Evening Star Newspaper, November 27, 1926, Page 13

REAL ESTATE WASHINGTON, D. REALTY ASSOCIATION LEADERS STUDY REVENUE “INJUSTICES” Conference in Chicago Urges Change in Act to Relieve Burden Caused by Sales Re Inequalities iu the Federal Revenue Act of 1926, and grave injustices en- rafled in the present tax regulations | n regard to reporting Income from real estate sales were forcibly pointed out in a conference of real estate oards over the country called by the National Association of Real Estate Boards in Chicago, November 11 and 12 The conference was called through he on ¥Fed- «ral legislation taxation. It ‘he first meeting ever convened b veal estate men the count bring together their points of vis Association’s committes and o the legislition hampering estate, and to mike possible a unitied || program of action on the necd for revision of such legislation. The conference emphasized polnts in the wording of the prese Revenue Act and of its accompanying Treasury regulations making require ments which are unfuir or burden some. These points, the conference ! brought out. ave not only of i zed in the buy estute, but also n en: g of re portance to 1 fng and sei <eriously affect real prope owne ind_in some cases are having a re tarding effect on the free transfer property and the development of the Lusiness sections of communities Following the expression of the conferees representing real estate boards in centers where the wording of the Revenue Act is handicapping veal estate operations, the National Association, through its committee on Federal legislation and tion and ts general counsel, was authorized o draw up a definite program of changes to be asked for in the a B nd or in treasury income regulat all member bourds of the association vere called on by the conference to stand squarely and behind his program 11 Boards Represented. The real estate boards of Brooklyn, Westel r County and Long Island. the Chicago Real Estate Board, the Los Angeles Realty Board, the real estate boards of Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas Cit; Kansas City, Kans.; Knoxville, Tenn. Minneapolis, and the Yiorida 0- clation of Real Estate Boards, repre- senting all member real estate boards atives to the The conference also had sions of the individual thers of the 657 member assoclation as given in reding request of the nee in formulating of Florida, conference. before it expr attitudes of boards of t esponse to committee for a unified progr The taxpaver from the sale of real wself in a v seric ticularly if his business is the develop- ment of residential subdivisions or the sale of large business properties. Wording of the present enue Act nd the administrative regulations nd rulings which have interpreted it h that in many inst it is nt represent m whose income come: state finds him is situation, par- Re sssary for him (0 pay ax on vetical gains before any part of such gains have wctually been recefved. A number of specific Instances . present “paper” ¥ ources were cited showing that tl equirements, in taxing profits, forcing the taxpa finance Lis tax payment from outside the operation which is as xumed to have rendered the profit So serfous is the injustice that if con tinued it will make the use of present ordi nd estab- lished business methods in the sale of homes and home sites in many communities, the conference brought | out Provisions of the present law which are forcing the making of income tax returns from real estate sales in such a way as to upset or greatly penalize well established business practices, or which are so badly cc ual conditions under which ‘3 transacted as to invol heavy hookkeeping ppinted out by t rds of association ference. Needed Changes Suggested. Suggestions for needed chuanges were as follows L Capital Gains.—Profit on the sale of real estate should be considered as a capital gain whether the sale is made by an ordinary investor, a proker, or an operator, and regardless of the length of time the property has been held, thus making all profits on real estate sales subject to the 12l per cent capital gains tax only. The sonference urged this because of the unjust burden of State and local taxa- ton which real estate is already com- to pay. m"“e;insm“n)wm Sales.—The removal of the 25 per cent initial payment lim- 1siness mous- ulties, nber con- vere the at the itation as a basis of determination as | fo whether or not real estate sales are installment sales, was urged. It was pointed out that dealers in personal Property on the installment basis plan e allowed to report their sales on wh installment basis, no matter what Amount is received as an initial pay ent and no matter what amount llected during the first year after ‘he making of the sale. The present; jaw compels the vendor of real estate 1o report u sale :d_trans tion if 25 per cent or more of the pur- fhase price has been paid in uny year g 3. Defe was arged that the statute or regulations ahould contain an express definition of the term “fulr market value,” so as to clarify the obligation of the vendor with respect to evidence of ‘h he takes from the The conference stated evidence of ebtednes: be disposed of through ord! 1 channel a di )t exceed 10 per ss wh chaser it such cannot nary commere count which does Ot e vendor should not be com pelled to pay taxes on hypothetical Drofits, but should be allowed to © bort such transactions on the deferre payment plan 4. Depreciation The conferencd y that the law be amended &- “{:f"m the tme of sale of property The cost thereof should be reduced only to the extent that depreciation i{as been allowed, to the taxpaver and tolen by the taxpaver, instead of be- ing produced by the amount of de preciation which is ' us at Present provided. Under the present Pling, profit upon the sale of real Totate is considered to be.the differ- Shce between the selling price and the OPst reduced by whatever depreciation fa found to have been allowed Ly the tax department for all previous years, Whether or not the taxpayer actually Teceived the beretit of such deprecla- flon as & reduction from income in the “allowable previous Years Basis in Subdivi- ference urged that in of subdivisions the taxpayer '-‘x:zuclfim-o the right. if he elected, o report upon the subdivision 8s a whole rather than on an individual lot basis. The clerical expense of al- ocating ©osts to individual lots, as-is at present required, often exoeeds the total amount of the tax itself, It was Accounting sions.—The cou ew York. | related with ac- | indebted- | \]ilhluv$ v the | gulations (aleo suggested that if the taxpayer | elects to report on a lot basis, he should not be compelled to report a profit on any lot until he had re- ceived back the cost of the land and improvements. . Commissions.—The conference recommended that commissions paid by either lessor or lessee to a broker for negotiating a long term lease | should be considered as an expense deductible in the vear in which they | became a definite liability, instead of | being considered a capital expenditure to be amortized over the period of the @=L present required by the nartment. ~ and Trusts.—The con- mended that if capital inder the form of a trust, 1., contract, or other finan g method for the purpose of pur- chasing, subdividing and for selling 1 property under which it is agreed that the capital so employed is to be returned to the taxpayer prior to the distribution of any profit the plied against and reduce the capital <o employed, and, If the taxpayer 8o !elects, there shall be no taxable gain until such capital shall have been re- turned, Other Recoimmendations Made. A nuniber of additional recom- mendations affecting regulations with respect to double taxation and claims in abatement were made. By formal resolution the conference stated it to be the consensus of the | Joards represented that any approach to the Government on the matter of change in the Federal Revenue Act be only that approach as outlined and lirected by’ the national association | d | and not an approach by individual | hoaras, However, in instances where | the effect of the Federal legislation is | entirely local, the resolution asks that the individual board desiring to take action in Washington, first submit its position to a committee, consisting the president of the national as- ‘fation, the chairman of the Federal \Ieuls\ution and taxation committee and the general counsel of the a |ciation for their approval before | taking individual action. A copy of ! board Present at the conference were | Robert Jemison, jr., Birmingham, president, National ~Association Real Estate Boards: Henry G. Zan- der, Chicago, chairman, Federal leg- | islation and taxation committee; J. ¥. Brownlow, Knoxville, member, | Federal legislation and taxation { committee; Jullus Anderson, Minne- | {apolis, representing Minneapolls Real st ard; Stanley S. Staring. Minneapolis, representing Minneapolls | Real Estate Board; George H. Coffin, |ir., Los Angeles, president, Los An- | geles Realty Board; George Thomp- |con, Los Angeles, representing Los | Angeles Realty Board: L. T. Steven- representing Pitts- |®on, Pittsburgh, | burgh ¥ Estate Board; (‘ass Con- Buffalo. representing Buffalo naw ul ate Board: J. Lyle Vette, v representing Chicago Real Board; al O, Meredith, | Orlando, wepresenting Florida Asso- ation of Real Estate Boards; Ed- . Duyle, New York, represent- the Real Estate Board of New York. the Long Island Real Estate to| Board and the Westchester County | Realty Board: . R. Whitworth, Chi- cago, representing 8 Louls Real istate Exchange; Frank S. Piper, . Detroit, representing Detroit Real state Board; Gen. Nathan Willlam MacChesney, general counsel Na- tional Association of Real Estate | Boards; George P. Illis, Chicago, consuiting accountant National Asso- ciation of Real Estate Boards; Her- bert . Nelson, Chicago, secretar ational Association of Real Estate Boards: Mervin T. Miller, Kansas City, representing Kansas City, Kans., Real Estate Board; Charles L. Flaugh, Kansas City, - representing Kansas | City, Mo., Real Estate Board; Frank |R. Grant. Kansas City, representing the Kansas City., Mo.. Real Estate Board; W. J. P . Louis, rep- resenting St. Louis Real Estate nge: Arthur W. Gelston, Brook: representing Brooklyn Real Paul W. Pinkerton, Iyn, Estate Board; Chicago. INSURANCE COMPANY LENDS $72,500 HERE Mortgages Sufficient to House 12 |s Families in Washington Au- thorized by Metropolitan. | Special Dispatch to The Star | NEW YORK, November 27.—Loans | totaling $72,600, sufficient to provide housing accommodations for 12 families in Washington, were author- ized at the last meeting of the Metro- politan Life Insurance Co. real estate | committee. The loans were placed h the Potomac Savings Bank ‘hington. 1s on bonds and mortgages in country at large, authorized at the | the same meeting, amounted to $5,15 2x0 Of this amount $4,397,930 were loans and $757.350 were farm oans. The city loans were sufficlent to provide housing | for 1,209 families. The principal hous- | ing loans were in New Jersey, $88,100; vania, $42£,100: Tennessee, orth Carolina, $120,75 250; Michigan, $325,850; ,580, and California. $153,580. Loans on 11 business buildlngs | amounted to $539,500. The farm loans were scattered in 17 States, the principal amounts be- !ing in Indlana, $109,000: Towa, §243,300 {and Minnesota, $147,900. capital so returned may be ap-| | this resolution will be sent to every of | accommodations | PERMITS IN SPURT TOST SN0 MARS .. |Holiday Fails to Check Tum! for ‘Better in Building Activities Here. i | | | | CAPITAL RECORDS FIRST SLUMP IN YEARS IN BUILDING HOMES For the first time in the last few vears Washington has failed to keep | For the first time In several weeks |ahead of previous fecords in residen- {local construction jumped past the |tial construction. 1 $1,000,000 mark. Despite the Thanks- | giving holiday that intervened the |ing dropped below ofice of the building Inspector au- | thorized during the past week new buildings gmounting to $1,186,000. | Several new apartment houses of moderate size are among the projects H ed. The permits granted include: | H. R. Howenstein, owner and build- {er; C. R. Schrider, architect; to erect | elghteen 2story brick dwellings, {30212 Todd place and 303-25 U street | northeast (lots 44 to 49 and 52 to 63, | square 3566), to cost $90,000. James A. Counctlor, owner; ence L. | Giniche Clar- Harding, architect; J. B. , Inc., builders; to erect one stone dwelling, 1739 Kalo- d (lot 4 and part lot 14, 748), to cost $30,000. . Burch, owner, afchitect and builder; to erect three »story brick | dwellings.- 331 Raleigh street and 11610 and 1612 Esther street southeast | (lots 16, 17 and 19, square 5989), to | cost $24,000. W Ca A . Miller. | builders; to erec owners and one stone garage, 3221 Garfleld street (lot 28, square | 2118), to cost $1,500. | _Constantine Roumel, owner; A. | Fussos, builder; to dig cellar, 2465 | Eighteenth street (lot 73, square 2360), to cost $3 William A. Thomas, owner and builder; to make repairs, 3415 O street | (lot 805, square 1246), to cost $300. | .Boss & Phelps, owner and build- er; James E. Cooper, architect;, to erect nine I-story brick, stone and stucco dwellings, 4427-35 Q street and 1701-07 Surrey lane (lots 138 to 146, square 1351), to cost $65,000. Will Erect Dwellings. E. V. Bulow, owner and builder, A, H. chewning, designer; to erect two 2-story brick dwellings, 1803 and 1805 Sixtéenth street southeast (lots 104 and 105, square 5603), to cost $9,000. Raymond P. Rocca, owner; G. Arthur Brodie, architect; A. C. Warthen Sons, builders; to erect one 2:story brick and tile dwelling, 3357 Tennyson street (lots 26 to 28, square 2005), to cost $15,000. Joseph D. Gatti, owner; E. G. Me- Gill, buiider; to make repairs, 4501 Fourteenth street (lot 801, square 2816), to cost $2,200. ‘Winfleld Preston, owner and build- er; Marcus Hallett, architect; to erect six 3story brick dwellings, 4821 to 4831 Sixteenth street (lots 47 to 52, square 2708), to cost $120,000. ‘Winfield Preston, owner and build- to erect five tile garages, 4821-31 xteenth streek (lots 47 to 52, square 270! to cost $3,000. |~ Guy T. Stewart, owner and bufld- {er: John R. Cadle, architect; to erect one-story frame dwelling, 2109 Thirty- second street southeast (lots 1'and 2, le | square 5639), to cost $3,000. | v icl e Miller, owners {and ‘builders; G. 1. MacNeil, archi- [tect; to erect two two-story brick, stucco and frame dwellings, 37 » and | 26 and 8 Van Ness street (lots 30 and 81, square 1898); to cost $14,000. W. C. & Miller, owners and builders: G. I2. MacNeil, architect; to erect two frame garages, 3726 and 3728 Van Ness street (lots 30 and 31, square 1898); to cost $300. |. W.C. & 4 N. Miller, owners and | builders: G. Neil, architect; to | stucco_dwellings 3722 Van Ness street (lots 28, 29, 32 and 33, square 1R98); to cost $28,000. W. C. & A. N. Miller, owners and builders; G. 1. MacNeil, architect; to erect four frame garages, 3732, 3130, 18724 and 8722 Van Ness street (lots | 28. 29, 82 and 33, square 1898); to cost $300. H. G. Spink, cwner and architect; Spink Construction Co., builders; to erect one two-story frame and stucco |dwelling, 2964 Northampton street (lot 39. square 2310); to cost $10,000. H. (. Spink, owner and architect; Spink Construction Co., bullders; to ‘el’(u'l one two-story frame and stucco dwelling, 5617 Thirtieth street (lot 38, square 2310); fo cost $10,000. J. E. Braitmayer, owner and build- er; George T. Santmyers, architect; to erect one two-story brick dwelling, 1714 Vernum street (lots 45 and 46, square 2044); to cost $3,000. Wardman Construction Co., owners and builders; M. Mesrobian, architect; to erect 22 two-story brick dwellings, 510 to 532 and €00 to 61S Somerset place (lots 80 to 51, square 3198); to cost $110,000. Jacob Weber, owner and buflder; Claughton West, architect; to erect four two-story brick dwellings, 2413 to 2419 Minnesota avenue southeast (lots 87 to 70, square 5578); to cost $20,000. ©O. Judd, owner and builder; to make | repairs, 5519 Bell place northeast (lot 6, square 5204); to cost $400. N. J. Coon, cwner and architect; W. R. Coon, builder; to erect one two-story frame and stucco dwelling, 2807 Monroe street northeast (lot 5, square 4316); to cost $7.400. £l1 & Kay Bullding and Investment Co., Inc., owners and builders; Louis T. Rouleau, architect; to erect one five-story brick and concrete apart- ment, 1631 Euclid street (lots 37 to 50, square 2376); to cost $200,000. Shannon & Luchs. owners and build- ers; W. Waverly Taylor, jr., architect; to erect four two-story brick dwell: |ings, 1700 Thirty-sixth street and 3603 to 3607 R street (lots 71 to 74, square 1305); to cost $40,000. | Shannon & Luchs, owners and build- | ers; to erect brick garage, 1700 Thirty- sixth_street (lot 71, square 1305); to cost $750. Plans $35,000 Apartment. Isuac Tepper, owner and architect; Tepper Construction Co., builders; to erect one three-story brick apartment, 1208 Evarts street northeast (ot 11, square 3936); to cost $35,000. Gordon Kennedy. owner and build- brick, frame and (Continued on Fourteenth Page.) Massachusetts Park Re-subd\isiun on Woodland and Rock Creek Drives, ad- || joining Rock Creek Park, one block west of Conn. Ave. Bridge and near Mass. Ave., now available. Included in what remains of The Triangle of Increasing Values —between Connecticut, Massachusetts and Cathedral avenues. Over 250 homes built and under construction. Actual improve- ments and home values exceed $10,500,000. Wooded villa sites, lots, central and side hall homes, with lots from 50 to 300 feet I front, from $25,000 to $200,000. Middaugh & Shannon, Inc. ESTABLISHED 1899 | 4717 14th St. NW. 3732, 3730, 3724 and | | 1 ! labout |in At the end of last month Washington residential build- the same 10 months’ period of last year. The chief drop has been in house construction, which has now reached a decline of about 30 per cent. Apart- ment_house construction, however, is | ahead of last year, but not sufficient to bring the combined total of house and apartment construction up to the same value as 1925. Last year residential construction for the first 10.month pertod amount- {ed to ahout $39.500,000; this vear it 38,686,350, 75 housing units les This represents than last totals year. General Record Likely These figures, however, only apply to residential construction and there seems to be no question that the total amount of construction here this year will establish a record. During the month of October, how- ever, according to the latest survey of the country, Washington dropped from sixth to twelfth place among the leading cities of the country. No- vember will tee a_considerable jump construction here. This week showed increased activity in the con- struction industry in Washington. That the buflding industry is clos- ing the vear on a reasonably sta- billzed basls was indicated by build- ing reports for October from 482 cities and towns. The decline from October, 1925, was only a little more than 4 per cent. This was about the same as the September and not so great as the August decline from the same months last year. The in- crease in volume of permits for October over September this year wus nearly 24 per cent, which also emphasizes the apparent stability of the building situation at present. Change In Winter Plans. A few vears ago, or before the movement to increase the volume of Winter building was_started, the normal trend was a decline from September to October, but during the past three vears, since the Win- ter building movement has been gaining momentum, this trend has changed from a decline to a gain. Building reports show, for example, in 1924 a gain of a little more than 15 per cent from September. Last year the increase was slightly more than 11 jer cent. Thus, this vear's gain of 24 per cent establishes a record. While it is impossible to tell whether this increase over Septem- ber is due to a further strengthening in the Winter building movement, or to more accidental circumstances, the October gain is probably indica- tive of a considerable volume of building during the closing month of this year. Another important phase of the situation at present is the increase in- building throughout the larger cities of the country. The 25 lead- ing cities, for example, showed a gain of 7 per cent over October, 1925, and a gain of 47 per cent over September this year. Cities Show Some - Gains. In this connection it is also in- teresting to note that the volume of building in the leading cities was more than 60 per cent of the total reported in the 405 compara- tiv citles and towns. Eleven of the leading citles showed very substantial gains, indicating that only only is the Winter building move- ment more characteristic of the larger centers, but also that build- ing activity is shifting again toward these centers. ; The three leading cities in volume, New York, Chicago and Detroit, all rtment Construction, However, Is Still Ahead—Total fqr ATl Types of Work Holds Up. showed October gains, Greater New York reporting an increase of 9 per cent over October, 1925, and a gain of more than per cent over September this year. The October total reported from the 482 cities and towns was $405,299,758, compared to $422,365,881 in October, 1925, and $327,36L837 in September this year. In October the leading States were New York first, Illinols second and California third, but Michigan, which held fourth place on the three-quarters of the year, was displaced by Pennsyl- vania. Ohio held to sixth place, but Florida dropped from seventh to ninth. Massachusetts rose from ninth to seventh; Texas held its tenth posi- tion and Indiana was again eleventh, with Wisconsin taking twelfth posi- tion from Connecticut. Pittsburgh Has Increase. In addition to New York, Chicago and Detroit, the larger cities which showed gains over October, 1925, were, Pittsburgh, with a gain of nearly $5,000,000; New Orleans, with a gain of more than $5,000,000; San Francts- co, with a gain of more than $1,000, 000; Milwaukee, with a gain of nearly $1,000,000; Washington, D. C., with a substantial gain; Allentown, Pa., with { a gain of nearly $2,000,000: e tonio, with a gain of nearly $2,000,000, and Birmingham with a very substan: | tial gain. The 12 leading States, October reports, were: New York . Illinois California Pennsylvania . Michigan based on $134,372,088 BEEITI Ohio o 9 Massachusetts 15,328,326 14,742,711 11,727,182 10. Texas 10,608,867 11. Indfana 12. Wisconsin 7419435 No decided building material market occurred during Oec- tober. The seasonal recessions cus- tomary at this time of the yvear start- ed during the month, but affected prices little. The only real downward trends were noticeable in lime and linseed oil. The lumber situation was the same as it has been for the last two or three months. Although steel bookings averaged lower than in September, the prices of structural steel remained unchanged. The start- {ng materials, cement, brick and hol- | low tile, remained firm. | Wages Are Stabilized. Wages in the bullding trades reached a stabilized level in October and November 1 showed fewer | changes In wage scales during the last 30 days than in any other month in the last five years. The indication is that labor in the building crafts will not ask for increased wages dur- ing the Winter months. letting stand the scales in force or adopted on October 1. The 26 leading cities for October are: 7,686,011 Do tisburgh ¢ Orleans Boston ... Milwaukes S Xl Allentown .. .. Portland, Oref. .. Baltimore Cambridge Tndianapolis St. Louis. . Houston Birmingh: Columbus, i Ohii T Uy GRESESSR0Eo s $200.690.417 Class in Real Estate Hears Lecture On Factors Entering Into Insurance Marine, insurance is the oldest form Known, dating back to the thirteenth century, declared William N. Payne, §r. befora the regular weekly Y. M. C. ‘A 'real estate class last Monday night. Mr. Payne lectured on the general subject of insurance and traced the history of insurance from its begin- ning with protection to mariners to the establishment of the second form of insurance for protection from fire. Fire fnsurance, he said, had its incep- tlon at the great London fire in 1666. The city of London was practically wiped out during this fire. “The speaker then traced the devel- opment of life insurance, which was Started a little later, but not properly organized until 1760. Casualty nsur- ance grew up with the beginning of the steam railway organized in Eng- land early in the nineteenth century Explains Fire Insurance. He pointed out that of particular in- terest to real estate men and property holders was the item of fire {nsurance. He explained several fundamentalfacts about fire fnsurance policies which proved of great interest to the stu- dents, namely: A fire insurance policy is a personal contract of indemnity; it does mot insure property; it insures the owner of property against loss by fire and it agrees to reimburse the in- sured, in whole or part, for a loss by fire. He explained that the amount for which the policy is written is the limit and not necessarily the amount of loss payable thereunder. The fire insurance form, he ex- plained, is that part of the contract added to the policy to describe the property insured. The purpose of this form is to specify the location of the Don’t Worry—But Don’t Wait Send for Rose in Roofing HERE is always a master in every craft—an out- standing one whose experience makes him an au- thority—and whose work is a guarantee. In roofs it’s Rose. are topped with Rose roofs—so are thousands upon thousands of homes—and all of them are monu- ments to our knowledge and skill. we do. The modest cost for your convenience in paying m’wrgiz.‘vmue You've got to mix brains with craftsmanship when it comes to successful roofing—and that’s what & property with an adequate description to show what it covers. The speaker déclared that the tendency in all forms 18 to overdo and use more words than are necegsary. He suggested that a short statement, clear and concise, i3 far better than a long, rambling one. Riders Are Explained. An Insurable interest, Mr. Payne de- clared, generally speaking, is a tan- gible interest of recognizable value, which fire can destroy or fmpair, He said a suggestive list of insurable {n- terest includes owners, trustees, x- ecutors, administrators, vendors, ven- dees, lessors, lessees, warehousemen, pawnbrokers, assignees, mortgagees and creditors. The lecturer explained the varlous riders that are usually used in policies, namely, the lightning clause which in- cludes liability for fire or damage caused by lightning; the mortgagee clause, which provides for the inter- ests of the holders of a mortgage; the three-fourths value clause which lim- its the lability of the company to three-fourths of the cash value of the insured property, and the 80 per cent clause, which requires the insured to carry insurance equal to 80 per cent of the value of the property The basic principle of all types of Insurance, the speaker sald, is the dis- tribution of the losses, due to a certain contingency over a group subject to that contingency. The great advan- tage of insurance, the speaker said, is that it substitutes for an unknown, uncertain loss, a known and certain definite small loss or cost. It serves as an essential basis of credit. It acts as a deterrent to losses by fire. Trouble e biggest buildings here can be budgeted COMPANY North 84?—848' DRIVE FOR DEEDS OFFICE IS PLANNED !Realty Board Organizes Oth- er Groups to Push Plea for Protection of Titles. / The Washington Real Estate Board plans to create a co-operative interest upon the part of the varlous out- standing trade and professional or- ganizations with reference to procur- ing a much needed recorder of deeds office. Faced with the problem of 75,000 unrecorded deeds Ilving In danger in the antiquated office of the recorder of deeds, the Washington Real Estate Board urged upon these varlous organizations the necessity of a unified presentation befors the subcommittee of the House District committee investigating local affairs to urge a new building. These deeds represent the evidences of title to 75,000 pieces of property within the District of Columbia, and it is explained that If these were burned or destroyed the persons own- ing the property which they repre- sent would be without legal evidence of their ownership. This would result in untold confusion, and many years and many millions of dollars would have to be spent In proving titles. After the Chicago fire, special courts were established which worked for many vears establishing title for per- sons whose deeds were destroyed. A survey made by the Washingfon Real Estate Board some time ago with reference to_conditions in other cities in regard to vecording of deeds showed that it takes from flve days to three weeks on an average for a deed to be recorded and returned to the owner. In Washington it takes from a year to 18 months. The following representatives of various organizations have been ap- pointed to form a joint committee with the Washington Real Estate Board to appear before the subcom- mittee, under’ the chairmanship of Representative Gibson, to urge that committee to approve the needed erec- tion of a new deeds office for the pro- tection of the records vital to the District and its citizens: Alexander Wolfe, representing the Board of Trade; A. Leftwich Sinclair, rep: senting the Chamber of Commerce; Rufus S. Lusk, representing the Operative Builders’ Association of the District of Columbia; Capt. Julius I. Peyser, representing the Bar Associa- tion; John B. Larner, representing the Bankers' Association, and _James Berry, representing the local building and loan associations. B. F. Saul and H. L. Rust, sr., are the Washington Real tate Board’s representatives. This committee plans immediate study and action on the situation, and will hold a meeting at the offices of the Washington Real Estate Board Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. g ety REALTORS TO ADOPT NEW SALES CONTRACT Uniformity Is Feature of Revised Form Soon to Be Ready for Use. The proposed uniform sules con- tract for use by Washington realtors | will be ready in two or three weeks, | it was announced at a meeting of the sales managers’ division at the Lee House Jast Tuesday. This meeting was one of the largest held by the division, more than 20 offices “being represented. Consider- able time and effort has been given toward drawing up a uniform contract of sales for the benefit of the general public, as well as real estate men. The revised form now is in the hands of Roger J. Whiteford, general counsel of the Washington Real Estate Board, for a thorough' study and will be hand- ed back to the division, which will sub- mit it to the executive committee at a later date The advertising problems dealing with proper advertising methods and statements were also discussed at the meeting, and J. R. Crutchfleld, chair- man of the division's subcommittee on advertising, has called a special meet- ing of this subcommittee to take place on Monday at the Arlington Hotel at 12:30 o’clock. A number of important matters will be discussed at this meet- ing. The sales managers’ diviston meeting was presided over by Charles H. Hillegelst, chairman. Two-story Brick DAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1926. @he Eoening Stap =~ reJ| shortage in the fnterior trades. HOME & GARDEN| 13 WINTER BUILDING THROUGHOUT NATION EXPECTED TO BE BRISK Many Cities Report Enougil Construction Work to Keep Resident Forces Busy. Labor Conditions Are Good. and a unit of employers virtually in sures peace In the Chicago building in dustry. The significance of the new agreement lies generally in the effect it will have on the open-shop group of builders who have been co-operat fng with the citizens’ committee to enforce the Landis award. Open-Shop Men Unite. It is said the openshop Landis award contractors will form an asso citles are being made on the basis of | clation of their and function in slight increases, the bullding situation | qependently. This sroup, it is report generally is well stabilized and free | ad, will consist of about 100 Chicago With building periits in the 500 leading cities of the United States during the last six months only slightly less than two and one-half billion dollars, the Nation's Winter building program will from present indications be of such magnitude as to absorb all available labor in the building crafts. While a number of wage readjustments outside the larger from disturbing elements. builders, including both large and These facts represent the consensus | small contractor: of reports submitted to S. W. Straus & | Chicago construction prom to Co. from all parts of the country and | keep restdent building workers made public yesterday. Labor condi-|physy this Winter, dependent, of tions in the bullding industry Were | course, on favoral her condi tions. A slight lull in building activi ties was recorded In early Fall, but this soon disappeared when the vol summarized as follows: 1. Wage scales have reached a peak and any attempt to boost wages in the Spring will not be favored. | ume of October construction started 2. Desplte mumerous reports there | \,ge scales in Chicago range from has been no concerted action for the | §{2 to §14 a day, the latter rat 40-hour or five-day week. | paid to only a frade or two, 3. Jurisdictional disputes haye prac- tlcally been eliminated in building labor circles because of the excellent | work of the National Board for Jurls- dictional Awards. | 4. There is no shortage of men in | the building crafts with the exception of bricklayers and plasterersgy of whi there seems to be a present deficiency amounting to approxi- increases are contemplated for Spring builders believe. In Cleveland labor disputes over the open-shop issue have been a factor in impeding the progress of the city’s building program. there e port thit many of the dent build ing craftsmen have left to obtain en | ployment 1n other cities. Another six nificant factor noted in the S. W Straus & Co. survey is that in virtuall city builders report bonus pay s have disappeared 5. Tranquillity is assured between | bufiders and the building crafts gen- erally, despite soms difficulties et | <light increases were made unsettled in San Francisco and Cleve- | e scales of some building land. trades in Chicago, Nashville, Norfoll Cineinnati, Du t. Louis, Buffalo ., I’a. Builders i that ‘supply of Ia ate to demand, employ \d the labor market tran quil. Reductions were reported from on & fulltime basis. New York build. | Philndelphia and Salt Lake City, but ers report a slight shortago of brick- | (s NETE S LS 5L (8 ke layers and plasterers; also a slight | [ 0 CEmOE, i O U0 O Em- | yment in Philadelphia hit a snag Labor Peace in Canada. this Fall Det ! Pittsburgh, Plenty of Work Reported. s uth, In New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, | Worcester, M pringfield, Mass., builders report there is sufficient work contemplated for this Winter to keep resident.bullding workers employed on | ment bri and builders report Canadian labor conditions in that many of the resident building workers | country’s building industry are re have procured work in other Eastern | ported to be tranquil and employment clties where building is more flourish- | in gencral well stabi ing. g | In the Pacific Coas! High wage scales prevail in New | report that lahor condit York City, where builders there r | he normal, w vort that a rate of $14 a day ; competent h a plentiful supp! These clties paid to bricklayers, plasterers clude Vanc Portland, masons and hoisting enginee 4 Oakland, 1 Stockton, Sac structural fronworkers. In Philadel- | ramento, o and the smallec phin the wage scale for carventers | cities along the West Coast. In San ranges from $1 to $1.25 an hour; paint- | ¥'r * strike called ncisco a carpenter ers, $1 an hour; plasterers, §. ah | last April to enforce a wage increase hour, and electriclans, from to| demand has curtailed to some degree $1.1815 an hour. An average between | the city’s building program. But now the New York scale and that paid in | builders there s the strike has Philadelphia is the prevalent wage| waned and the city's program of rate in most Eastern cities. building progressing along without In Chicago the Bullding Construc- tion Employers' Assoclation and the Bullding Trades Council have a stand- ardized agreement, which replaces the old uniform one. This pact, which | the aftermath of the strike led in t} will have to be embodied in each in-| Selection of Los Angeles as the 1 dividurl agreement between a trade (Continu " Pag any difficulty. It is reported that the desire of the officialdom of the United Brotherhood of (‘arpenters and Join ers of America to counteract some of i i Brand-New Inspect These Exclusive HOMES at Eighteenth and Webster Streets MARLOW-BEECH C ORI PTOCR A T I ONN 1615 Conn. Ave. Pot. 6167 812,250 Two-story Brick and Stucco....$10,750 Two-story Frame Stucco Bungalow.. ..$10,250 8 New Homes n faglan A Restricted Section of Chevy Chase, Md. \ give complete city- urban pleasures. § right now! This New Group Open Sunday ou can’t spend a half hour to better advantage than in a visit to LELAND E sincerely urge your careful compari- son of these mew homes and their prices with any market in this select residential community. Note particularly the fact that every city con- venience you can name is afforded you in these homes and their surroundings; they literally others now on the CONCRETE STREETS CEMENT SIDEWALKS LARGE GROUNDS OPEN FIREPLACES HARDWOOD FLOOR~ FINE TILED BATHS SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES EVERY CITY COMFORT comfort with added sub- Drive out Connecticut Avenue to Leland Street, and West to 44th;— or out Wisconsin Avenue to Leland Street, thew East to 41th. DOUGLASS & PHILLIPS. INC. Exclusive Agents 1516 K Street—Franklin 5678