The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-26
EXPECT UNITY PLAN
OF CONSTRUCTION
FROM CONFERENCE
Erection Industries Will
Meet in Chicago to Urge
Cooperation.
BIG BUILDING WASTE
Will Determine Status of
SHADY" Trade Associations
In Country.

With building getting under way
on an unprecedented scale, unusual
interest centers in the national con-
ference on construction which has
been called by the National Fedora
tion OF Construction Industries to
meet In Chicago, April 3, 4, and s.
Out Of this conference IL likely
to come a plan for the national uni
hcation Of the construction indus
try. the second largest industry In
the United States and the one which
to date has been weak in the mat
ter OF close cooperation between
sroup organizations. The urgency
q cooperation in the construction
ihdustry at this time grows out Of
the recognized necessity of doing
everything possible to get building
costs down to the lowest level con-
ststent with sound business and to
Keep them down.
A survey which has been made by
the national federation shows con-
1usively that there Is q vast waste
or effort and duplication OF expense
Up organization work. For several
wears. leaders in the industry have
been urging such action as would
eliminate this waste in a way that
would give the public the benefit OF
the economies and out OF the Chi
cago conference may come a plan
Of national cooperation that will
mean millions OF dollars to the
building public.
Every element in the construc-
ton industry will have representa-
don IN the Chicago conference and
the many group problems will be
thoroughly discussed, and where
one group interest clashes with an
other group interest. an effort will
be made to harmonic them and to
devise a basis Of action that will
be in the best interest of the con-
struction industry as a whole.
One OF the unique features of the
forthcoming conference will be an
exhibit in which various national
organizations will visualize the
work they are doing. It has been
said that some organizations have
no excuse for being; that they are
a tax on the building public. In
this exposition 1T will be up to the
various trade associations to show
such evidence as will justify their
existence. This opportunity to
show the public what service Is be-
ing rendered and why 1t is worth
all that il costs, will be improved
by a large number Of associations
and organizations in the building
field.
Trade associations, now under in
vestigation nationally and recently
-f,hFArNAI e. 1rFf1.fev-,
the public. will be discussed in the
conference and from the discussion
may come a declaration of purpose
and principle that will have a ma
tional Importance.
Ernest T. Trigg. president Of the
National Federation of Construction
Industries. is now making q trip
through the Pacific Coast and West
ern States, gathering hrst-hand in
formation on general conditions.
The information will be made avail
able for the Chicago conference, to-
sether with the latest data on con-
ditions in other parts OF the
cpuntry.
The Chicago conference Is q not
able attempt to establish a national
policy for the construction industry
in the light of present business con-
dttions and with the primary pur-
pose Of placing the industry as q
whole on the basis of public service
rather than private interest. An
nuslly hundreds of conventions are
held to improve conditions for the
Interested groups; this Is the first
national conference in the construc-
slon industry to devote itself to
ways and means Of doing something
for the public.