The Washington herald., 1921-05-13

iess dispute over wages and larger
employment IL the rules could be
revised by the local adjustment
boards and community conferences.
am Informed that from 10 to
20 per cent of the cost Of building
lies in the lack of standards in a
broad sense. We have, for instance,
26O-odd building codes to which a
large portion of the building of the
country must conform. They vary
hagrantly in floor loads. wall thick
ness, stress requirements, character
of material to be employed: they
hold back progress in methods of
constructions; they make impossible
the Standardization and simplifica-
ton of certain materials which
could be effected without affecting
the attractiveness of design. of
style. the arrangement of the in
teriors, or the usefulness of the
buildings.
Need Of Standardization.
I'VE need a Standardization and
a simplification in many Of the ma
teriais required. The dimensions
of articles of constant use could
be greatly simplihed as to many
construction materials, plumbing,
hardware. etc, with great savings
both in manufacture. distribution,
and installation. and there need be
no sacrifice of styles.
There is another phase of this
problem in which / believe the gov
ernment could be of proper assist =
ance. That is through the regular
collection and prompt distribution
of the current data of production.
| stocks. the general price levels of
essential building materials. and the
volume of activity in the industry.
Such information would make for
stability and elimination OF waste.
Many OF the building material
trade associations have endeavored
20 secure such data for their mem
bers. often enough they have lin
tied the distribution Of these data
to those who co-operated in secur-
| ing it. Right here lies one OF the
causes and inspirations of certain
types of open price associations
which so quickly degenerate into
combinations in restraint of trade.
II such fundamental data could be
collected and promulgated to the
entire public. IL would abolish a
iustifiable reason for maintaining
these associations: 1t would protect
the small operator as well as the
larger one. and. what is OF a great
deal more Importance, it would
contribute stability to the indus
try.
Cites Lumber Industry.
IF We take the single case of
the lumber industry: Here the mil
Ter must in many branches prepare
his material from eight to twelve
months in advance of its consump-
ton: he must take the risk Of fluc-
tuating demands both in varieties
and quantity. 1t is of urinary i'm
portance-if this Industry is to reach
a condition of stability-that every
miller in the United States Should
know the current stocks of the prin-
cipai varieties of his competitors.
II is of primary Importance that
the whole public should know these
stocks and the actual selling price
of these materials at the point of
manufacture
IF such information were spread
generally. the public, by adding the
freight rates and a reasonable hand
| righteousness of a quoted price and
can attain some measure of pro-
lection as to price. The tendency
! of such information is to prevent
| overexpansion of the industry
| distinct contribution towards the
elimination of intermittent OPERA
tions.
The Department Of Commerce.
under the census law. is called upon
10 provide such data from time to
time. The intervals have been too
far apart and publication So de-
layed as to give the data only a
historical value. have undertaken
10 organize this matter and am ask
ing for cooperation of the indus
tries in making the service more ef-
fective.
The efforts of conventions and
associations such as yours, the
many local efforts at readjustment.
such efforts as 1 have outlined, the
activities which the Department OF
Commerce is undertaking to secure
the cooperative effort of the entire
industry in the solution of questions
Of building codes. Standardization
OF materials and specifications and
simpiif1cations of articles, as we'll
as in the recruiting and distribu-
tion of data with regard to produc
ton and activity are, in fact, the
fundamentals upon which the cor
rection OF this situation must ulti-
mateiy rest. There is no ready for
mula or panecea for our troubles.
we nave got to get to the bottom
OF this whole matter to develop TIE
emc1ency of the industry secura fha
elimination of its wastes and, above
all, we have got to work harder
This is not a program of govern
ment domination and interference
IN business. 1t is program OF
service that can be rendered by &C.
operation with the industry. The
endsthat we seek is the end of all
government. and that is to lmproy,.
the daily living of all our peonlc
IL Is the desire of the department
to cooperate with you t. solve
these problems"