Norwich bulletin., 1918-12-11
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Special to The BnlIelin.l

Washington, p. C, Deg. 19, T The question of housing connectieQt war workers was the main topic of dis eussion at 0 hearing befoTis inc senate committee on public buildings yester- day. A delegation from Bridgeport was present headed by Lieutenant Governor Wilson. The deiegatipp was aceornpanied By Congressman Sehnyz Ter Merritt. who has beeu in receipts of protests from leading Bridgeport as soeiatfons against the cancellation of government huildins conEflets in that city. Among the focal organizatioHa1I entering such protests arn the Bridge- nort Chamber of Cory1yierce, the Bridgeport ManufscturirEs asspeiation and the Bridgeport Fousing commit tee Objections to the eonlRlet:en of contracts now the war is ended have been entered h. local building and numbering assoeiatioolnls- toddy Grsed that all unfinished contracts be completed as the city would be the center of war industries for some time to conle Rnd would need the housing aeeofn.1 lations. The population of the city has increased by 10000 during the period of the war, so it was stalled.
 Senator Reed Of Missouri, chairman Of the eonn'9itfee expressed an adverse
 view to the c9n1plefipn of unfinished
 buildings in q way that suggests the senate cammlttee will take thai point
 of view not only with tI:e Brigepprt
 situation, but with other projects as
 well which would include Waterbury and ether Coapeeticlt cities where the
 government is erecting houses fer war
 workers Mr. Feed believes all such work should siep inlmeJia teIy and tbat
 if cities want the housing work to
 continue it should De g.ene by hnaf- neHs nleP of that locality and not be Gope by the United States experiment.
 Senator Reed express-d helief tllat satisfaetSry arran ngenents to Rrine that about Eight De made with th9
 government and whatever Mi.. Reel said in regard to Bridgeport may safe lT be regaraed as applying to ether cities as well.
 An inaportant hearing teok place ep Monday before the milftsrt cCinInittee of fhe senate at whleil Cengressman 1'ilsen urged the war department 10 deal witt, fairness towards those plants which fad entered on war contracts ] ii good faith. but in which the con 1 tracts were lacl1'nr iu csrtain techni- l calitics. The Dent bill w9s before l the eoEnmittee for considerations and there were present tlla c0a7ptTeller Of l the treasury and high officials from the ordnance department. The Dent bill 1 asks congressional authority to make payments on cancelled contracts which l do not mset full requirements in mat 1 fer of form and a signing required by l law. This bill is intended to cover the | contracts which the conptfolIer of the l treasury felt himself unable to heneI l through technical defects. burt which
 the war department feels should be recognized. Tn most cases tha con 1 tra cts were made by telephone, tele- graph or signed fF some other per son that the con ntraetor himself. This
 lax:Ns, if 1t may be So termed, was ths result of urgent haste on the part oi the government, to secure the services of the contractors, in order to meer
 war eRaerg aTcies. Col. Tilsen urged
 that the war department and the treas, lIry pay equitable amounts. Said Col.
 Titson: ''Tha governments should dl
 what any honest business }naa Woulg do under like cireun3staneas and naki
 a settlement that will be morally just It is expected that the Dent bill vii
 he passed by congress aad if that i
 done. many Connecticut plants will b . l proteetea from an otherwise loss il the cancellation of contracts.
 l