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September 22, 1917 RECORD AND GUIDE 361 FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON RENTS Question Needs Mature Consideration —Hasty Legislation To Be Avoided By LAURENCE McGUIRE THERE was actively agitated during the special session of the State Leg¬ islature the enactment of a moratorium on real estate mortgages. The proposal brought forth considerable opposition. The question, however, it would seem, might well be held in abeyance for the time being, and those owning and inter¬ ested in real property concentrate on the proposed Federal moratorium, having for its purpose the protection of sailors and soldiers who are actively in the service. We are at war and every patriotic citi¬ zen of this nation will, I am positive, favor the enactment of any legislation that will justly and fairly protect the property rights of those who are about to risk their lives in the country's defense. Recently there has been much of what is commonly called hasty legislation. The enactment of a moratorium at this time will require the most expert and mature thought. To place a moratorium on rents and at the same time not on mortgages would be unfair and unjust. If the soldiers' and sailors' property rights are to be protect¬ ed, the man obligated by law to protect him should also be considered. It is difficult to conceive the formula¬ tion of any moratorium of other than a general nature which would not ultimate¬ ly visit great hardship and possible injus¬ tice on certain classes. One, I believe, may feel reasonably certain that Congress will not enact any form of moratorium that is not fair and just to all. We should, at this time, be very willing to make every reasonable sacrifice to win the fight which we are in, the greatest in the history of the world. While Congress has the power to make laws, some of which, because of existing conditions, must of necessity be drastic, nevertheless it is fair to believe that in any form of moratorium adopted by Con¬ gress the rights of all will be fairly and justly considered and there will be no discrimination. Nothing can possibly be gained by speculating at this time as to the form and character of moratorium to be enacted, but it does, however, behoove all inter¬ ested, and particularly owners of real estate, to follow carefully the trend of thought in Washington and to be pre¬ pared and ready to act when the proposed bill is submitted. There is nothing at this time, in my judgment, to cause property owners un¬ due alarm. LARGE COMPANY FORMED. ACTIVITIES EXPANDED. Will Do National and Foreign Engineer¬ ing Work of Every Kind. ABOUT two weeks ago the Hedden, Pearson, Starrett Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware for the purpose of acting as consulting engineers, contractors for engineering work, contractors for opera¬ tion, purchasing agents and representa¬ tives of foreign corporations in the fol¬ lowing industries: Steam and electric railways, tramways, highways, bridges, canals, hydro-electric power plants, steam power plants, submarine dredg¬ ing and rock work, shipbuilding, mining, docks and waterfront improvements, building construction, chemical works, electrical equipments, water works, street lighting, telephone systems, etc. The following is a selected list of en¬ gineering work and building construc¬ tion, with which the personnel of the corporation has been identified, as prin¬ cipals : Metropolitan Life Insurance Com¬ pany's building, Madison Square, Man¬ hattan; Sears, Roebuck & Company's building, Chicago, Illinois; Electrical Development and Power House, To¬ ronto, Canada; Rio de Janeiro Tram¬ ways Light & Power plant, Rio de Ja¬ neiro, Brazil; Hotel St. Regis, Fifth avenue, New York; Hotel Taft, New Haven, Conn.; San Antonio Land & Ir¬ rigation Company's plant, San Antonio, Texas; Mexico Northwestern Railroad, El Paso, Texas; Metropolitan Street Railway, New York; Prudential Life In¬ surance Company's building, Newark, N. J.; Union Railroad station, Columbus, Ohio; Oakland National Bank, Oakland, Cal.; Barcelona Traction & Light & Power plant, Barcelona, Spain; W^est End street railway system, Boston, Mass.; Dominion Coal Company's plant, Nova Scotia, Canada; Union railroad station, Washington, D. C.; W^anamaker buildings. New York and Philadelphia, Pa.; Sao Paulo Tramway & Light & Power plant, Sao Paulo, Brazil; New England Gas & Coke plant, Everett, Mass.; Union Bank of Canada, Winni¬ peg, Canada, and Merchants Refrigera¬ tor Company's plant, Jersey City, N. J. William H. Burr, D. Sc, is the direc¬ tor and has been tendered the presi¬ dency of the company. The vice-presi¬ dents are: Louis O. Hedden, Ward E. Pearson, Theodore Starrett, Edward H. Beckert and John V. Clermont. Harry J. Kane is the treasurer, and V. A. Van Valkenburg, secretary. Queens Chamber of Commerce Broadens Scope of Traffic Bureau. GEORGE J. RYAN, President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, an¬ nounced that plans have been complet¬ ed for broadening the scope of the work of the Chamber's Traffic Bureau, which v.'as started a year ago. Hundreds of manufacturers who feel they cannot af¬ ford to establish traffic departments of their own can secure expert advice through the Traffic Bureau of the Cham¬ ber on all matters concerning rates, routes, classification of their products, tracing of shipments and rulings of the Interstate Commerce Commission. This is not a new move on the part of the Chamber, as it has operated the Traffic Bureau for more than a year, but the scope of its service has now been expanded. Instead of a single traf¬ fic man as manager, two men have been employed, Charles S. Allen, as Traffic Commissioner, and P. W. Moore, as manager of the Traffic Bureau. Mr. Allen will handle the larger ques¬ tions, which require representation be¬ fore the Interstate Commerce Commis¬ sion and other regulatory bodies. Mr. Moore, who has taken the place of E. H. Best as Traffic Manager, will be re¬ sponsible for the details and deal di¬ rectly with the manufacturers in solv¬ ing their everyday traffic problems. Mr. Allen was associated with the In¬ terstate Commerce Commission for a number of years, his duties taking him to all parts of the United States. He has also been connected with the Traf¬ fic Departments of the Southern Rail¬ way, Seaboard Air Line, Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. For the past several years, he has been engaged in private transportation practice in New York City. Mr. Moore, manager of the Traffic Bureau, was formerly with the Mer¬ chants' and Miners' line as chief rate clerk and was in charge of the issuance of all their tariffs for ten years. Two important transportation matters that are of vital interest to every in¬ dustry located in Queens and to all in¬ terests of the Borough, are, first, the restoration of free lighterage on New¬ town Creek by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, which filed its tariff a year ago eliminating this facility which has been in existence for over 25 years. The second is the securing of through rates between the New Haven Railroad and the Long Island Railroad, similar to those now in effect by all other trunk lines entering New York City. It is estimated that the establishment of such new rates by the New Haven, which would absorb the local charge of the Long Island Railroad as far as Jamaica and Flushing, would save the shippers of Queens $250,000 annually. Increased Passenger Rates. The Public Service Commission will shortly decide upon the proposal ad¬ vanced by the Long Island Railroad Company for an increase in its passen¬ ger tariff rates. NEW YORK BUILDING MANAGERS HOLD REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING THE regular monthly meeting of the New York Building Managers' Asso¬ ciation was held on September 11, in the Public Service room. Equitable Building, 120 Broadway. The Legislative Committee reported that a hearing was held before the Board of Standards and Appeals, on the matter of revolving doors being allowed as exits, and that the rules as published in the bulletin of the Board, on August 30, were adopted with few changes. The bulletin is on file with the secretary of the asso¬ ciation. Arthur C. Bang, Chairman of the De¬ partment Orders Committee, reported that Tenement House Commissioner Murphy had about made up his mind to refuse permission for coal to be stored in the yards of tenement or apartment houses. Mr. Murphy has been somewhat influenced by a statement made to him by the Merchants' Association, that the coal situation is not bad. The opinion of the members of the New York Build¬ ing Managers' Association, as published in the Record and Guide, is that the coal situation is not at all good. The prices are high, and deliveries are poor. ^ It is suggested that the committee write to the Merchants' Association to get a fuller expression of opinion about this matter. There is still a possibility that Commis¬ sioner Murphy may change his mind. The Employees Committee reports that the situation regarding the obtaining and keeping of help in buildings is still most unsatisfactory. The _ suggestion was made that efforts be again employed toward the fixing of a maximum wage scale for employees in the various kinds of buildings, or that a yearly bonus of IC per cent, be adopted. It is also suggested that, wherever possible, a scale of wages paid in different buildings be posted in various buildings under the management of the association. The idea is to pre¬ vent misinformation among employees as to the wages paid in other structures. It is also suggested that, particularly in the case of w^omen cleaners, it is often found possible to reduce the number of employees and increase the work each one does, making a proper compensation therefor. Clarence T. Coley reported that he formerly employed 264 women clean¬ ers in the Equitable Building, but adopted the system of having two women do three women's work, and increase the wages of these women accordingly. He stated that he is now operating the building with a force of 224 women, and the work is being done satisfactorily with no total increase in cost. It is suggested that those who have communications to make re¬ garding the employees' situation, should communicate with Mr. W^illiam R. Hpop- er, chairman of the Employees Com¬ mittee. The next meeting of the association will be held on the evening of Tuesday, October 9. It has been suggested that elevators be the main topic for general discussion at this meeting, and it is likely that an elevator expert will address the association. William Lightpipe will tell the association members about the Na¬ tional Convention of Building Owners and Managers, held recently at Omaha. RKCORD AND GUIDE TS fS ITS FIFTIETH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS PUBLICATION.