The Washington herald., 1922-06-21
U. S. CONSTRUCTION
LEADERS ORGANIZE
AT MEETING HERE
Franklin ID. Roosevelt Is
Elected First President
Of New Council.
DC. BANKER CHOSEN
Delegates Adopt Tentative
Program to Boom In
dustry in America.

ell. a body that brings into perma-
nent conference all the elements
that enter into construction. has
at last become a reality.
After a two-day session, clos ng
Yesterday, the organization was
perfected and the officers and exec
utive board of the council elected.
Franklin d. Roosevelt. formerly
Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
was elected president. and John B.
Larner. vice president Of the Amer
lean Bankers Association and pres
!dent of the Washington Loan and
Trust Company. was chosen treas
urer.
The sessions were attended by
more than 200 architects. engineers.
general contractors, sub-contrac-
tors. construction labor. material
and equipment manufacturers and
dealers. financial. bond. Insurance
and real estate interests, pubic
utility construction departments,
Federal. State. county and munich
pal associations. and other federat-
ed associations
Adopt Tentative Program.
Fhe council has the support of
Secretary Herbert Hoover, who pre-
sided Al and addressed the first
session
A series of resolutions represent
ing a tentative program of activity
and endeavor for the new council
was reported out by the program
committee Of which Noble Foster
Hoggson, Of New York City. was
chairman This program was re-
ferred to the executive board which
meets next Friday afternoon in New
York Citv at the home IF Franklin
n. Roosevelt.
Included in the proposed working
program are the following items:
1. The formation Of a code OF
ethics acceptable to the whole in
dustry and to the public.
2. The gathering Of adequate sta
t.stics from all sources and result
ing Interpretation having all the
facts
g. The reduction Of the national
shortage Of building trades me-
chanics and the establishment OF
the necessary apprenticeship sys'
TEN.
4. Cooperation in establishing
uniform building codes throughout
the country
UrEs Rail Cooperation
5. Cooperation with the railroads
in expedItinE the revision of exist.
ing freight rates on construction
materials
S. The establishment and
Strengthening of local organiza
tions throughout the country tc
bring about the cooperation of al
elements in conformity with the
principles of the Council.
:. The mitigation Of the evils oi
seasonal employment and trade mi
grafton Of labor.
8. The encouragement of local
building shows.
.. SimpIification. Standardization
and elimination of waste.
10. Education of the public to the
distribution of it's construction and
maintenance requirements more
evenly throughout the year.
IL. The promotion of health and
safety of workmen.
Ie. The reduction of loss Of life
and waste OF construction materials
from preventable fires.
10. The study of old buildings in
order TO establish superior methods
Of construction.
IA The education of the public as
to the necessity and economy of
properly maintaining existing struc-
lures
Evils Of Construction.
Walter Gordon Merritt. lawyer
New York City. opened yesterday
session with a plea for co-opera-
tive action in solving the evils of
the construction industry. These
evils are those Of organizations and
not individuals and ccn be restrain
ed by having the groups Of dis
tinct elements in construction Iay
down a code acceptable to all the
other eler1ants." he said
He stressed the necessity to have
the employing groups work hand in
hand with labor. and urged the ere
alton of arbitration boards where
the elements may meet and come 20
E common understanding.
Rnbert n. Kohn. New York City
architect. bespoke local organiza-
tions similar to the national council
in order tnat cooperation might be
effective at the point of the opera
TORS.
Elimination Of waste was urged
by d. K. Boyd, OF Philadelphia. A.
f. Coleman. of Chicago. spoke of
the need for developing trade har-
mony.