Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-21

'bFt'tttVfH FApn FHAA fhRFf
been hid on the proposals during m,
frat week Of August is regarded b.
suthore Of the amendments. and ~ r.
A. ofnctals alike, as virtually assured
according 10 Mr. Nelson.
In addition 10 providing the uiH-
mate in autonomy for such urban
oenters As elect 10 manage their ovr
realty business according 10 their own
peculiar needs these amendments en-
popef local code authorities to make
tnriT opn assessments. arrange their
opn budgets and select their own ad-
illustrators. Al the same time one
provision automatically cuts in hall
the assessment for maintenance ~ the
national authority. the fees n he So
for each broker and IS where manage
rlent iE on a partnership basis The
sole allegiance the local authority owes
the national enforcement set-up under
the proposed plan consists of strict
obedience 10 the minimum wage and
the maximum hour provisions as SET
forth In the national code.
Apply to 100000 Persons.
While no reliable data as 10 the
total number Of persons now actually
engaged In the real estate brokerage
business Is available, the fact that
this one remaining general code Of the
real estate field embraces leasing and
management. appralsing, mortgage
brokerage and the brokerage of insur-
anre would indicate that these rules OF
fair trade practice will apply 10 at
least 100 900 persons in the industry,
The National Association of Real
Estate Boards numbers 10000 brokers
In It's membership" said Mr.. Nelson.
The estimated 90 900 brokers who are
not now Identified with any organized
real estate board will likewise receive
copy of the code as soon as IL is ap-
proved and signed. We believe that
the same ideals which animate our
members will speedily become the
ideals OF those outside our or9aniza-
ton
THE code is going IN be effective
10 the degree local authority wants It
effective, hence the proposed local
option amendment. II the local au-
thcrity has difficulty enforcing these
simple iB rules the national authority
doubtless would have even less success
at IL. Then there is protective pro-
vision making decisions Of the local
control boards subject TO appeal to
the National Code Authority or d.
rectly to the N. r. A. high command. +"
AS forecast. the N, r. A. has an
noInced that consideration of the
codes proposed for Office and loft
buildings and for apartment buildings
has been indefinitely postponed" and
that the code for insurance produc-
ton has been definitely rejected"
This leaves the proposed code for the
land development and building in
dustry the sole remaining bit of code
business affecting realty but here has
developed an apparent stalemate.
Contractors Oppose Code.
The home builders, according to Mr..
Nelson, cannot operate efficiently
under the construction code, into
which they we're unwittlngly drawn.
The home builders have apparently
convinced NJ r. A. authorities that
thew make up a distinct industry in
themselves and rate separate code,
but little further progress was made at
the public hearing held June is. The
opposition to a separate code comes
mainly from contractors, architects,
material men and other groups the
home builders and land developers are
forced to employ, and the builders pro-
test that 1t is unfair to compel them
10 operate under control and under
regulations of those whose services
they use or whose materials they
purchase.
They point out that in the con-
struction of apartment houses and
commercial buildings much greater
proportion Of common or semi-skilled
labor is required Moreover, the ma
terlals required in such construction
Is Of an entirely different quality than
that required in the construction OF
the modern home. While denying
any intent to encroach upon the field
of the general contractor, the home
builders insist on their right to set
their own wage scale Tor skilled LABOR.
Comes Under Skilled Labor.
In the home building field, 1t is
stressed, save for preparing the
ground and a few other minor tasks,
all of the help used comes under the
head of skilled labor. Masons, brick
layers, carpenters. painters and work
men of like nature must be used al
most exclusively from the outset, 1t
is pointed out, hence the inststence
upon authority to fix their own wage
scale for such labor.
The home builders. in effect. are
asking the right 10 operate precisely
as the brokers have been authorized
10 operate--that is to set up local
agreements which will make possible
home building to suit earning power
and still measure up to the living
standards of the particular areas in
which they operate" says Mr.. Nelson.
The earning power Of prospective
home buyers is a matter Of vital i'm
portance to the home builder The
demand now. after years Of virtually
no home building, is and likely will
long continue 10 be, for small.
moderately priced homes. II building
costs prevailing in an active. hitlly
prosperous section or II the costs OBJ
tanning in large-scale construction in
such a community are to be visited
upon the home builder in an area
where the earning power of the pros
pective home buyer is low there can
Be little home building and oonse-
ouently little consumption Of capital
goods,
Need for Housing shown.
The C. w. A. urban housing sur
vey recently completed under direc-
ton Of the Department Of Commerce
conclusively shows the smaller cities
and towns in urgent need Of new
housing. The home builders OF these
smaller centerS merely ask the right
i H. e