The Washington herald., 1922-05-16
Professional Ethics Among Realtors.

stltute insurance Tor the pubic over an
unlimited field where absolute statutes are i'm
possible By training the consciences of men to
abide by rigid moral standards in business relations,
law and medical colleges have rendered service
Ito humanity of almost equal importance to training
|the minds OF in diagnosis OF physical ills in
deduction of human controversies to formulas of
abstract justice. Incubation of the military code
Iof honor has been important contribution of
fWest Point and Annapolis to the glory of America
as instruction in infantry tactics and the mechanism
|of marine engines. =
| Ethical standards in professional life have
tendency to grow more from decade to
decade. There is less opportunity today for the
I"quack" doctor the "shyster" lawyer than there
was ten years ago. One OF the most encouraging
|signs of the inherent goodness OF human nature
is the fact that the average physician, attorney,
|teachcf officer journalist has kept the faith.
Rich rewards often have awaited the trained man
who was willing to compromise his own soul Few
indeed have bee found willing to accept wealth at
such cost
The code of professional ethics is reaching
rapidly into other fields Men who follow various
specialized branches of business today are much
Entitled to professional as any members of the
eo-called "gentemany" calings. The nucleus of the
code seems to be the placing of ideals of service
hbove prospects for financial return. The merchant
IN business solely with the ambition to attain
wealth, to whom the public welfare means moth
ing except as it affects his profits, can aspire
10 dgnihed classification than his fore
bears. The merchant whose ideal is to give the
public the most for the least money, and who de-
pends upon his intimate knowledge of trade fields
10 serve his clients, Is truly professional man
as the hospital surgeon
Without doubt experts in all the larger branches
'of trade recognize their own ethical codes. The
suh al .ba
less on honorable dealing with the public, on
rendering efficient service at the occasional
|rost of financial loss. Their task now is to make
the code UNIVERSAL among all their contemporaries.
The trouble is that professional ethics in busi-
ness never have been reduced to absolute formulas
Each is entitled to interpret his duty for him.
belf. Gradually. however, the obligations of every
dealer becoming definite. Larger trade
associations rendering a service of unestnlabe
value in clarifying the principles upon which busi-
ness should be conducted to justify its own existence
In this connection the Washington Real Estate
Board has taken praiseworthy stand. In an open
fetter to all its members it urges that no unfair
advantage be taken of tenants the Ball rent law
|does not pass on time This communication signed
by President Harry K. Boss might we'll be con-
'sidered the Magma Charta in the real estate his
tory of Washington. 1t lines the realtors definitely
with the people.
A citizen OF Washington should be in a position
where he consult his real estate agent with as
much confidence his doctor. He knows he. will
not be told he has appendicitis when his pains are
caused entirely by indigestion. He knows that the
doctor who did so deceive him would not continue
to practice long in the District of Columbia be-
cause of the indiShation of fellow members of his
profession rather than because of any strict en-
orcement of law.
Codes Of professional ethics have been rendered
Necessary for the protection of the public because
they dealt with matters which the layman himself
tould not understand and could not frame laws to
Eover. But the day has passed when the average
home seeker understand the intricacies of real
estate dealing. Opinions of experts are necessary
10 assure fair dealing Only rigid but intangible
moral standards protect the public. Few are
position to devote the years of study necessary
10 an understanding of realty values and realty
aw. The dealer has done this. His word musy be
aiken authoritative and final X
Washington real estate dealers, almost with
put exception, are intelligent and broad minded men
who recognize their duty to the public. But oc-
tasionaly some person of diminutive soul but
shrewd brain appears in the field and performs
some petty trick which discredit on all his
associates. Such individuals alone make restrictive
rent legislation desirable. 1t is as much the duty,
f the honorable dealers to curb their activities as
h is that of the public
The head of family in modest circumstances,
ct say desires to rent an apartment or purchase
house. He becomes confused easily in the COM
plicated maze OF structural, legal and financial
problems attendant on carrying out his ambition
His mind has not been trained to visualize clearly
he essential points at issue. He must have the
|ldvice of expert. Is it not clear that even a
ealtor of mediocre intelligence who has devoted
years to-study of such questions can cheat this
nan if hr-desires? Is it not equally clear that no
honorable dealer would take unfair advantage of
mother in such case?