Evening star., 1921-08-06
WAR Wages STILL
RETARD BUILDERS
Seen as Sole Obstacle to
Construction Program in
the East.

Wartime wage rates are virtually
the sole remaining retardent factor in
the construction program in the east,
in the opinion of the current Dow
service report.
With building materials showing a
drop Of approximately Is per cent in
price since the high point of 1920,
representing retracement OF 40 per
cent of the price rise between 1915
and 1920. covering the basic building
materials that enter into the con-
struction of the average building
project, building investors are begin
ming to insist that at least compa-
rable cut be made in wages before
they go ahead with construction work
they have in contemplation, it is de-
clared.
Certain architects specializing in
apartments. banks. commercial con-
struction, dwellings. factory erection,
schools. theaters and wharves have
been asked what, in their opinion. is
the cause Of the continued Withholding
OF SO many of the great number of
building projects that are in prospect,
but which. for the most part, are still
being held in allegiance. Their reply
is almost unanimously: Labor wage
scales, the report states.
.sCost-Plus' Not Blamed.
"Cost-plus" building construction,
y
prevalent, does not have tendency
to prompt contractors and builders to
take an aggressive stand in demand
ing wage cuts. 1t is pointed out.
Doubtless this is because they be-
lieve that if the present wage agree
ment. which does not expire until the
end of the year, is not previously re-
opened by their request, and should
the skilled building crafts again be-
come in excessive demand at some fu-
t,<
for abrogating or amending future
contracts or agreements. Employers
say that this policy will remove the
element of retaliation in all future
wage controversies. and that in the
long run there will result a much
greater assurance OF industrial peace
in the building trades.
Labor leaders are not expected to
take the initiative in any wage re-
duction program, but the individual
members of the labor organizations
have not been blind to what has been
transpiring in many other cities
throughout the country and have been
impressed with the quick resumption
of building activity that has resulted
from voluntary or involuntary wage
cutting. Skilled building craftsmen
are reported to have expressed them
wage cut to become effective in New
York and have bee nsurprised that
the old scales have been kept in force
so long" Dow officials announce.
Electricians start Move.
"Some of these craftsmen have been
out Of work for some time and there
is known to be movement under
way in some of the memberships to
exercise the prerogatives provided
for in the existing wage agreement
between the employers and the en-
ployes whereby negotiation may be
opened on the subject of wage readr
justment upon formal application
from the floor on either side. The
electrical workers in New York have
already started a movement toward
this end.
"While there is an unQuestioned
change in market activity that has
been developing steadily for almost
a month. it is for the most part OF
type that is either cost plus or
highly speculative; not of sort
to promise anything like even normal
employment for the idle workmen OF
the building trades for some time to
come. The architects. engineers and
building construction heads of large
corporations frankly say that pres
ent New York wage scales are too
burdensome to warrant policy OF
full building construction speed
ahead and their clients are not In
clined to try it,