Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-26
BAKER URGES Al. VANCtMfNT PUbI|I
 CONSTRUCTION Building Activities Will Hasten Transition of In dustry From War to
 Peace Basis.
IDLE LABOR AN
 ECONOMIC WASTE;
Successful Functioning of Construc ton Industry Necessary for Pub
 lie WelWare.

Activity of the construction indus try at this time is essential to the general welfare of the country. As secretary McAdoo recently stated ir directing the supervising architect to ! resume public work, ''the activity of : the building industry will facilitate lhe transition of (generaD industry rom a war to peace basis.''
 This is question that goes beyond the interests Of the construction in duStfy. It is fnndan ental to oua entlro program of reconstruction and affects society as a whole After all, reconstruction must be literal as well | as metaphorical; the way to bring i about reconstruction is to reconstruct, Successful construction depends upv on proper team work between the en- ployer and employe; therefore, the work undertaken by this division falls ;; under the eduation service, which a1- ready possesses nucleus of the nec- essary organization and important data.
 Secretary Wilson's wish is that the ! nation be interested in public and private construction. This wish can 1 not be carried out unless the work Is based on facts.
 Facts when verified and surveys i when completed will be made known to the public and to the members of this great compOsits industry This is a service of information and educa- ton.
 The cooperation of other govern al o1.t, n,,tc ,%o IT,, of defense, etc.. is assured. Evident ly time can be saved and correctness of viewpoint gained by such co-op- eration.
 The following telegram from the secretary of war, approved by the secretary of labor was sent out un- der date of December 21, 1918, to AS state councils of defense and 4,O0O county councils of defense:
 e-employment of discharged soi- diers, sailors and war workers re- leased from war industries is one of the most important tasks now before the country. eWstrongly urge that in sections where there is a surplus of labor all public improvement be advanced in order to absorb labor. We
 
 state, county and municipal authori- ties to this end. Prelim minary steps should be taken immediately in order that necessary authority may be se- cured in time for operations upon opening of construction season. 2. (Signed MENTION D. BAKER, Secretary of War and Chairman of council of National Defense. Approved by:
 Secretary of Lobar" The construction industry-a com. posite industry-is one of the nations largest. Its successful functionine is most necessary for the public wei fare. It now needs and merits governmental support more than any other great industry, for the reason that it. has necessarily been embar- goed by the government during the war $a
 The British government, whose pre- cedent in curtai1ing the building in dustry during theawar was followed by our own government. has already taken forethoughta in this matter. l. Deferred buikling construction is one of the first portions of our wal debt which must be met. for it pro. vides facilities fhr paying the re- maining. portion of the debt. and also decreases the cost of living. It is an economic waste to allow labor and materials to remain even temporarily in idleness. when they may in the meantime be put into