Evening star., 1919-04-17
Report to Be Made.

commissioner BrOWnl0N presided
! Commissioners Gardiner ard Kut2
also attended - Tie Commissioners
3ill decide the number of members tu
compose the committee and later an
nouncc its personnel. When the com
:nittec completes it's work il wiz re-
port back to another conference Of all
parties concerned.
Cnder the plans suggested an en-
deaNor will lie made to arrange an
agreement: whereby the supply men.
builders and labor will meet certain
obligations 20 open the way FOR an era
OF building opera tiUns which will be
carried on unbroEehly for d number
OF months. It was Indicated tina. Ia =
Dor IL willing 20 cooperate proha b: y
at the present rate of wages. 5ur it
gave warning that it would net stand
Tor any decrease. The builders were
w:;i.ng to meet the proposition more
ttan half way by cutting profits. and
the supply men indicated willing
ness to aid.
Walter A. Brown, president of the
Board of Trade. read report pre-
pared by committee of the board to
consider building conditions in Wash
lngton. The committee, which was
headed by DR.. W. S. Washburn, had
not yet submitted the report to the
organization, Mr.. Brown pointed out.
The report recommended that the
supply men, builders and labor hold a
conference in cooperative spirit
with view to getting together" for
the purpose of bringing about a re-
sumption of building operations
Should Seize Opportunity.
w. T. Galliher, lumber dealer, said
that there should be cooperation be-
tween material men and labor. He
declared that if Washington did not
undertake building operations now it
would lose an opportunity that may
not come again in years
b. l.. Grove of the Grove Lime and
Coal Company, who also represente ed
the Building Material Dealers Supply
Association. said that both his com
pany and the association members
were agreeable to plan whereby the
present price of materials would OBJ
tain and continue, if necessary. for a
year. They were also willing to give
the builders the advantage Of what
ever drop In price of materials might
occur.
I'VE will go still further" said Mr..
Grove, "and be willing to abide by the
decision of committee which might
be appointed. in naming our profits"
william j. Spencer. representing the
American Federation of Labor. de-
clared that labor is willing to coop
will never stand for decrease in
wages. He urged the appointment of
a committee for discussion of the
question: He also suggested that to
keep building trades men working the
District Commissioners could help by
strict enforcement of the building in
spection laws.
Depends on Agreement.
A E. Seymour. secretary of the
CHAMBER OF Commerce. said that the
hope of the resumption of building
construction depended upon an agree
ment which could possibly be made
between the builders and labor. He
suggested the construction of homes
for reasonable rental value. rather
than for purchase. He stated that the
Chamber OF Commerce is willing to
champion t,iiahI or any good proposition that
Charles J. Columbus. secretary of
Association, said that this is the time
for building. He declared that re-
ports to him Were to the effect that
business in Washington is good and
there is plenty Of money here
We must realize" said Mr.. Colum-
ina;o 6us; that IF If things 60 bad in Wash
country
Harry Blake of Barber & Ross. deal
ers in structural steel. millwork and
SIdSS, uTSeu cooperation on the part
of all concerned.
Commissioner kutZ said that there
was need of more houses. and if thew
are not provided by the people the
government will have to provide
them. The big problem, he pointed
out, was to impose obligations on the
builder and the supply man as well
as on labor.
Commissioner Gardiner made the
motion that a committee be appointed
which was carried.
Reaction in Business.
Roger w. Babson of the Department
of abor said that reaction in busi-
ness is inevita BILE. He said that real
estate was the only business at this
time in which he was "bullish"
we are in a great building move
ment," he said. 'The building Industry
suffered by the war and now it will
prosper by peace. My message to you
is to anticipate this development and
prepare for it. Washington has the
greatest opportunity of any city i'm
the world. The city now has it's
chance to become the center of the
universe"
DDnND nF MN crnvyrr- ~~-.~