The New York herald., 1921-02-16
PARTY LINES BROKEN
Opposition Indicates Pro-
posed Ordinance viii Fail
in Estimate Board.
LIMITATIONS IN BILL
Escape From Taxation Re-
stricted to Ten Years--Spir-
tied Battle in Chamber.

After a spirited fight the Board OF
Aldermen yesterday adopted the or
dinance exempting new dwellings from
taxation as means of encouraging
construction to relieve New 1ork's $
housing shortage. The vote was 40 TO
27, and party lines were broken.
Opposing votes cast in the Alder
manic chamber by representatives of
the Board of Estimate. however in
dicated that the measure may fail OF
the approval by that body, which
would kill the ordinance.
The measure provides for the ex-
emption from taxation for period OF
ten years Of all dwellings or apart
ments built between April. 1920. and
April. 1922, provided the cost of con-
struction shall not be more than s5,ooo
a house or apartment, or $1,000 room
up to FIVE rooms.
Tho fight for the bill was led by Henry
III. Curran. Borough President OF Man
haitian, and Alderman William II. COL
Inns, majority leader. Mr.. Curran sau
he was assured of revival OF buiiolhg
Immediately, and had definite promise
from Frederick Johnson. administrator
Of the estate Of George Z. Johnson, so
East Forty-second street, that IL the
ordinance passed he would build not
fewer than ten six story apartment
houses. providing for fifty-eight families
in each house DR.. Royal 5. Copeland
Commissioner of Health. also tolu the
board he has been assured Of definite ac-
ton from private capital to relieve the
housing shortage, and that one man
alone was ready to spend $2.000,0oo.
Tells of Survey.
The Health Commissioner said there
are 1000 more families in New YORK
than there are apartments to accomno-
date. In a survey OF t,494 apartments,
he continued, he found an average fam
ily of five confined TO average quarters
of three rooms, kitchens being frequent
ly used as bedrooms.
One Of many specific cases ne clteu
was of a family or nine In three rooms
tne hedrooms having no windows. To
enforce the health ordinances would
mean the dispossessing OF so per cent
Of ihc tenants OF the surveyed area, ne
said. The situation, he continued, Is
aggravated by the influx of Immigration
and an annual baby crop of l34.OUO, OF
whom 100000 are born In tenement
rooms.
DR.. Copeland declared that IL the
Board of Aldermen failed to pass the
ordinance he was ready to join the so
cialists in a fight for municipal housing.
=. III. La Guardia, President OF the
Board of Aldermen. who led the opposi-
tion. said he would rather go In Tor
municipal housing than accept the ordi-
nance as proposed entailing, according
TO his estimate, a loss OF Ss,0OO,00o in
taxes TO the city.
Mr.. La Guarda's tactics in opposing
the ordinance brought him warm criti-
cism from numerous quarters. He Of
fered several amendments. which were
defeated. lie charged that real estate
lobbyists for the measure were gathered
in the chamber anteroom and accused
Alderman Rudolph Hannoch OF going In
to consult with them.
"You have no reason to say that, ex-
claimed Democratic Leader Collins,
springing to his feet. IF there are real
estate men in that room point them out
and they will be ousted. The only per-
SONS In there are representatives or
banks and insurance companies with
whom you have been holding confer
ences."