New-York tribune., 1922-01-26
Rental Peak Past, Trend
Now Downward, Scale
Should Conform, Replv
io Untermyer's Offer
Terms May Stay
On Month Basis
Thompson S,arreii Go.
Ready TO Build. at Cost.
500, 100000 Project

New York City's housing situation
and the suggestions Of Samuel Inter
myer fer anelioratiug 1t, growing out
cf his activities "a chief counsel for
tie Lockwood committee. produced q
rumber Of important Developments
yesterday. Chief among them we're the
following:
The Building Trades Emplovers' As
ISOLATION in letter to Mr Unterrnv er
announced that it lad decided to reject
his plan for arbitration of the wage
and other differences existing between
the employers and the unions compos-
ing The Building Trades Council. This
plan was accepted by the building
Trades Council several weeks ago. The
employers ASSOCIATION sets forth in the
letter that an iNvestieatjou made by it
"conclusieely shows thae the peak in
rental values has been passed and that
tn trtnd is uow downward"
Employers Called 'Tlisgruntied"
IN criticism of this decision Of the
employers. sources close to the Lock-
wood committee took the view that the
association reu' bers hnve become dis
grurtled' because Of W.. uutcrrnver's
project. supported hv The Nefropolitau
Lite Insurance Company. FOR the con
atrHcti,1 Of 100000. 600 worth OF
apartment horses, 20 rent at SO a room.
Ire charge vas maJe that the employ
'rs "N osc tnc project "hecause it
"o giva the workers so much CON
s'"1ction e'nuleyns that .he a socia-
s'1eral 10 fi'n Il" come IN addition. II.
US ertca that the employers "s~o
des'lHus of stailir~ 90 \ new agree
7'er :. sp thc can Arbitrarily cut wages
OF ti' a"'is1I Or the nest du1 season
ii. 'is t0iidirg i0dusjrlesn
Low. j. llorow,tz. president of the
fne0ls lsali-S jarrett Construction Com
p*0N. n1" cf 'hf largest building con.
cerns iu th" United States. offered the
g. ire organ zatinr to Mr.. Unternlvor.
F' t"opi profit ~ matter o. public
se r'c". te r+rtic pate in the slo0.-
oQo.A0n 4r~rtMept house cons; r,4ction
rlopoef' eve arc oquippe6 ~ engage
constw~tiou project up TO $780,
ooo,oeo year.' said Mr.. Horowitz.
RerrN si,tativee of the teindctv eiass
iNdrstr. a.s.i--.a large puilt manafactur-
ns eoncern MAD similar ofFers to MIR.
u0terwNef.
tHer t;ade h, lahor
Following conference between q
comm ttee OF nine officials Of tie Build
Ing Traces Council and Mr.. Untermyer
II WIS said at the latter-s Office that
tne ualon leaders VIII recommend to
the workers tha. each shall give six
hour froe labor q week on the apart
ment house construction project. one
half hour on each of the FIRST five sdavs
Of the Week and three and one-half
aours on Saturday afternoons It is
estimated. cn the present wage basis
OF SIP al. bour. that this would mean
each worker would give SG.72 worth of
iabor week. on It least 1922 more
tran the Sa.50 week wage cut which
the employers are said to be dcsirous
CT putting into effect.
Win the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company aHo strong and influential
group or fna9cial and business insti-
,u''oHs now taking hands in the city's
housing and MIR. UDtermyer's plans and
With the building trades unions openly
a"ghed I'm his support, several OBJ
seryers last night viewed the situation
rs tending to "cut the ground from
oenes.tA the builders ORGANIZATIONS.
"nlcn IT IS said, heretofore have held
an absolute control Of the local build
ing industry. The opinion even was
ssnsured vent et that the entire industry might
soon ma Itself completely in new
hands should the Untermyer plans suc-
coed and the employers association
remain obduTate in refusing to make
concessions.
Letter Sent 30 Untermyer
The letter to Mr.. Untermyer was
signed by c. G. Norman, chairman Of
tne board Of governors of the employ
ei, association. 1t said, in part:
your proposition has been con-
stcfcd by the trade associations. com
nfisins the Building Trades Employers
a. ssoc.alion. These trade associations
taye reported their conclusions to the
board Of governors, and the board, act
Ing IN accordance with the expressed
VII Of The entire membership, has re-
lected your proposal.
The present wage scale has been re-
peatedly condemned by the public. Its
Continued nasc four>