Evening star., 1929-06-29
REALTORS LAUNCH
SIGNDOARD FIGHT
Boston Convention Ends
After Delegates Move for
Reduction of Taxation.
BY DON S. WARREN.
.tad Correspondent of The Star.

BOSTON, Mass, June 29.-WaShing-
ton realtors and the other 1900 official
delegates to the twenty-second annual
convention of the National Association
Of Real Estate. Boards LETT here last
night at the clcse Of the conclave Tor
home or t-conventton tours alIer
having adopted a series OF resolutions
launching movement against lleglu-
mate outdoor advertising cetfliiei'@t in', %
10 natural beauty, for reductlon OF
state and Federal taxation on real
property and for simplidcation OF me-
chanics lien laws.
THE convention also ratified action
+aken earlier in the week by the oil
rectors of the national ASSOCIATION ap-
proving standards of practice lor ap,
praisal of real estate, this detaileu
program being enc OF the prlhcl'aii li
projects before realtors recommended
for universal adoption by realtors the
country over and having as a major
objective further safeguards Ior invest
r1ents in real estate.
yirginian Wins Speaking Contest.
a VIRGINIA realtor, A. D. Smith OF
Richmond, captured first honofS IN tllt
annual home town speaking coatesI iaa1
J,ight and Washington and Virginia
his victory as guests OF john u. Ora
ham realtor OF washington ana Vlr-
ginia Portland, Greg, took second
1iace in the contest, and Birmingham
Ala, third. -,.,ar.,,,
w Cameron Burton of Washington
wcn a GREAT ovation with his ADDRESS,
but was not rated by the judges as
winner. -, e +ro
Zen T. Webster, president OF tne
: pporH and MT6.
webster. left yesterday, accompanied py
nv and Mrs. William l.. King. 1or a
most convention tour in New England
other Washington delegates left by poat
and train for washington.
The resolution adopted by the conVen-
tion on outdoor advertising READS: we
helieve outdoor advertising, when ce
tracts from the sightliness OF resldenViaI
areas and mars rural scenic beauty; Is
unfair tosthe general public and the
property owner We believe that DILL
boards and other outdoor advertising
should not be permitted where they
form a dangerous or unnecessary trafnc
hazard. we recognize the natural beauty
of our country is public heritage 10 oe
conserved and the gigantic expenditures
by the public in its highways an IN
vestment to be protected.
Investigation Is Asked.
'The National Association OF Real
Estate Boards requests the Department
of Commerce to investigate, make rec
concentrations concerning the possibili-
ties of Just regulation Of outdoor ad-
yertising. and this association tenders
to the Department of Commerce the full
cooperation Of its officers, directors ana
legal department as we'll as member
boards in conducting this investigation.
Declaring the mechanics lien law TO
have become so broad. comprehensive
and complicated as to be burdensome
and to work hardship upon property
owners" the convention adopted reso-
lution stating that it was the sense OF
the national association that such laws
should be simplified 50 far as possible by
reducing rather than increasing the
classes of persons entitled to such liens
and by minimizing the duties that de-
volve upon the property owner in order
to protect himself against such liens.
4 The resolution further stated that
while it is recognized that lien for
labor should and will continue to be
provided for m such laws, the right-ot. o
material man or any other class OF
1ienors to subject the owner of build
ing to be erected or improved to dual
payments should be permitted only II
and when such person has giver notice
claim such lien prior to the first pay
nent to the contractor.
Study Taxation Methods.
In regard to State and local taxation.
the convention went on record to the
effect that the committee on. State tax
alton should give particular attention TO
two taxation methods, namely, Sepa-
rating sources of State and local taxa
ton and classifying property for taxa
Jion purposes with view to devising
proper means OF applying such methods
so as to bring about substantial reduc-
ton in the tax on real estate.
The resolution added that the Ma
tional Association should become more
actively interested III State and mu-
nicipal expenditures to the end that
the tax money be more wisely and eco
nomically spent; that through the Ma
tional Association or otherwise it should
seek to develop in each State the senti-
ment that economy should prevail in
State and local governments and that
a public improvement should be ini-
tiated after the demonstration of a
public necessity for it and after the
financing of it has been adequately
and properly planned
The association. in adopting a resolu-
ton regarding Federal taxation, re-
counted the work of the national body
in working for changes in Federal
taxation deemed to be fair to real
estate interests and stated that it was
the sense of the association that the
committee on Federal legislation and
taxation should re-eXamine~ the tax
program with view to making any
necessary or advisable revisions; that
the committee should consider what, If
any, portions of this program should
be presented at the next session OF
Congress: that adequate and ample
preparation should be made by the
committee and the general counsel for
the presentation of the various points
determined upon; that the points here
tofore adopted in regard to capital
gains. cooperative apartments and
syndicates and trusts be included among
those presented to Congress; and that
the national association shou.t :, be
permitted TO lose any prestige in !. 20
matters it now may enjoy through any
failure to maintain and improve any
contacts heretofore established in
Washington.