New-York tribune., 1922-04-02
Hleusing Bills,
Toes Assa1ed
By Unternyer
a..es Buffalo Senators
' Held Re,ainers From In
,erests Affccte d and
Helred Kill ) Measures
suggests Three Remedies
r..,h Prevent Legislators
1sierested in Act From
Wting or Working for 1t

e.,,ssl untcrmyer. chief counsel 70
Iaekvood housing committee. told
~. Of the Westchester County
,'r..stc Board at the Hotel Com
~. last night that something
aeuJJs a'"Js he done to make Impossible the
'ass;;.; 'as;.;ons that brought about the. de
tensrs ~ Eve Of tnc bills proposed by
.nmmit.ee for the relief of the
AG.srs !. ,rss Nr. Untermyer's contention
80. these measures were killed with
-. sci;ye aid and cooperation OF the
.s.s Of Senator's from Buffalo who
- nrofessional retainers from the
- '..rss.s tina. were deeply concerned
!. .'.he defeat OF the bills.
Offers Three Remedies
sr,.re are three remedies" said Mr..
,....rr,vsr, "for this situation which
ard other like ASSOCIATE ions
sy..,chout ". the state and the various
u.sr;1ations Of tenants representing
o5i;ons Of voters will be asked to
.a.ns -.. sron, now until Election Day, re-
ss.a'.':T safn The defeat of every man,
.As.hsr he be Republican or Demo
,,s, who voted to defeat these bills
While under private retainer.
alol A substantial increase IN the
.,lsry OF members of the Legislature
vhieh should give US class of men
ebose necessities will not subject them
"a temptation. The present salary is
,hsurdiy inadequate. Men without pri
",.s means cannot afford to defray the
.~,s,ses Of campaign every year or
svsry two years, nor can they live on
II. salary even if their campaigns cost
them nothing.
aIS) Every legislator should be re-
osired TO file with the clerk of the
adv OF which he is a member a state
-ent Of every bill in which he has a
s,rsonal or professional interest, di-
rsctly or indirectly, and should be
isouaifed from voting on any such
reasure. either as member of a
fon,mittee or on the floor, and against
s,vnr other members 10 vote for or
sesinst any such legislation. 1t should
he made the duty of the clerk, before
t.llinz the roll for vote upon any
MEASURE. to read aloud the names Of
N. men who have filed such state
nspts and are disqualified from yot-
iag
In support of his appeal for these
remedies. Mr.. Untcrmyer pointed out
hat "the all-powerful Speaker Of the
Assembly, who had Just announced his
csndidacy for reelection, is a director
and stockholder in an insurance com
rsry that would have been graveiy af-
l.cted By the bills that were defeated
with his active aid. Some Of the Buf-
falo Senator's are counsel for men
Under Indictment in Buffalo i'll con-
nection with violations Of the Don
nelly antitrust laws. Others are coun-
sci Tor fire insurance companies, ali
Of whom would have been affected by
the defeated bills.
Cites Amazing lndclicacy"
at is apparently no longer an un-
usual spectacle" continued Mr.. Untcr-
myer, "to find our legislators holding
persona and professional retainers for
individuals and corporations that are
concerned in legislation on which they
are permitted and have the amazing
ndelcacy to vote Notwithstanding
their private interests. But the spec
'ac!e is none the less reprehensiblc
snd indefensibIe because it has been
so long tolerated. Assuming that these
men are not abusing their public trust
to earn their fees and that their votes
represent their conscientious beliefs.
the subconscious effect of their dual
relation is destructive Of their useful
ness as legislators
Mr. Untermyer added with respect
70 the general housing situation. that if
the Governor signs the bill permitting
NE insurance companies to invest 10
per cent of their assets in cheap tens-
nehss, 1t will mark the beginning Of
me biggest era oe building activity the
state has ever known. He was assured
nat within four days after the bill is
signed work will begin on a vast build
Ing enterprise by the Metropolitan Life
insurance Company, and that he ex-
pec.ea to see $4,000 new apartments
'en'aDie at from 81 to So per month, to
Sec0mmodate 250,000 people in tho mar
'et within eighteen months.