New-York tribune., 1921-11-17
Building Law
Extension for
A Year Urged
Lockwood Committee to Ask
Legislature for Renewals
of Clauses ON Exemption
and Safeguarding Tenants
Illness Delays Hearings
Unterlnycr to Undergo Oper-
alton; Joint Body to Ask
More Time to Finish Task

Tho Lockwood joint legislative com
nittec, considering the housing situa.
ticn far from being solved, proposes tc
ask the Legislature in Januery for a
new lease of life for at least another
year. 1t also plans to request an ex-
tension of the rent and other laws de-
signed to safeguard the tenant and
stimulate building construction.
These and some other steps contem-
plated became known yesterday in con-
nection with an informal meeting Of
State Senator Charles c. Lockwood.
chairman OF the committee, with few
of it's members in City Hail. It was
planned at first to have the committee
resume open sessions this coming
Tuesday.
Untermyer Faces Operation
1t was learned, however, that Samuel
Untermyer, chief counsel to the COM
mittee, is to undergo an operation to-
day for the removal Of tonsils and
some obstruction in tho nose, and will
not be able to take up his work for at
least ten days thereafter. It is known
that Mr.. Untermyer has had some trou-
Bile in breathing. While the operation
is not thought serious for persons in
early life, it is said to be considered
dangerous for those past middle age
The operation is to be performed at
Mr. Unternlyer's Fifth Avenue home by
DR.. Stuart L. Craig, with the assistance
Of several other surgeons. Mr.. Inter
myer believes he will be able to go
ahead with the committees work a
week from next Monday.
1t was the opinion of Senator Lock-
wood that the beneicent effect of the
present law, exempting new construc
tion from taxation for period of ten
years, should be extended. The law
now provides that all apartment or
housing construction begun before
April, 1922, shall be exempt from taxa
tion for ten years thereafter. The
committee proposes to recommend that
the date upon which construction may
be begun to obtain the benefit of the
law be extended one year, but that the
tax exemption rule be not extended be-
yond 1882.
In referring to the excellent effects
of the law, the Senator pointed out that
more than $200,000,00 worth of houses
had been built or planned in greater
New York since the adoption of the law.
Building Boom Praised
"This is better showing by far
than that of any other community in
the country" said Mr.. Lockwood. "Not
only has the tax exemption law assured
construction, but it has given employ
ment to many thousands. of skilled
workmen. At the present time there is
not one strike in the building industry
in this city, while there are strikes in
the building trades elsewhere all over
the country"
The constructive work mapped out by
the committee and it's counsel, it was
said, is of such magnitude that there
could be only scratching of the sur
face within the rest of the period of
the committees life, which expires in
March, 1922. 1t is therefore proposed
by the committee to request the Legis-
lature for the continuance Of it's powers
for another year. In the mean time it
is planned to submit to the Legislature
an interlocutory report of the commit
tees activities and suggestions for fur
ther remedial legislation. The report
and the suggestions will be framed by
Mr.. Untermyer.
Action on the rent laws, which expire
November J., 1922, it was pointed out,
will be determined to great extent
on the results Of legal battle which
will be begun in few days before the
United States Supreme Court on their
constitutionality. The laws have been
upheld by the Court of Appeals in this
state. The case is to be argued before
the United States Supreme Court by
William D. Guthrie and Julius Henry
COhen -