Evening star., 1922-03-06
HOUSING PROBLEM
!. UP TO COMMUNITY
Mr.. Hoover Tells Realtors
Department Co-0perates
All H Can.

secretary OF Commerce Hoover to-
day told members Of the executive
committee of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards, in convention
at the Willard today, that the Depart
ment Of Commerce is cooperating to
the extent of its ability in solving the
housing problem Of the nation and
that 1t was up to the various COM
munittes. knowing as they do their
own needs. to work out their con-
struction problems.
In commenting on the building sit
uation generally Secretary Hoover
said that the country was lamentably
In need Of housing. "Those who keep
in touch with the construction indus
try know, however, that building is
going on. During the last three
months residential buildings exceeded
in volume the activities for the same
month In any year since 1919," said
ped. but on the other hand is accel-
Grated.
Il have a feeling that local COM
munities can solve the public prob
lens Of the building situation Eff
iciency of labor, costs of material
ahu otueE tdCtoTS entering INTO con-
struction work necessarily vary in
each section.
1t Is the province Of you real estate
men, through such organization as
your local boards and your national
association of boards, to stimulate
community activity and build up
your sections. l have found that you
are actually doing this work at the
present time. and you are to be con-
gratulafed for it"
Would Revise Codes.
Mr.. Hoover said that the Depart
ment of Commerce is endeavorine to
eliminate waste in construction in
various ways. He pointed out that
the department has a special COM
mittee engaged in the revision Of
municipal building codes.
This committee, he said, in some in
stances has found that builders are
bearing some unnecessary burden by
dwelling codes, this burden amount
ing to from 10 to 100 per cent added
cost. The committee has made a
complete study of the codes, the Sec
retary stated, and hopes to compile
some sound basis on which cities of
the country generally can revise their
codes.
He pointed out further that the
department isfstriving to cut down
unnecessary waste in the manufacture
of building materials, by standardiz-
ing and reducing the number of sizes
and shapes of building material. He
told how, recently, through the de-
partments cooperation, paving
bricks were so reduced in shapes and
sizes that it is estimated from SIS, ,000,-
n0n fn SS A0h nm he to
ing brick manufacture for the benefit
of the community.
Secretary Hoover expressed salts.
faction at the growth of such busi-
Eess organizations as the National
Association of Real Estate Boards
and expressed the belief that they
were helping to restore a community
action and local government as con-
trasted with the movement for CEN
tralization of action and government.
He said that the Department of Com
merce did not desire to stimulate
Capitalization, but wished to coop
crate in regaining a program of To-
cal community Development. He
thanked the realtors for their CO.
operation with the department in the
matter of drawing up tentative zon-
ing regulations for use as general
standard.
Received BY President.
The appearance of Mr.. Hoover at
the meeting had not been definitely
announced in advance. Preceding his
address. Irving B. Hiett, president of
the National Association, in opening
the three-day convention Of the ex-
ee1tive committee, declared that
there is a nation -widei scheme to sell
real estate of questionable value in
the vicinity Of Muscle Shoals, Ala.
and he recommended that the execu-
tive committee take some action to
Investigate this matter in order that
the public might be protected from
any fraud. He explained that he had
heard that marshland was being
subdivided and put on sale In various
parts of the country by unscrupulous
promoters.
He said that it was up to the real
tors to take cognizance of the situa-
ton and he announced that Robert
Jemison, jr., vice president of the Ma
tional Association of Real Estate
Boards, a delegate from Birmingham,
Ala, would make report In this
connection later.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon the dele
gates were received by President
Harding at the White House. Fol-
lowing this reception, the members
were rendered complimentary