Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-02
LABoR's PETTY euARRElS.
Disputes Between Unions One Cause
Of Low Production.

! New York, Jan. 2>-Nincty- per
cent Of the strikes and IS per cent OF
| the days OF idleneSs in the building
trades In the past have occurred thru
what Is known as "Snowball!ng" or
controversies between wage earners
themselves az 20 which trade should
do the work, says Franklin 7. Miller
presid OF the r. ". Dodge company
and formerly direCeor OF the division
of public works and construction or
of Public Works and Construction or
Labor. Only per cent he declares
have been on questions between en-
ploysr and smploye.
Mr. Miller, who has been in touch
with the construction industry In this
country for 25 years, cited the case OF
! a big Chicago hotel costing millions
the work on which had been delayed,
he said more than q year because OF
n disagreement between skilled work.
ers as to who should handle certain
doors because Of the preponderance
Of metal over wood This he said was
an Inevitable consequence OF the
rapid development of the industry,
AnaIvz!ng the situation and the build
] ing OUTLOOK ICE 4S-V, NJ -hL41S- -e1A1
The creation of board Of turis-
diction award by the United states
Department of Labor, board conpos-
ed OF architects, engineers, contractors
material men and wage-earncTs
PROMISES q solution of one Of the most
difficult labor problems in the building
industry. AS a result of II decreased
cost Of construction may be expected.
The board OF jurisdictional award has
been formulated with the full approval
! of all interests concerned, who seem
to have entered into It without reser-
walton.
The labor outlook II the building
! industry thus promises a condition OF
greater stability during the coming
year because of the organized dealings
between employers and employees, with
full recognition Of the term contract
and arbitration principles.
! The first serious labor troubles IN
the building industry" said Mr..
/ Miller IN reviewing the national con-
struction shortage. occurred in the
| latter part OF October 1915, thru q
strike Of carpenters on government
work in Brooklyn in violation OF the
| Baker Gonpers agreement, a pact
! between the war department and the
American Federation of Labor. This
strike was settled BY a compromise
early in March, 1919. but IN the mean
time it threatened a sympathetic
nation wide strike of the building
trades and held Up construction not
only in New York but made it un-
certain turnout the land. Other labor
troubles sprapg up thruout the ooun-
try, notably in Chicago, where the
whole building trade was tied up from
July to September.1s 1919" Since then
conditions have improved but there
would not be complete harmony IN the
building industry he indicated unit,
the federal board OF Jurisdictions
award began TO function.
From April 1919. TO the last Of July
the war department, thru Colone
Arthur Woods as special assistant &c
the secretary Of war, engaged in the
active promotion OF public works If
order to provide Jobs for returning
soldiers concluded Mr.. Miller. Then
Il appeared that there would not be
sufficient labor, materials and capita
for the necessary new constructor OF
the country. The promotion Of non-
productive public works was abandon
ed. The federal reserve board. early
in December, 1919, announced its pur-
fpose of postponing the erection Of It's
cont empIated banking institutions
These are among the factors In the
present situation"