The Washington herald., 1922-03-07
NORMALCY HERE,
DECLARE REALTY
MEN OF NATION
Loans More Available and
Policies Sounder, Ex-
ecutive Body Finds.

Business conditions throughout the
country have swung back to a pre-
war normalcy. 400 realtors, repre-
senting practically every large city
in the United States. declared at the
executive committee meeting Of the
National Association of Real Estate
Boards last night at the New Will
lard Hotel
Every delegate. with the exception
of two, reported continued industrial
activity. steady erection Of homes,
more available loans and sound busi-
ness policies in their cities. The pre-
war basis for sound business has
arrived" was the consensus OF opin-
ion expressed.
1t was pointed out that scarcity
OF loansble money for new business
propects helped TO maintain the
general depression Of many months
past This and heavy taxation. II
was declared. tended to prolong the
period Of hard times"
Loan Money Easier.
Money for Ioaning purposes is now
easier 10 obtain. the realtors claim.
Taxation. on the other hand. Il was
SAID. Is still sore eye" for con-
| dnued prosperity.
tragedy, whose faulty construction
IS said TO have cost nearly one hum
dred lives, were brought UP when
Henry r. Brigham, Boston. Mass
chairman OF the housing committee
OF the national body, declared that
no city knows better than wash
ington what appalling results cheap
construction can bring,
Life waste as a result of unstable
construction can be removed by a
countrywide investigation, Brig
nam said. In his report to the eN-
ecuttve committee he emphasized
certain dangerous methods en-
ployed by irresponsible builders
The national association should not
only conduct an investigation into
the policies of crooked" construc-
tors, but il should make an effort
to stop collusive bidding and drive
"shyster" brokers from their prac-
tices.
Aid for Small Builder.
AS a means Of relieving the hous-
ing situation it was advocated to
clean the Summing districts of the
country, remove cheap construc-
ton, and devise some method in
which the small builders Of homes
can sufficiently finance their prof.
ects. A uniform building code for
the standardizat ton OF building
practices was also urged in Brig
hams report.
A sensation was created at the
afternoon session when one OF the
delegates declared that taxation
and building costs have brought
about national crisis in the hous-
Ing situation. 1t was pointed out
that present conditions make it al
most impossible for the realtor 20
make an attractive offer 10 a pros
pective hone-buyer.
Many securities offered for sale
are exempt from taxation, while
real estate mortgages are no.. il
was declared. As a result OF this,
many large sums of money are be-
ing withdrawn daily from the in-
syestment OF mortgages. resulting
Iin a decrease Of financing buildings,
II was said.
Government Al Folly"
Any housing plan to be fostered
wholly by the government will be
opposed by the national body, il
was Indicated by the delegation.
Proposals OF this character were
termed ss folly" and would result,
II was pointed out, in an unneces-
.sary expenditure of money on the
part of the government.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover,
termed by the realtors as the home
builders friend" declared at the
morning session that the housing
tCoMttnaed on Pa1e Tro)