New-York tribune., 1921-10-13
Building Boom
Planned to Aid
Country's Idle
Harding Conference Submits
Program for Elimination
of Restrictions Against
Revival of Construction
Hoover to Direct Work
States and Cities to Share
in Task; Easier Money.
Retail Price Cuis Urged
From TIE Trfbpncs IYaSlinotoa 1.-e1 &
A 1

rom iHe tribune 5 IFdSNlrDtOa St-c1t
WASHINGTON. Oct Means Of
reviving the construction industries,
and relieving unemp ployment in ship
building and operation were taken UP
by the Presidents Conference on En-
ployment at its genera. session this
afternoon, and recommendations pYo-
sented by the committees t:irough Jo-
seph H. Def2ees, president Of .re
United States Chamber OF Commerce.
chairman Of the steering committee
were adopted unanimously.
The suggestions embodied in the
plan Of the committee or construction
Industries are regarded by TIE confer
ence of as farreach:ng Importance as
any to come before It. Il was said to-
day that resumption % building would
provide employment for more than
100000 persons.
Financing, material costs and labor
costs are declared in the report 20 be
three outstanding factors IL the build
ing and construction situation. phes.
questions cannot be settled IN a na-
tional way and revival must be ac-
complished by adjusting local cond:-
tions TO satisfy prospective investors
and builders, = says.
Would Eliminate Restrictions
1t is recognized, the report adds,
that any request must be follow ed
by suggestions of practical. work
able nature, which viii enable the sd-
ministrative Office in each state 20
in the most satisfactory manner 1t
is recognized also that TO secure the
elimination os restrictions and limita
tions which have been placed on the
industry, IS previously referred to- in
telligent and sustained effort must be
put into the situation" Continuing,
the report says:
at is therefore recommended that
Secretary Hoover, in continuation Of
the policy OF the creation of local
organizations inaugurated by the De
Federation of Construction Industries,
the United States Chamber Of Com
merce, etc, appoint a committee Sc
lected from the various elements in
terested in construction, such as
fnanciers, labor, engineers. architects,
contractors material manufacturers
and others, TO be known as the Com
mittee on Construction Development,
which will be charged with the respon-
s:bility of preparing and making
effective plans for:
Incorporation with the governors and
mayors in the several states in carry
ing on community conferences on con-
struction, to the end that local re-
strictions may be eliminated. abuses
done away with and proper local at
tention given to the efficient planning
and development Of construction work
The prompt removal of unneces-
sary or incquitable limitations and
restrictions which have retarded real
construction activity"
Discussing in detail the problems Of
construction, tire report says:
The Senate Committee on Recon
struction and Production estimated in
March Of this year the total construc-
tion shortage in the country at be-
tween $4,000, 600, 900 and $4,000 600
600
"lf local conditions prove satsfac-
tory there is no reason why work should
not proceed Immediately. This is espe-
cially true of persons contemplating
the building Of their own homes who
are now paying rentals based on in
hatcd values.
Reasonable Money Terms Asked
Money must be made available on
reasonable terms and reasonable vol
t@ne and free from demands for bonuses
and com missions of qucstionab bic
character.
Ht Sd lNSS urpCSlLs OF tNe people
arc the natural economic sources Of
loans for home building. The aggregate
is ample for this purpose, even though
portion is protected by adequate in
vestmcnt in more liquid securities to
meet Withdrawals. There would be no
difficulty in the financing Of homes II
the fundamental principle of the use Of
lcrgterm deposits for home loans and
Iong-term purposes were generally fol
lowed
Separate recommendation were made
on permanent measures for stimulating
and stabilizing American shipping and
on emergency measures for immediat
relief. Regarding ship operation the
report said:
I'VE urge the desrability Of having
American ship owners give preference
to American seamen.
$50 far as practicable, ue urge the
abolition Of overtime work in steve
doring and allied occupations in order
to distribute the greatest measure Of
employment among as many as pos
siblc.
Split time is desirable, wherever
practicable, as d means Of distributing
tho lighted work; a a percentage OF
the c1ews OF ships n operation on each