Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-21
CLAIM FREIGHT RATES
BOOST BUILDING COSTS
Business Mems Committee Max
ing Progress to Stimulate
Building.

| In connection with the efforts OF the
| General Building Construction Read
| 1ustment Committee, which vas mp
| pointed by 1e general conference held
| in the New Century Club building on
| May H. to make q through survey of
the building construction situation here,
and % recommend measures to revive
and stimulate building In Wilmington.
Alfred -. Warner. Jr., chairman Of the
conference. this morning issued the
following statement Of the aims and
operations Of that committee to date.
This committee is composed OF repre-
sentative men in all branches Of build-
ing construction. from the architect who
draws the plans to the workmen who
build them. and rs meeting every other
afternoon in the effort to complete It's
work In the shortest time practicable.
Mr.. Warner said: "Aa an ex-oticfo-
member. have attended several OF
the meetings Of the committee on Pc
adjustment and feel confident that ez-
celIenf progress i8 being made II is
very evident that many materials have
reached their lowest price level, and ia
fact some may react upwards because
0f the extreme denation which they
have experienced. IL is true that come
building materials show less deflaf!on
than others. but the reason for appar-
ent diff erences is being thoroughly in
vestigated by the committee at .fs hear
ings and the lack Of further reduc-
tions on such commodities wnI be fully
justified.
Next week the committee proposes
TO conduct its hearings with respect TO
the contractors groups and the several
labor groups. In this connection it ig
interesting to observe that many OF the
contractors apparently are taking what
little business Is being offered on a
no margin bass. This indicates that
the public is now able 10 have work
done on a much lesser basis than the
peak Of last year. but doubtless not as
much as may be possible during the
next two or three weeks.
My attention has also been attracted
to the action Of the plumbers union
sometime ago, I'm which they joined ia
a wage reduction from ST. to s7M cents
per hour. More recently similar action
has been taken by the carpenters' un-
ion, which reduced the published scale
from s1.121z per hour to 90 cents. I
regard the actions taken by these two
unions as practical recognition Of the
/ economic situation existing today, and
certainly they are 10 be commended
/ for their wise acceptance Of conditions
as they exist.
Transportation is another cost fac
| tor which prevents further reduction
| in many commodities. The committees
work has shown that in some instances
the. increased freight cost over 1914 Is
| alone responsible for the increase in the
retail selling price Of material. AS a
matter Of fact, after making due allow
ance for the freight increase, the re-
| tail commodity price on many materials
| VIII not exceed the 1914 retail price by
over 30 per cent; and from this the
comparative figures on some commod-
| ities viii run down TO where they WIN
| show no increase over 1914
II feel / should comment on the
| splendid spirit Of cooperation which
seems 70 exist in connection with this
/ readjustment program. All the various
(. groups Of dealers which have been ap-
/ pearing before the committee this week.
/ have Joined in conferences with the ap-
parently sincere intention to aid in every
way possible toward supplying the
/ committee with complete information.
| Where different presentation has been
requested by the committee, the par
! ticular dealer or group or dealers has
| Immediately expressed its wish TO dIe
/ supplementary schedules.
"On the whole, I feel that much in
| teresting data is being collected by this
/ fact finding committee. which later,
/ on will be the basis OF an announce
l nlent, which in my opinion. VIII be OF
| great benefit 10 the public"