The Washington herald., 1922-08-20

that one of the functions of the
Federal Trade Commission is to put
stop to misbranding. to mislead-
ing words, in connection with the
sale of merchandise. In connection
with the silk association we have
gone q long way to prevent the
use OF the word silk in connec-
ton with merchandise which is not
silk. This organization. IL It is met
with similar problems IN use in
describing merchandise of words
which are not accurate. will have
the Federal Trade Commission be-
hind II in the promotion of higher
ethical standards In connection
with the sale of merchandise.
Credit Protection.
No one has said anything about
credit protection. I myself am not
sufficiently familiar with the pres
ent machinery in your industry to
know what can be done in that re-
gard. but I do feel that this organ
ization should be ready to encour-
age, IL not assist, the prosecution
of credit frauds in connection with
the industry. IL there does not al
ready exist such an agency to look
after credit systems for the benefit
of the industry as a whole.
Your relations to transportation
have already been mentioned and.
of course, a great institution like
this. IL it were to bring any case be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. could exercise much great
er influence in promoting better re-
lations with the railroads relative
rates and to secure fair treatment
in connection with your transporta-
ton problems. all at a much less
expense than II one group in one
part of the country were attempt
ing to do that work.
There Is also the function OF CO.
ope ration with government. whether
the national. State or municipal, and
you will know the many serious prob
lens growing out Of politics and grow
ing out of governmen relations as
whole which meet in industry in
connection with public contracts. The
subject of Legislation has not been
mentioned specifically in the brochure
which has been prepared, but you un-
doubtedly VIII work out through your
own vision and through your own ex-
perience many laws which will work
for the better protection OF the in
dustry and for fair play between II
and the pubic. Building codes must
be amended in certain parts of the
country. Bad practices Of various
kinds can be dealt with by legislation
better than by the exercise OF your
own activities.
And last I might say there Is that
broader cooperation between your
self and the public Much can be done.
OF course. to develop the sentiment
of public opinion relative to the build
ing industry. its abuses and its prob
Ierns and its embarrassments, or with
a view perhaps of securing the CO.
opera tion of the public in meeting
some of the various problems which
you hAve-possibly in dealing with
seasonal activity. and reducing that
to a minimum. But at any rate. no
institution smaller than this. no one
of the integral parts Of this institu-
ton would be capable OF carrying on
any campaign OF public education such
as may be needed from time to time
in connection with the construction
problem. Perhaps we will develop a
new word and and call you all con-
structionists just as we refer to other
branches OF tine industry as indus
trialiSts.
Labor Problems.
Then there is the labor problem.
which is far from being the least of
your problems. There has been very
little constructive effort in dealing
with the labor problem in construc-
ton industries. Vocational training,
proper regulation of apprentices. the
control of the labor supply. these are
all matters which can not be worked
out in an industry like this without
cooperation between the employers
and the unions organized in that
industry; and it does seem to me
that there is great hope for construc-
tive work along very broad lines which