Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-29
THEODORE e. NlCklES
On Licensing Real Estate Brokers

TFIE licensing of all real estate brokers
L with the consequent supervision by some
department of the State Government IS
necessary to the protection of the public,
saws Theodore r. Nicklcs. first vice presi
dent of the Real Estate Board and chair
man Of the Licensing Law Committee.
1.-The object of this movement. which has
as its ultimate end the protection or the
public. which. of course. is vitally inter-
estcd in all real estate transactonS,' said
Mr.. Nickles. "is to compel by law every
reatOr or every person engaged IN the real
estate business. whether member of the
Real Estate Board or not, to obtain n
State license. 1t Is the hope of those who
are bnck Of the plan that such law
will be passed by the next session of the
Legislature.
''The idea is not by any means to re-
strict the business, or to limit in any way
the number Of those who desire to enter
it, There will, Of course, be fee TOR
the license, but 1t will not be large one,
certainly not SO large as TO- prevent any
one who wishes from entering the field.
The amount of this fee will probably De
fixed by the Legislature, and there should
which will not be difficult for any one 10
fill.
Protecting the Public
"The essential point is to afford better
degree of protection to the public, and that
is the only point which the members OF the
committee and members Of the Real Estate
Association and all the real estate boards
of yhe State have in mind. AS ! have said,
It will not prevent any man from engag-
Ing in the business. nor from developing
his own business, but 1t will only mean that
when the broker has finished any business
for a client he shall have done all that is
possible for the interests OF that cleht'
...I,o, thop Gov liS
'"To this end, the law which we should
like to see passed should contain specific
provisions against any substantial mis-
representations on the part Of the real eS-
tate broker. and any false promises or q
character likely to influence or persuade
the client in any way, as we'll as n con-
tlnued or fragrant course Of Misrepresentation
or of making false promises through agents
or statesmen.
"The measure, which We hope to get
through the Legislature, should further con-
tain a provision against dishonest deal'hgs
OF any kind, and we are also IN taVor OF
refusing a license to any person conylctcu
within five years, at any place in the United
States, Of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining
money under false prctcnscs. eXtortlOil, con-
spiracy 70 defraud or any similar otfcnses;
.'rhe licensing Of real estate brokers IS
not q new thing in this country, ana no
fewer than fourteen States now carry licens-
ING laws upon their statute books, these
hoins New York. New Jersey, Arizona,
california Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Mon
tonn Michigan, Oregon. Tennessee, Itah,
Wisconsin and Wyoming, \ license Tor
reol estate men Is also required in canada
and in British Columbia.
.'In the case of the passage or q licensing
,ow II will, Of course, be necessary TO es-
,oh,isb n bureau to have charge OF this
matter Mt Harrisburg, to be operated by the
state Government and to be attached to one
NJ the present departments, and when shnll
hovc general supervision over the Issuance
~ tho licenses and the hearing OF such com
nloints AS may come before it.
.The laws which are now in operation IN
otber States. and especially in California,
bouo hecn found to have had the utmost bene-
Nciol results to the taxpayers and TO all
nersons interested in real estate operations,
rhether large or small. 1t Is significant
the, to my knowledge, there has not been
single State which has operated under
srch n law that has ever gone back TO the
Sorrner condition Of non supervision. SUCH
law makes for an orderly and eminently
80, conducting of business in which
tbe nublic has always close interest,
Revolving Licenses
"Of course, any bureau having the power
% issue licenses should also have the power
~ w refuse and to revoke them when 1t was
moved beyond doubt that any licensee was
guilty of conduct contrary to the provisions
oNt he act.
st ces in California, where the Commits