The New York herald., 1921-06-12
ORGANIZE TO ASSIST
BUILDING INDUSTRY
Construction Interests Would
Unite All Elements of Trade
for Cooperation.

way for construction programme that
will supply the nations housing needs
was launched at the meeting OF the New
York District Conference of the National
Congress of the Building and Construc-
ton Industry held last Tuesday after
noon in the Engineers Club. From the
general spirit of the meeting 1t was evil
dent that the men responsible for this
attempt to unite In single organization
all the elements directly or indirectly in
terested in construction have determined
to resort to cooperation as cure for the
unhealthful conditions which now ham
per building.
Through the comprehensive country
wide character OF the organization the
promoters of the movement hope TO Sc
cure an exhaustive survey. showing no.
only the needs of the industry itself bu-
the structural needs of the public as we'll
In other words, they believe that the
organization through its innumerable
sources of information will be able to
obtain an accurate estimate of the num-
ber Of office buildings. apartment houses
and dwellings needed and to devise ways
and means Of producing these structures
in the shortest possible time.
The membership Of the organization
includes architects, engineers. contrac-
tors, material producers and dealers,
fnanciers, real estate brokers. organized
and unorganized labor and all other fac
tors in the building industry: me Of
ficers elected were: Stephen +. Vorhees,
president Andrew J. Post. A. Kelso and
+. Mathesius, vice-presidents Benjamin
d. Traitel, treasurer. and Richard A.
Wolff, secretary.
Aims of the Organization.
The objects Of this association. as
stated in the constitution adopted at
this meeting, are ITO enable the build
ing and construction industry to pro-
mote the general welfare (D by discov-
ering, through scientific surveys the
needs of the public and OF the industry;
(2) by finding and recommending ways
and means of satisfying these needs;
(3) by defining group functions and
harmonizing group activities through
the formulation Of codes Of ethics and
of practice for the industry and by
other means agreeable to and In the
interest of the public and the industry
and conformable to law"
One Of the subjects under discussion
at the meeting was proposal to OBTAIN
all Of the material developed by the
Lockwood committee investigation and
appoint a committee to make an ex-
haustive study Of this evidence.
The report submitted by John Lowry.
Jr., chairman of the Committee on Sur
veys. recommended a series OF investi-
cations Of conditions In the industry
contributing to building. beginning with
common brick, but 1t was decided to
take no definite action regarding an
immediate professional investigation of
this industry because. after considerable
discussion, 1t was the feeling of the
meeting that the same end could be
accomplished by having representatives
of the brick industry tell Of their pro-
duction costs, working conditions and
other factors entering into the manu-
facture of this commodity at an open
meeting Of the organization. 1t was
voted to inaugurate series OF meet
ings, each devoted to the discussion OF
the affairs of one industry, and in this
way proceed with campaign OF general
education for all.
Ono Of the immediate purposes OF the
congress is the preparation OF a code
of ethics and trade codes of practice
for the building industry. The prepara-
ton Of these codes has been delegated
to a committee Of which William J.
Barney is chairman. John Braid, Il. A.
Burdett, Charles Ewing. Burt Fenner.
+. w. Lord and Walter Stabler are
members of this committee
The bylaws of New York District
Conference call for the appointment OF
standing committee to be known as
the committee on Industrial court. The
duty of this committee Is tn examine
into and report on the propriety of the
establishment of court or courts for
| the purpose of more quickly and more
equitably dsposing of causes and dis
putes within the building industry which
| ordinarily would lead to litigation. This
| committee has not been named as yet,
but the executive committee Is outlining
plan of activity to be followed later.
Reports of the chairmen of the vari-
Gus committees already named showed
that all OF the members are heartily in
terested and willing to give their time
and influence In order to speedily REM
edy some of the outstanding evils in the
building industry. These committees
are now completely organized. with the
exception OF the two last ones provided
for in the bylaws, and according to the
first reports submitted are already func-
tioning in a manner that must be of
benefit to the entire building industry.
Although no membership drive has
| been planned as yet, the organization
| is ready to add to its roll any and all
those who desire to join in this move
ment Associations, corporations. part
nerships and individuals may be ad-
mitted as members under the bylaws
and In order to make II possible for a
large number TO be enrolled the annual
dues have been kept down to the mini
mum compatible with good organization
principles.
No membership committee has been
named as yet, but any one in the build
ing industry who desires to assist in
upbuilding and maintaining this indus
try on high plane OF service to the
community may submit his name to
Richard A. Woiff. secretary 4O5 Lexing-
ton avenue.