New-York tribune., 1919-04-23
More Are Coming With Each
Ship That Brings New York
Soldiers Back From Their
Job of Beating Germans
Builders Ready for Work
Head of Employers Associa-
ton Urges That Investors
Should Meet the Situation

The New York director Of the United
States employment service says there
are 100000 unemployed men in New
York, including soldiers. sailors and
marines,
On Monday last 1,762 officers and
men, half Of the old seth Regiment.
arrived. The other half ia due to-mor-
row.
The frat contingent of the $4,000
of the f7th Division aleo Ia due to-
morrow
on April 81, the 300 men Of the
nth Engineers will arrive.
Hhcf is TO be dons dbout ~
Ronald Taylor. head of the Building
Trades Employers Association. whose
membership in normal times provides
work for more than $4,000 men, at
tributes much Of the present crisis to
slackness in the building industries
Of the 100000 men generally en-
ployed on construction of one kind or
another, he stated that less than 10
per cent had jobs. The season is here,
he pointed out, apartm ents and office
structures are in great demand, labor
is plentiful and every phase Of the
business is crying out to the investor
10 get start on his projects. If the
materials are still bit high, he said,
then let the man with money re-
member that he has a patriotic duty
% perform, and that the man from the
front must be kept out Of the bread
lines, regardless of profits.
Only 10 Per Cent Employed
Speaking for the 1000 firms, in
dividuas and corporations of our as
sociation,' said Mr.. Taylor, 81 can
say that all of us, TO man. are only
too willing to give the returned fighter
& chance to earn a living. 1t is un-
fortunate, however. that because Of
conditions in our industry only about
10 per cent of the $4,000 employed by
US in normal times are at present oc-
cuped.
The fact is the investment builder
has been wary of ordering the com
mencement of projects because of un-
stable labor conditions and high
price Of material.
Nevertheless, many OF our firms,
realizing their duties, are giving places
to returned executives and so increas-
ing their overhead charges, despite the
fact that there is no work for them
10 do. Let me add, too, that ali of the
1000 firms in our organization have
pledged themselves to turn back no
uniformed man who left them Tor the
front WHOM he applies for his old
position.
T1mo to Start Building
Il am Convinced that Of the 100000
worsmen said to be idle fully so per
cent are from the building trades. J
would call upon the investment builder
TO begin operations as soon as poss bile.
"l would urge the immediate inaugu-
ration of construction programmes,
both private and governmental. There
is great need Of Office buildings and
apartment houses
Dr.. George W. Kirchwey, New York
State Director of the United States En-
ployment Service, commenting on the
situation in the building industry, said
that it is the one trade in which it was
almost impossible to find job, par
ticularly for technical men. Unless
something is done at once to relieve
this situation, the 2,7O0 men Of the 11th
Engineers-all New York men-due to
arrive or April 81 will be thrown on
the streets, he said.
DR.. Kirchwey announced that the
service was now placing about 1900
Nor week in New York City alone.
The immediate task, he said. was to
ind Jobs for the 2,762 men Of the old
esth Regiment. 1t is expected that the
being established in the Hungerford
building, at Centre and Worth streets,
will be ready to handle these, as we'll
as the men Of the 77th Division.