Evening star., 1919-04-19
PLANS A MEETING
AS TO BUILDING
National Federation of Con-
structi0n Industries Cow
erS Wide Field.

The board of directors of the Ma
tional Federation of Construction In
dustries, with headquarters in Phil
Edeiphia, is considering calling a ma
tional conference of representatives
concerned with the construction in
Gustry. consisting of manufacturers,
distributors, consumers, labor, agri-
culture. transportation and finance.
Ernest 7. Trigg. president of the
federation, sad the manufacturers
would include representatives from
the 1913 different crafts. or one-third
of the industries of he,United States,
directly or indirectly producing con-
struction materials. The distributors
would include representatives of
wholesale and retail interests, con-
tractors, architects and engineers,
ars' exchanges and others. The con-
sumers would include representatives
from 1874 oranges, twenty-four ma
tlonal headquarters, twenty-nine ma
tionaI farmers organizations, 22l
state agricultural associations. ma
tional and state real estate associa-
tions. federal and state highway COM
missioners. building commissioners
and all other organizations of con-
sumers which are Interested in con-
struction. Organized labor would in
clude representatives from both ma
t1onal and state organizations FL
nance would include representatives
of trust companies. building and loan
associations, bond companies and
other banking institutions concerned
with construction. Transportation
would include representatives of the
United States Railway Business Mems
Association, and Of individual steam
and electric roads.
For the past two years building
construction in the United States.
except tor the War Department, has
been practically at a standstill, and
1t is estimated that the delayed con-
struction program includes from six
hundred thousand to a million houses
quirements of the people of this
country. Large sums of money have
been appropriated for public i'm
provements both by the federal gov
ernment and by individual states, but
the officials responsible for the ex-
penditures. in many cases, hesitate
to proceed with the work authorized.
Sees No Reason for Inaction.
When asked why this condition ex-
lists, Mr.. Trigg said that from
canvas of opinions it appears that
the condition is one of psychology
rather than one of materials. Labor
is available, money is at hand, ma
terial is abundant and the need for
SoHe u uStlOH Is pressing. All OF the
elements for active business are
present, but construction does not
resume. Many of the people of the
United States seem to feel that we
shall revert to pre-war prices, and
they are apparently postponing con-
prices are realized. An examination
of the history of prices shows clearly
that after none of the wars of mod
ern times, in any part of the world.
have prices reverted to the pre-war
status.
1t is believed that such con-
ference would devise construction
program applicable to present condi-
tions. The directors feel that existing
class distinctions are un-American:
that new standards Of carrying on
the construction business must be
formulated; that the construction in
dustry must be democratized: and
that unity of purpose and fairness of
action will result IL the representa-
tives of the several groups concerned
will sincerely seek the solution Of our
present difficulties. Our trouble
seems to be q lack of Information and
OF understanding. an exaggeration of
the Importance of group interests
and a mutual distrust arising chiefly
from a lack of contact and acquaint-
anceship between the members of
the several groups. -
Through such a conference as had
been proposed. it is expected that the
farmers. the workmen and the busi-
ness executives interested in con-
struction who Jointly are the pro-
ducers and the consumers Of the con-
struction commodities will, by candid
discussion and sincere examination
of views expressed by the others. ar
rive at the conclusion that the de-
mocracy of the construction industry
is as essential as that of government.