The Washington herald., 1921-05-13
GIVES FEDERAL.
VIEWS TOWARD
BUILDING TRADE
Hoover Tells Architects
Cooperation Is
Policy.
SHOWS WASTEFUL
METHODS IN VOGUE
Services of Government
Must Be Entirely
Indirect.


try towards the removal of eco-
nomic wastes and physical ineffi-
ciencies and not domination or reg
ulation of the industry is the policy
actuating the government in its ef-
forts to restore -normalcy" in the
building world. Herbert Hoover de.
clared last night. speaking before
the American Institute of Architects
at the New National Museum las,
night.
Efforts Must Re Indirect.
by and large" said Mr.. Hoover
"the services that the government,
can properly perform in remedy OF
this situation must be entirely in.
direct. for the government ,canno,
enter into the fixing of prices oil
the determination of wages"
Among the obstacles blocking bet.
ter conditions in building. Mr.. Hoo.
yer enumerated "conspiracies to
gains with labor" excess profiti
the IdnBtS Oh lut
come tax. the division of invest
ment capital from building pur-
poses. intermittencies of employ
ment and the lack of . standard
ization of materials.
Dineulties Well known.
The difficulties in our national
housing" Mr.. Hoover said. have
been ventilated time and again by
the various national associations. by
congressional investigation, State
Investigations, by statements of our
public men-leaders of the industry
The appalling anomaly of millions
of idle men. co-existent with suffer
ing as never before from under
housing. is obvious to everybody.
The obstacles that lie in the
path of the quick resumption OF
home building on the large scale
needed have been repeatedly enum-
Grated. Each enumeFator puts q
different weight OF Importance on
these different obstacles, amonc
which are the Inequality in levels
Of economic readjustment-tha is
in the high prices of building ma
terials, OF transportation, and OF
IcuuCtu lHCOtne In
occupations, the conspiracies in re-
straint of trade, the restrictions on
effort through the rules OF organ
lied labor. the strikes. the Federal
taxation, the wastes in the indus
tries. etc.
Government Action Indirect.
BY and large, the services the
government can properly perform
in remedy Of this situation must
be entirely indirect, for the gov
ernment cannot enter into the FIX
ing of prices or the determination
of wage.
Immediately upon the inaugura-
ton and with the full approval of
the President. the Department OF
Commerce undertook to study and
organize such effort as the Federal
government could properly give to
the building situation.
while any attempt at readjust-
ments of prices and wages Is abso-
lutely a local question that must
develop within each community,
certain broader aspects of funda-
mental improvement in conditions
could be wisely undertaken through
Federal assistance and cooperation
with the professional and trade or
ganizations. These aspects more es-
pecially lie in direction of the elm
ination of economic and physical
waste in the industry.
Il have held extensive confer
ences with many elements of the
building Industry, such as various
branches of national organizations
and individuals concerned in ma
terial, real estate, finance and labor,
with view to securing their COOP
GRAFTON. i was greatly pleased when
some weeks ago I received a COM
munication from the American In
stitute Of Architects confirming the
undertaking of the Department OF
Commerce of the building problem.
Committee Appointed.
I'm order to secure the best ad-
vice appointed a committee, con-
sisting of Ira Woolson, consulting
engineer fthe National Board of
Fire Underwriters. who has made a
practical study of the building
codes for years; Rudolph P. Miller,
engineer in charge of building or
dinances of New York and president
of the Association of Building Su-
perintendents of the United States:
J. A. Newlin, of the University of
wisconsin, in charge of the For
estry Products Laboratory and a
recognized authority on timber: ].
X. Worcester, consulting engineer
OF Boston, an expert on structural
steel stresses and design; Prof.
William X. HIATT, of Purdue Univer-
sity. who has had much experience
with concrete structures; Ernest ].
Russell, of st. Louis, an architect
and a member of your institute,
who has already contributed so
much to the industry through his
work with the Board of Jurisdic-
tional Awards, and Edwin H. Brown,
also member Of your institute.
who has so greatly interested him.
self in the smaIl-home problem.
BY these arrangements your as
ISOLATION, the engineering council,
and other engineering bodies are
represented.
Reasoned opinions upon each
question might be rendered by the
various connselors that we set up.
Again, these opinions or decisions
might from time to time be promul-
gated as standards of practice in
dorsed by this department; event.
ually these opinions rendered may
collectively form the basis for mod
ern building codes and material
standards and be guides for the
reduction of waste and the Improve
ment In building practice. Z
II do not consider regulation by