Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-04
Hoouer's s Housing Inquiry
What Causes Stagnotion in
Building Nay Be Learned
(From the Boston Transcript.)

The seven engineering experts who have been
called upon by the secretary of commerce to sid
the department in its search Tor solution oi
the housing problem will find that the shortage
is still acute. Notwithstanding readjustment IN
wages and extensive declines in the cost OF build
ing materials, there still exists what Mr.. Hoover
describes as the appalling anomaly OF millions
of idle men co-existent with suffering as never
before from underhousing." Efforts to put an
end to this deplorabe condition have not met
with that degree of success for which the optinl-
lists hoped There has probably been ameliora-
ton of the situation in many cities because oil
the shifting of population due to business de-
preston, but, in the MAN, the urgent need of
more houses and apartments continues
In New York. which, perhaps, has suffered
the most of all the great cities in the country
because of lack of housing, there is prospect OF
another winter OF acute shortage. Building ma
terials dealers, who have been sashng their
prices to consumers, have been wondering why
there was not more building. There is stated
to be nowhere near the volume of contracts
that there should be at this time of the year in
consideration of the vast potential building move
ment and the approach of the October renting
season. 1t is to be remembered, in this con-
nection, that New York, under the provisions of
the state law, has passed an ordinance which
exempts new dwellings and apartments from
taxation for the term of 10 years. Yet with
building materials approaching prewar level, and
with tax exemption euivalent to subsidy of at
least Is per cent of the cost of construction, the
new houses do not rise in great numbers. 1t
has been claimed, to be sure, that, as the result
OF the exemption ordinance, there has been an
increase in construction as compared with last
year, but this increase has been expressed IN
percentages, and an increase of 100 per cent or
more would not mean new dwellings in sufficient
numbers to 60 far in removing the shortage, for
year ago building was practically at stand
still To bring relief in substantial measure
would require volume of building operations
many fold that of the recent past.
When it comes to the causes Of the continued
stagnation, there is evidence OF disposition to
attribute it largely TO the intention of the specu-
lative builder to see the market for labor and
material down to the lowest point before he en-
ters it. That point may have been reached or
nearly approached, but he is suspicious. Prob
ably the disclosures in the investigation made by
the Lockwood committee increases that sus-
pcion. There is natural desire on the part of
the man who intends to build to be sure that he
is not to be made the victim of crooked labor
leaders and crooked contractors. The feeling
that prices have not yet struck bottom may be
regarded as causing delay in the resumption Of
building even in cities where there have been no
accusations Of dishonesty in the building trades.
This condition suggests one of the many ways
in which the committee named by Mr.. Hoover
may be of value The public wants to know
where to turn for trustworthy information as to
what to expect in the matter of both costs and
service. 1t needs authoritative advice from
disinterested source. When the public has the
assurance that it is getting square deal long
step forward will have been taken toward the
cure of housing ills, But supplying information
of that kind would be only one of the ways in
which Mr.. Hoovers committee can come to the
aid OF the country. With its expert personnel,
it should be able to suggest methods of stmu-
lating building through the introduction of the
new methods and processes. In that way it may
accomplish results that will have enduring value
after the present crisis has passed