The Washington times., 1919-11-29
NEW METHODS MAY
INCREASE BUILDING
a.


most important items Of expc nditure
in construction work. can be reduced
or economized by skilful manage
ment, improved methods and better
working conditions. 1t is believed that
the ultimate cost of building wili-be
correspondingly reduced. Architects
and builders accordingly expressed
the opinion this week that there soon
must come a breaking away from
many of the existing stsreotyped
nicthods OF operation. j: was gea-
erally felt that economies can Sbe
made in many directions If the w.ttk
man is persuaded to adopt n diner
ent attitude toward his work,' says
the American Architect
That labor has it's duties and re-
sponsibilities as well as it's privileges
seems to be forgotten by many trade
1nion leaders. There appears to be
ho eHort by workmen Themselves to
secure efficiency and increased out
put. Labor must be educated 70
reaiize the duty it owes to Itself and
he community. 1t should cultivate
an ambition to give fair and honA3t
work in return for good wages, shot,
hours. and better conditions of living
The present attitude of labor n
admittedly. one of the most menacing
OF the many serious difficulties which
must be combated SO much is AZ
stake and so great is the need for
greater productivity that no ques-
ton exists that IL rs more momentous
than any other problem of the present
time. IN
Two Solutions Poss' s'bie.
I'm the field of construction two pos
siblo solutions Of the difficulty arc
. occupying the attention of the archi
| tectUral and buildiEg profession. One
Is substitution In building materials
! and the other. CLOSELY allied. il the
| advancement Of new departures in thu
| / execution OF building operations. II
/. lis not surprising In view OF tho
4 calamitous death OF building com
| modities that architects and builders
l are earnestly seeking all Trustworthy J
1 information concerning the substi
tutes for heretofore considered essen
II tial materials--both those that are
II Of established reputation and those
II that have been newly introduced
II which inventive genius has produced
Il AT the same time a strong effort il
L being manifested to break away from
II construction methods which have been
II in general use for the last fifty years
II and put any improvements into exc
III cution that viii make for efrici ncy in
= The present great rush OF reconstruc-
: tion. While 1t is true that tn the field
OF engineering practice many econo.
mics have been effected il is certain
that in ordinary operations OF build
ing there mas been little disposition to
break awas from streotyps d methods.
Need Concentrated Effort.
Concentrated working effort and
efficiency must be the means OF CON-
A k.ast t.r ~ H..
creased pay and shorter working
hours. The present estimated reduced
labor output Of 20 per cent, due to
exceptional war influences must be
stiil further reduced IL this country
IL TO maintain its industrial position.
, Ii must be assumed that the wage in-
crease in the building trade is per-
manent, therefore any reduction in la
bor values in building work must be
obtained through an increased ef-
TIciency of the workmen themselves,
and the adoption of all labor saving
machinery and improved plant orsau-
'zation it is possible to secure. roijrsf
If Industries are to be tied upf y
strikes, such as now affect theIsteei
industry, what is going to happen to
the men who are engaged in buiiding
the carpenters, the masons. sndVthe
many others? The builders wifi noG
lie able 10 get supplies. so their wora
VIII be useless. They will simply be
out OF a JOB IL no builder wiih build
how can people who complain OF the
need OF proper housing have, their
needs satisfied when conditions have
been created that make il impossible
Tor capital to enter into building
operations? VIII capital take "a
chance. not knowing where IL standa
for twenty-four hours, because of the
present situation in the field of labor.
or Will IL wait until conditions are
again FORMAL? .A- 4-
Must End Internal Tangie.
Organized labor must take i.nme-
diate steps to remedy its internal dis
arrangement before it can possibly
hope TO make further progress any
where. The unions must cease their
hagrant disregard of agreements and
abide by arbitration to which by their
vote they agreed TO submit their
grievances and demands. Proof OF
the good faith of labor unions must
oe firmly re-established before il will
De worth while to discuss any 9th r
phase Of the industrial questions now
presC nted.
If present conditions ar, perm ID
o continue lalor.s Program VIII 80 IN
be stopped, not frocl the c.t,r rts oil its
7 opponents. but from the internal dis
ord in its own organizations Labor.
II may be Judged from its present at
,'tude. viii not accept RESPONSIBILITY
.or anything. 1t wants al 1.-The profits
nd benefits bur viii not share in the
Osses that may result. The whole
principle of collective bargaining rests
upou collective rgspons!b lity and col
iectiVe good faith. In many OF the
present strikes labor has reduced its
Ortracts to scraps OF paper ann--n-
sCch methods. has threatened 49, 80
| nihilation Of everything ~
! achieved.