Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-05-11

I
| that organization was formed No
vember 80, 1921. The committee be-
gan an extensive investigation into
the housing problem not only in Chi
cago but throughout the United
States. 1t was from this investiga-
| ton that Mr.. Dodd drew the conclu-
slons he presents herewith.
During the war little building was
done. With the termination of the
war it was apparent that there was
great shortage OF places in which
people could live. This shortage has
led to continued high level of
rentals, and to an overcrowding of
people, to the detriment of life and
health.
Movements in New York, Massa-
chusetts, Illinois and other states
for the regulation of the rental of
dwelling premises have to some ex-
tent met a temporary emergency
situation, and restricted profteering
up on the part of landlords who have
enjoyed a temporary monopoly.
Rental legislation has, however, been
a mere n1akeshift. The only perma-
nent solution for the housing situa-
ton is the construction of more
houses. A permanent high cost of
dwelling construction and perma-
nent domination of the situation by
dishonest labor men and dishonest
material men must be met in order
that new period of dwelling con-
struction may begin.
The cost of living is gradually ad-
justing itself with respect to other
items of expense, out the reduction
as to other times is still in many
communities more than offset by the
high rates of rental. In the city of
Chicago and in many other large
urban communities it now appears
that rents are, likely to go higher,
rather than be reduced in the near
future.
The Big Handicap.
The building situation in all of the
larger communities of the country is
now handicapped by combinations of
material men which maintain the
price of building material; by leader
ship in the unions of the building
trades of corrupt and incompetent
leaders; and by restrictive agree
ments among material men, labor or
CARNATIONS and contractors, which
increase the price of building con-
struction. The Lockwood Commits
sion in New York and the Daley
Commission in Illinois have done
something to expose conditions in
the building industry in the cities of
New York and Chicago However,
recent developments appear to indi-
cate that it is impossible to convict
corrupt labor leaders in the city of
Chicago.
The Lands award issued in Sep
TENDER, 1921, stands not merely for
lower wage scale in the city of Chi
cago, but is more important as rep
resenting an effort to get away from
restrictive practices which are sup
ported not merely by labor organi-
cations but by material men and con-
tractors as well. The Lands award
yTnf not tnd 70
terial improvement in the city of
Chicago, because neither labor or
CARNATIONS nor material organiza-
tions have supported it with honesty.
A Real Partnership.
The time has come for the recogni-
ton that something drastic must be
done in order that persons of mod
crate means may be enabled to build
homes for themselves. In order to
accomplish this result it must be
recognized that all elements in the
community have a partnership inter
est in the construction of proper
dwellings for the housing of their
people. This partnership is one
which must be realized in a definite
and concrete way by material men,
labor organizations and contractors.
It must also be realized by those
who loan money for purposes of in
vestment.
| Today there is a serious specula-
tive element in building within al
most all of the larger communities of
the country, and this affects the
rates at which. money is loaned for
building purposes. Conditions must
be established by which each of the
groups interested in the building in
dustry may receive fair treatment
and by which the public will also re-
ceive fair treatment. Nobody is ben
Gifted by a situation which leads
to permanent stagnation in the build
ing industry, and least of all those
who are pecuniarily interested in the
building trades All groups pecu-
niarily interested in these trades
must make sacrifices and all should
be willing to sacrifice for the public
good. A real partnership of endeavor
to better the building situation will
lead to definite and concrete results.