Evening star., 1942-11-21
Convention
Continued From Page B-1)

grams of operation which disturb
further the lives of the citizen.
Cyrus Crane Willmore, St. Louis,
chairman of the Convention Com
mittee, was elected national presi-
dent for the next year.
Postwar Curtailment Feared.
Resolutions adopted by the con-
vention reflect the growing concern
Of realtors that many wartime meas
ures now being undertaken by Fed
eral agencies are the product of
efforts to curtail private home build
ing and ownership not only for the
duration but for the postwar
period.
The more important section of
the rent control resolution was that
asking the present one third down
payment required of purchasers of
tenant-occupied homes be reduced
to the Federal Housing Administra-
ton financing standard of 20 per
cent, and in some instances, 10 per
cent.
The resolutions asked that in no
case should the down payment re-
quirement be greater than the diff
ference between an existing mort
gage and the sales price and that
neither should the limitation be ap-
piled to dwellings of $4,000 or less
The realtors in their resolutions
urged Congress not to enact a Rent
Control Act applying to business
property This congressional action
has received widespread notice
among the realtors and their fears
were voiced at the convention.
Against Legislation.
The real estate men maintained
legislation was not needed because
of the large number of business
property vacancies and this did not
justify a new Federal bureau with
its administrative expense.
Another resolution urged strong
housing conversion program, and
appointment of joint presidential
and congressional commission to
study the national tax structure as it
affects the home builder.
The group also resolved in favor
of preparation of postwar pro-
gram of building in which private
enterprise would have the leading
role. In this connection the realtors,
on receiving assurances from Federal
officials, were decidedly gratified
Mr.. Davis told the delegates that
"the housing field is one that prom
ises most fruitful and lasting re-
suits for the exercise of teamwork
on the part of the real estate and
construction industries with the ma
tional, State and municipal govern
ment. The housing shortage at the
close of the war" he said, will be
so great that if national income can
be maintained at a high level, it
would take 10 years of building at
the highest rate of annual con-
structlon ever reached in this coun-
try to fill it. That peak was in
1925 when 100000 new dwelling units
were built
Stupendous Challenge.
The challenge that confronts real
estate planners, if that job is to be
we'll done, is stupendous and breath
taking" he stated, Our cities have
never adjusted themselves to the
automobile, let alone prepared
themselves with the coming day of
air travel. Every city has vast,
blighted, close-in areas incapable of
yielding revenues that pay taxes.
The very physical design of our
cities. with their little rectangular
blocks, is made obsolete by modern
transportation" he added.
Local initiative and leadership. he
said, can give city rebuilding proper
direction. The Federal Govern
ment to aid postwar employment,
he predicted. might act to stimulate
local city rebuilding. This was in
terpreted by realtors at the confer
ence to indicate it will be a long
time before the Federal Govern
ment discontinues direct financing
and aid to private builders and home
owners.
In summarizing postwar prob
lens which are coming closer with
every favorable turn in the war