The New York herald., 1922-01-26
Builders Decline Wage Par
ley in Analyzing Inter
myer Plan.
TO SEEK CHANGE IN LAW
Insurance Companies Promise
Money Will Be Available If
New Legislation Is Passed.

Samuel Untermyer and his support
ers in the project for a $100.o0o.0 900
home building program felt much en-
couraged yesterday after it had been
announced that the Thompson-Starrett
Company, general contractors, had
offered to undertake the work at cost.
and that the Building Trades Council
had accepted the proposal for a dollar
a day man saving in labor costs.
Insurance companies, under the
leadership of the Metropolitan Life,
have agreed to furnish the money as
soon as the law is amended to permit
their investment in tenements. The
plan calls for immediate erection Of
1.500 apartment houses capable Of
housing 45 1000 families, 225,000 persons.
Mr.. Untermyer announced the Thomp-
SON nStarrett offer following a confer
ence with Louis j. Horowitz, president
of that company and architects repre-
senting the Metropolitan Life Insur-
ance Company. Mr.. Horowitz con-
firIned the offer, adding:
.I have no doubt the way that Mr..
r-nterrnyer and the Metropolitan Life
are going at this proposition indicates
housing construction can be accom-
pllshed at a much lower cost than at the
present time
Company Well Equipped.
The Thompson-Starrett Company is
cne of the largest In the country and
has erected hundreds OF apartment
buildings such as contemplated in the
untermyer plan. The conpanyis or
sanization has a capacity for work
amounting to $1oo.00O,000 q year. 1t
covers every activity in the building in
dustry from foundations 70 finishing.
The offer was the result OF an invita-
ton from Mr.. Untermyor following his
address before the Free Synagogue last
Sunday in which. as counsel for the
Lockwood housing committee. he out
lined a method OF meeting the present
home shortage.
Mr.. Untermyer said lie had received a
letter from a large manufacturer of
nainters' supplies volunteering to fur
nish goods at cost and another from O
window glass manufacturer expressing
his approval of the plan and offering to
provide window glass at factory cost
Patrick Crowley, president OF the
Building Trades Council wrote to Mr.
Cntermyer that his executive comnittee
CT nine members considered his propcsi-
ton for labor TO concede 81 a day a
man, with the understanding the men
who work on the construction of the
houses may have the privilege of rent
ing apartments at SO a room and less.
The committee did not like the ar
rangement as suggested by Mr.. Inter
rlyer but agreed on a substitute propo-
sitlon. They will work three and a half
extra hours Saturday afternoon and an
extra half hour each day. making total
or six extra hours a week. Under pres
cnt wage conditions the average pay in
the building trades for six hours work
would amount to 81, which would be
.he equivalent OF the dollar a day
man proposal made by Mr.. Untermyer.
His suggestion to the building en-
ployers to submit wage questions to ar
bitraton Boards of efficiency" how
iowever, did not meet with favor. G.
g. Norman, chairman Of the board of
governors of the Building Trades EN-
ployers Association, wrote that the
board. acting In accordance with the
expressed will of the entire member
snip" rejected the proposal. Mr.. Nor
man said in part:
Position of Employees.
"The present wage scale has been re-
pcatedly condemned BY the public. Its
continuance without fair hearing OF
sli the facts relating thereto by the
representatives of the public would be
unfair 10 the public and to the 900
members Of the Building Trades EN-
rioyers Association. who are dependent
upon the patronage OF the public for
a living.
"Ioucing Is one OF the principal items
OF expenditure considered in computing
the cost OF living. Our investigation
conclusively shows that the peak In
rental values has been passed and that
the trend Is now downward. The items
Of cost OF housing construction other
than labor have been greatly reduced.
The prices Of all materials have been
reduced and the wages Of all those en-
ployed In the manufacture of housing
materials already have been reduced.
You now propose that the labor en-
rloyed on housing construction, which
M to the present has suffered no re-
duction from wartime wages. shall not
only be exempted from reduction dur
ing the whole year Of 1922. but that it's
wages for 1929 shall not be reduced
unless additional reductions shall be
made In all of the other items entering
into the cost of living. which must mean
still further reduction IN wages OF all
other lines except the building line.
IL seems TO us that the building trades
unions would not ask for more"
The Lockwood committee hearings
will continue to-day.
The board OF directors or the Metro
ro'ltan Life Insurance Company yes-
terday authorized mortgage loans
amounting 10 more than $4,000, 900,
about $75o.000 of which were building
loans on New York city dwellings and
apartment houses. numbering forty-one
ana accommodating 2Sg families.
Theatrical and Hotel and Restaurants.
Advertising viii be found on page II, ,--adr.