New-York tribune., 1922-01-23

available than at any time in the city's
history lie pointed to tho congested
conditions resulting from the shortage
and the statement Of Health Com
missioner Copeland that it Is only
matter Of luck that VIC nave had no
disastrous cpidcmcs. He said there
werc 100000 complaints for violations
Of tho fire ard sanitary laws in tho
archives of the Tenement House and
Health departments and that nothing
was being done to remove these viola
tions.
At this point he added that there
was no necessity in his Judgment for
the extension of the tax exemption law
for apartment houses renting at $25
per room per month, but that tho cx
tension was essential for the cheaper
class of tcnemcnts.
Building Stimulus Needed
The great necessity Of the hour, he
insisted, were low priced houses within
the means of workers, not exceeding
SO room, for $4,000 families. These
cannot be built under present condi-
tions unless something further is done
to stimulate building.
an these circumstances" Mr.. Untcr-
mycr went on. II have evolved work
able plan that has now reached the
stage at which it should be submitted
for public comment and criticism. II
is the last and only remaining altcrna-
tive, unless the constitution OF the
state can be so amended as to vest this
power in tho state or the city. That
would require years, and If it were
conceivable that such an amendment
could be passed 1t would be nothing
short Of public disaster.
"My plan involves the passage of the
following amendment to the insurance
law:
"provided, however, that so long as
the existing emergency in housing ac-
comm odations for the workers in cities
of the first class, as found by the
event beyond two years from the pas
sage Of this act, it shall be lawful for
any life insurance company organized
under the laws Of this state or trans
acting business therein, to invest not
exceeding 10 per cent Of its total ad
mittcd assets as Of December 81. 1921,
in the construction Of tenement houses
and in the purchase of the land neces-
sary therefor and to sell such proper
ties from time to time or to own. hold
and manage the same and receive and
collect the income thereof; but pro
vided. however, that such investments
shall he limited to the construction OF
houses adapted to the use Of mechanics
and workmen that are estimated to
yield a fair net return on rentals not
to exceed an average Of 50 q month
a room.'
"You will note that the amendment is
permissive and not mandatory, but you
-l>o< al, s1>1 1,,A1
say that it contemplates an arrangement
scale Of the class Of tenements that arc
needed. If our preliminary figures are
borne out by further analysis and csti
mates, an investment Of 500, 100000
will pay for the necessary land and the
construction of 1 500 so called 'walk-up'
tenements, each five stories in height
and forty feet wide, each containing
thirty four-room apartments, rcntable
at about So per room. These houses
would accommodate $4,000 families, or
225 900 persons.
Ruling Conditions Named
"I have realized that in order to carry
this plan into execution it would be nee
essary to create the following condi-
tions: Cd To find financial agency OF
sufficient wealth. power and enthusiasm
for public service to make this huge
investment on a basis Of per cent
return on the money investcd; Co to
secure the hearty CO operation Of organ
lied labor and substantial concessions
in the wage scale limited to this par
ticular venture. and to provide An in
centivc for that concession; (3) To Sc
cure also substantial price concessions
from manufacturers Of and dealers in
builders materials, having regard 10
the magnitude of the job and the assur-