Evening star., 1932-11-26

realty tax systems.
Hope for Speed.
Arrangements for the projected Ma
tional Tax Conference should be speeoeo
as much as possible, so that the State
Legislatures meeting next year Wouio
have the advantage of the findings OF
the conclave Of experts, the message TO
President Hoover explained.
Great importance was placed by the
association leaders on the Deliberations
of the Tax Conference which Presloent
Hoover on october 4 announced ne
would call shortly after the national
election was out of the way.
The President in his address at DeS
Moines described the tax on land ana
real property as the most inflexlple one
in the country, holding that such taxes
had be--1a in the present situation al
most arabic.
President Favors Review.
He then recalled his earlier proposal
that the whole relations of the tax Sys-
tenn between Federal, State and local
governments be reviewed, and there be
Sought a basis of taxation for each that
would give opportunity for readjust--
ments between the different forms OF
government.
He made the point that the Federal
Government is interested in the matter,
although it collects no direct property
taxes.
The directors of the National Assoeia-
ton of Real Estate Boards IN acting on
the housing matter indorseo tine loea
that a sound plan for neighborhood re-
construction of blighted and slum areas
can be devised. The Housing Commit
tee. aided by the associations city
planning adviser, Harlan Bartholomew
of ST. Louis, was instructed to study the
form which such a plan should take
and report at the coming January
meeting.
Not Regarded Solution.
The realtor officials voted that the
association advise the Federal Govern
ment and also its own members
throughout the country that it does not
believe that limited dividend, tax-ex-
erpa, State supervised, multl-tamlly
housing corporations constitute a sound
solution of problems Of slum clearance
and housing development.
They proposed to discourage loans
end subsidies and tax exemptions to
such projects. ,
I'VE take this position because
thorough analysis of these types OF
projects clearly shows that such
p-ciects are carried out on any busi-
rs.s basis at all that they will be OF no
benefit to the poorer classes OF people
for which they are intended, but can
merely benefit a restricted group in
higher income class" the statement
declares.
ITO provide for these poorer classes
of people these projects must be prac-
ITALY a total gift from the Federal
Government, and we do not believe the
Federal Government should extend free
housing facilities to small groups OF
poorer persons in a limited number OF
cities Where housing conditions Tor tine
poorer classes my be notably unSatls-
factory. whatever relief can be given to
such conditions should be provided by
rrivate or local governmental philan-
thropy at the points where these condi-
tions prevail.
Burden on Owners.
'In addition to the above, the crea-
tion of such new housing facilities,
which. even with the use Of Federal
credit. If set up on any sound financial
basis. could be of no benefit to the
poorer classes, would seriously and ad-
yersely affect the owners OF property,
not only by increasing general tax bur-
dens but also by causing vacancies IN
various properties now occupied, thereby
In these instances making it either ex-
tremely difficult or impossible for such
owners to meet their taxes and other
obligations. In word, projects OF this
character would merely increase the
present critical burdens OF all taxpayers
without in any way benefting the
poorer classes, whose housing conditions
in a few cities are the only basic reason
for this further extension of govern
mental aid into the field OF private
business.
Finally, this type of Federal aid will
do more than any other single force 10
discourage the re-entry Of private money
into the field of real estate finance, and
thereby seriously postpone or indefinitely
DELAY a revival of private building con-
struction of all classes"
In a telegram to the Federal Home
Loan Bank Board the association dlrec-
CONTINUED on Second Page
Suuwuu.