Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21
|26 STATES REQUIRE
REALTY LICENSES
Association Reveals Seven
More Have Bills Pending
in Legislatures.

Approximately 65 per cent Of the
p-ople in the United States are living
in communities where the licensing OF
realty dealers is in force, according to
an estimate made by the National
Association of Real Estate Boards.
Twenty-six States and four Canadian
provinces now have laws providing vari-
Gus tests for those who wish to enter
the real estate business. extending this
control to the conduct Of licensed realty
dealers.
Measures designed to assure the pro-
fessional qualifications and honesty OF
real estate dealers, by licensing them in
the same manner as doctors, have been
introduced in the Legislatures of seven
States that previously had no such con-
troll, a survey by the association reveals.
Other Legislatures Act.
Other Legislatures now in session have
taken action along this line by intro
ducing amendments to strengthen such
license laws as they already have, while
a decision upholding the constitution
atty of the law in Pennsylvania was
recently handed down, the association
reports.
The importance of this movement
from the public point of view is shown
will consider this subject during present
sessions, the association points out.
Most significant, according to a de-
tailed report on present activity on
licensing. issued by the association, is
the triumph of the license law in the
State of Pennsylvania, where its consti-
tutionality was attacked by l.. H.
Kleckner, would-be real estate man.
Mr.. Kleckners attorneys. carrying his
case to District Court of Pennsylvania,
pleaded that the law requiring those in
Pennsylvania to show simple knowl-
edge of the real estate business before
they attempted to take the public's
money, was unconstitutional because
attorneys and justices of the peace were
exempted. on March 2, 1881, the
Lehigh County Court of Pennsylvania
quashed Mr.. Kleckner's appeal and
upheld the license law.
Bill Up in New York.
In New York State, where licensing
of realty dealers is effective now In %
counties, a bill is before the Legislature
to extend this control to the 80 other
counties in the State. The proposed
New York bill would extend to the
public the maximum of protection by
making realty brokers responsible for
all dCLS VI Illeh SdlSoulSli, OF tllot a.
this bill becomes a law, brokers could
not repudiate promises or contracts
made by their employees.
Connecticut. Indiana, Maryland
Minnesota, Massachusetts. New Hamp-
shire and Oklahoma Legislatures are
considering bills to provide licensing
These States, with the exception OF
Oklahoma, have ncver had license laws
License law bills introduced in Con-
gress for the District of Columbia were
not passed.
In California the State Realty Asso-
citation is pushing an amendment tc
the existing license law which would
provide an official non-salaricd board
of realtors to aid in this enforcement
For the past three years an unofficial
group of realtors have been acting in
this capacity, but the realty interests
in this State want this board to be
appointed by the Governor.
Amendments being asked include new
test requirements before licensing, the
provision for written statements con-
corning discharged sal:smen, the crea-
ton of power to investigate agriculture
lands offered for farm acreage subdivi.
sion for rural settlement, and for colo
nization in Nevada. Also, in Pennsyl
vania the amendment limiting thu
necessity for licensing of co-partner'
ships to only those members actual!
acting as real estate brokers.
Substitute Board Fought.
In Wisconsin the Racine Real Estate
Board is fighting measures before the
legislators to abolish the present license
board and to substitute a new board
also fighting the cut of appropriation
for enforcement.
The State of Ohio is considering
amendments TO existing license Law
extending causes for revocation to in
clude securing a license by fraud, mis-
representation or deceit, including pro.
curing a license after having been con-
victed of any fslony. Most important
new power given State Board of Rea
Estate Examiners in this State is per.
mission to revoke licenses Of any ont
demanding realty commissions to which
they arr not justly entitled.
In Illinois amendments would require
the personal appearance of applicants
for licenses who have been engaged ir
the business for SIS than a year anc
publication semi-annualiy of the names
of people licensed, for the information
Of the public.
Othcr States seeking amendments IL
strengthen their license laws include
Arkansas, Iowa and Colorado.
Ontario, Canada, has had its frs
license law for only a few weeks, the
measure having become effective or
February %. The Canadian regulation!
require registration of every real estate
broker carrying on business in a city
or within miles of city having 8
population of 100000 or more AL
statesmen or employees will be covered
in the enforcement of this law Sepa-
rate books and accounts covering al
real estate transactions must be KEEP
by brokers, and financial statement
must be filed with the government al
regular periods.