The sun., 1919-07-02
BUILDERS SEE NEED
OF ORIENTAL LABOR
Call for Millions Of Chinese
and japanese to Aid
Labor Shortage.
PERIL IN PRICES Barred
Unskilled Workers. Exodus
From Country Halls Con-
struction Projects.

Builders gave an accumulation OF tes-
timony before the joint legislative COM
mittee at the resumption Of it's inquiry
on housing at the City Hall yesterday
that the chief obstacles in the way of
erecting much needed apartment homes
are the uncertainty of the cost OF build
ing materials and the uncertainty Of the
labor situation. 1t is possible to get
bricklayers, but bricklayers' laborers and
other so-called unskilled laborers are
getting TO be mighty scarce. There was
evidence showing that when a builder
had likely gang of laborers on the job
they were apt to go on strike for higher
than the union scale and the walking
delegates weren't able to do anything
about It.
The fact that italian and other I'M
skilled laborers are going back to the
old country. taking their savings OF 4
hountiful harvesting period with them.
led one builder to suggest seriously the
Importation under an agreement of eight
to twenty million japanese and Chinese
laborers TO this country and put them
at work on the farms and other places
where common labor is needed. Then,
after the emergency is over, he said,
they could be sent back.
No Combination Admitted.
Mono of the builders who were called
would admit a belief in the existence
Of any combination among building ma
terial manufacturers or dealers to exact
high prices. but all admitted they found
prices of brick. cement, lime. &C, to be
pretty much alike. no matter from whom
they bought
Senator Charles C. Lockwood, chair
man OF the committee. and Abram I.
E:lkus. chairman of the Reconstruction
Commission, stressed the fact that the
lending institutions had announced their
Willingness to advance large sums for
building purposes. Several builders ex-
planned one difficulty in obtaining the
necessary financing by saying that after
they had estimated the costs of an oper-
alton on the current rate Of prices of
huilding material and of labor, every
thing would take a jump and the lend
ing concerns would base their calculsA
lions on different set of figures.
Harry A. Lanzner of 600 West 1S1st
street said he started a month ago to
build five story walk ups" In Miriam
avenue. The Bronx, and already has had
two little strikes. His unskilled labor
ers, largely Italians, he explained. are
now getting anywhere from $3.50 to
$500 day. If trainers" cannot COM
plete his tier of beams. he said, he is
unable to lay them of for an hour or
two as formerly. but has to pay them, or
they would leave the job. Mr.. Lanzner
said the trainers" walked Off the scat
fold last week to enforce a demand for
IS day, which is more than the union
scale.
Prices Going Higher.
George II. Herbner OF Gross & Herb
ner, discussing the uncertainty of the
labor situation, said: 1T is known to
the people in the game that most agree
ments between employers and labor
organizations will run out this fall, at
least by December anyway. The men
seek a forty hour week and an IS day.
Now labor is one branch, and material,
though it is very high at present, is
another. The fact Is. II there is any de-
nand the law of supply and demand will
operate and material will go higher"
Alexander Mcdowell of ia West
ls1st street said he had been trying to
build, but couldn't get the materials.
Leo S. Bling when asked II he had
given thought to direct or indirect aid
both by State and nation in the housing
problem said II think a commission
should be appointed by the United States
10 examine what they are doing in the
housing situation in all the coun-
tries of Europe. ! believe ours is per-
haps the only country that hasn't COM
mission of that kind"
Albert J. Schwarzler OF 800 East 167th
street referred to job on which the
laoorers had struck and said: IF they
make a demand on you and you don't
concede the demand they will stop the
Job, and II you lay them off for a week
YOU have to pay for that week"
Harris Maran, another builder said
he was afraid to risk his and other
peop'e's money in building on account
II he high prices of materials and OF
labor. He thought wages would be
lower If food was cheaper and sug-
gested il would be better If a start
Was made first by the Government to
get cheaper and better food.
Maurice Miller testified his difficulty
is In the shortage of unskilled labor.
He was sure he will not be able to rent
room in buildings he Is putting up for
less than SIS per month.
Isaac S. Rossell suggested the scheme
for the Importation of japanese and
Chinese unskilled labor,