The Washington times., 1921-01-28
WOULD DELAY
BODYBUILDING
Economic Expert Advises Wait
ing Until Labor Prices Again
Approach Normal.

Home builders should delay build
ing projects, and wait until a "full
days work can be obtained for full
days pay" This was the advice
given in an address today by Frank
lin T Miller, assistant to the Senate
Reconstruction Committee, before
the National Council Of the Chamber
Of Commerce OF the United States.
SLUMP EXPECTED.
Mr.. Miller said slump further
downward soon Is expected IN All
building materials; that prices on tpe
things that go into houses are drop
ping rapidly and that the decline VIII
be more rapid IL prospective nome
builders withhold their plans fCr
building until prices reach a better
and more reasonable level.
Put your money In Government
bonds: don't let the rich man get
them ALL" said Mr. Miller. Walt I'M
I'll your banker will loan you AT least
90 per cent OF the valuS of the build
ing at o per cent without bonus,
II do not believe that excessive
cost of building can be absorbed by
| any form OF Government subsidy, and
4
curtail the supply OF buildings. The
country must depend upon private
initiative.
CALLS FOR U. 8. AID.
The Federal Government, which In
the interest of the general welfare.
| brought about the interruptions
which have reacted upon the public
In the present housing and construc-
tion shortage. must now extend ev-
cry facility of a sound and practical
| nature to maintain the continuity
of the building industry"
| Heavy taxes today form one Of the
chief obstacles to building operations
and legislative enactmeDts remitting
taxes for a period Of years on new
dwellings is the need Of the hour In
the housing situation. declared Lawson
Purdy. former head of the tax board
of New York city. addressing the
housing council of the Chamber OF
Commerce Of the United States today
RELIEF IS ESSENTIAL.
Buildings are taxed as heavily as
any other labor product, and In some
States more heavily said Purdy.
Among the States, one-fourth of the
entire number of which are not con-
stitutionally restrained from using
! the taxing power. there should be a
means of relief in the present con-
| gestion."
Exemption Of new buildings, espec-
| tally new homes. from taxes, for a
period of possibly fifteen years."
Mr.. Purdy said, would relieve some
Of the chief obstacles in the way of
| builders, and open the way for loans
| on better terms.
III exemption from taxation is ef-
fective, houses would be built that
would not otherwise be produced.
| They will. however. be taxable after
the meantime, the erection of such
| Tor land, which will increase land
values, and so increase the assess
ment roll. The exemption of all
buildings constructed for human
| habitation, during the next three
years. for a period of fifteen years
would have a very slight effect upon
| the aggregate assessment figures in
| the end.
EMERGENCY IS GREAT.
THE emergency Is great. The need
is serious. We should give every
possible encouragement to the cree.
tion Of new buildings by private en-.
| couragemet to the erection of new
buildings by private enterprise by
the method which does not Introduce
| the dangerous feature OF competition
| by the Government itself.
X. v. Haymaker, of Pontiac, Mich.
former Government fiscal director in
housing matters, said the prospective
htli1 10 nnl,