prepared by the Corporation
Counsel for introduction in the Legis-
lature, and on April 13, 1920, such bill
containing an amendment to the state
constitution, as recommended by Act
ing Corporation Counsel Nicholson,
was introduced in the Senate by Sena-
tor Dunnigan. but owing to the late
date it was introduced it failed of
passage.
"In view of the fact that this failure
will make it impossible to have such
amendment acted upon within the
current year, it will cause a delay of
two years, unless special session Of
the Legislature be called to enact this
and other legislation on the subject.
"As the congestion in places of habi-
tation is rapidly increasing, respect
fully ask that you call an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature at such date
as you may determine for the purpose
of enabling the Legislature to con-
other legislation which may aid in ac-
cOmplishinp uromnt reIief"