The Washington times., 1924-06-04
DAY Of LAX
TRADING
GONE
Convention Told Members
Must Overcome Public
=, cynicism

Strict observance of a code of
ethics which shall ban all irregu-
lar practices in the real estate
business must be the purpose Of
realtors throughout the country,
"a. H. Barnhisel, of Tacoma, Wash,
told delegates assembled at the Sec
Ond general session Of the realtors
convention in Keith's Theater this
morning. Mr.. Barnhisel is chair
man Of the committee on ethics of
the national body which is engaged
In redrafting a code Of ethics for
all realtors.
Sees Public Cynical.
The speaker pointed to the
cynicism on the part Of the general
public when "ethics" is mentioned
in connection with the real estate
business. He declared that realtors
must work to eliminate such an at
titude by strict observance Of ethical
practices.
I'VE must fight this attitude Of
cynicism by a code of ethics that
has sharp teeth in it," Mr. Barn.
hisel declared. 1.-THE jazz and joy.
ride stage of realty operations has
had its day. It Is the business Of
realtors to see that the new era of
service to the individual and civic
responsibility has come to stay. Our
leaders must not be like certain col
1ege presidents who hoist the white
flag Of surrender.
"Our critics will assume that an
address on ethics at a real estate
convention is a bit of humorous
posing for a picture which lulls the
delegates into feeling that they have
impressed the public into feeling
the reverent mindedness Of realtors
somewhat as Congressman may
have a feeling of greater security
in public confidence when they
have opened their sessions with
prayer"
Real Estate History.
A picture of the real estate bust
ness in ancient times was presented
by Prof. D. D. Luckenbill, Of the
University of Chicago. The speaker
took the delegates back to the be-
ginning Of the real estate profes
sion, when nomads ceased wander.
4ng over the European and Asiatic
continents and allowed themselves
TO be persuaded to join in the
BODYBUILDING movement, leavina
the first apartments Of the cliff
jewellers for the huts that began
to dot the planes.
Rent commissions, rent laws and
hnnaiOo Vsacyr1lokinV In he
speaker traced to Hammurabi, the
great Babylonian lawgiver, who
wrote into his code of laws sew.
eral sections defining the rules OF
procedure in real estate deals
Doctor Luckenbill professed to have
gained considerable information
from baked brick cuneiform docu.
ments which show that in Ham,
murabi's time a tenant paid down
a part Of his rent when he moved
in and the remainder at his own
convenience. The poorest workman
could purchase a dwelling for one
thirtieth of his income, while the
king carried on real estate opera.
tions for himself and looted sur.
rounding Kingdoms to fiji his treas
ury, were some Of the revelations OF
DR.. Luckenbill, who is professor OF
semitic languages and literature at
Chicago.
License Laws Urged.
Real estate brokers' license laws
are Of the highest Importance to
the real estate business, Major
Max Murdoch, Of Chicago, declared
IN his address, in which he plead
for strict regulation of real estate
practice.
1.-THE true function Of these laws
is to protect owners and purchasers
OF real estate from the machina.
ton Of dishonest operators, and
these measures must stand or fall
by that test only" declared Major
Murdoch, who is former assistant
director Of the department of
registration and education of II.
linois. He said that where license
laws are in force, their results
justify their extension to all States
Doctor Ralph E. Heilman, mem
Der Of the joint commission on reaI
estate education and dean of the
school OF commerce Of Northwestern
University, outlined plans for edu
eating the realtor Of today and pro
Continued on Para DAY