The Washington herald., 1922-03-12
SENATOR WILLIS
TELLS REALTORS
TREATY IS VITAL
Discard Would Produce
Hard Times and Dwarf
U. S. Prestige, He Says.
HARDING PRAISED
Says One Radical Force
Wants to Confiscate All
u. s. Homes.

". .. 1OmeS. .-
Discard of President Harding's
plan for reduced armament into
the Senatorial wood-pile" will
c-ag the United States down to
hard times" era and dwarf its
prestige throughout the world.
This declaration was made by
Senator Frank B. Willis, of Ohio.
who spoke before several hundred
members of the executive commit
tee of the National Association of
Real Estate Boards last Tuesday
hight at the New Willard Hotel.
Without the conference work ap-
proved. Senator Willis intimated
the nations would begin a "cut-
throat" war OF preparedness. build
Ing larger navies and creating
huger armies. This would result in
chaotic condition of world affairs.
he said, with the result OF heavy
taxation. dissatisfied citizens and
dwindled prosperity.
Harding Efforts Praised.
President Harding's administra-
economy program, was praised by
the Senator. He reviewed the vast
expenditures saved by government:
officials in their various business
methods.
He said IL he would give the
chief expression of American senti-
ment at the present time it would
be that Congress is celebrating too
long and accomplishing too little.
Better business methods, however,
are being fast realized by Con-
Sress. he said.
The Senator advocated individual
ownership of the American fleets
built during the world war, to-
gether with United States railroads.
No movement should be fostered.
he said. which permits government
ownership of these two agencies.
Failure of the government to ef1-
GENTLY operate the railroads will
serve as a war, experience, he said.
Warning the realtors against in
sidious efforts on the part of radi-
cal forces to revolutionize the
country into a "free-for-ail poll
ICY" Senator Willis urged that
such agencies be driven out of the
country. He declared that one
radical organization with one mil
lion members has as one of its pur-
poses the confscation of all homes
and property in the United States.
BIames Radical Propaganda.
Propaganda with the radical
''taint." he said, is being spread
broadcast throughout the country,
with the result that many unfntel-
legent persons are adhering to the
un-American policies. He charged
the realtors to aid in the quelching
OF these practices.
Washington as the heart" of the
world was pictured by Commits
sioner Cuno Rudolph. who made an
appeal to the visiting delegation
for a continued policy for the ex-
pansion and beauty of the District.
He praised local realtors in their
efforts to make the city greater
than other capitals of the world.
An adequate city planning system
should be adopted by every Ameri-
can city, he said. There are many
persons who do not consider WASH
ington as their city. but il is as
much theirs as it is those who
make it a place of residence. Com
missioner Rudolph said.
Harry X. Boss. president of the
address. asked the visiting realtors
to study the needs of Washington
with the hope Of urging Congress
to make better changes.
Tax exempt securities were
termed as a bitter evil'' for Amer
lean prosperity by Irving r. Hiett,
president of the national assocla-
tion. The national body of realtors
chasnpions the cause of the Amer
lean property owner. who pays so
per cent of all general taxes. he
said.
"Billions that are essential to
construction and the making of
American progress are hiding from
taxation" he said. ITO make up
for the tax money thus lost. the
present plan of exemption penal
ICES the property owner who is
putting his money to work directly
for the United States in its hour
of need"
Housing Problem National.
adequate housing is another ma
tional problem with which the
realtor is now helping the govern
ment to grapple," Hiett said. THE
shortage of houses is acute, al
though not so apparent as it was a
snort time ago. lnis is que 10 the
fact that many families have dou-
bled- up in quarters, seeking to ad-
just living conditions to their low
cred earning power and the unem-
ployment that temporarily handi-
caps them"
Careful estimates indicate that
the United States has adequate
housing facilities for but IS per
cent of its population. The remain
ing Is per cent, a total of approx
: mately 100000 families. must be
properly sheltered. There is a GER
tain percentage of the population
that does not require separate
houses. Taking one-half of the
total that are not now provided for
there are 100000 families in
America today who are not proper
ly housed. 1t is thought that this
is most conservative estimate of
oUr house shortage and in some
manner must be relieved.
The relief is largely a~question
of, financing" he continued. Be
cause so much money Is tied up in
tzx-exempt securities we face a
tremendous shortage OF money
available from mortgage loans with
which to build homes. The situa-
ton is improving with the improve
ment of business. but under pres-
Al -.