The Washington herald., 1922-05-25
LUMBER INDUSTRY
ETMCSDECLARED
ABOVE CHALLENGE
Secretary Hoover Lauds
Conferences Steps to
Higher Standards.
WILL GUARD PUBLIC
Resolutions Favor Standard
ization of Sizes and Grades
OF Timber.

Definite steps toward the ad-
vancement Of the American lumber
' industry ethical standards to such
levels as to place them above all
challenge" have been made by the
representatives of producers and
consumers now in conference here.
declared Secretary of Commerce
Hoover yesterday.
One Of the great objects in this
work is that we should make q
demonstration to the public that the
lumber Industry is able to clean its
own house." Secretary Hoover told
the representatives of the lumber
trades, "and in that way be able
to avoid the old and much mooted
question of governmental interfer-
ence.
The whole object of this confer
enct is to see il we cannot develop
what / think is of primary interest
in American industry. and that Is
self-government We do not want
the government in any of these is
sues in any shape or form. And
BY the success of these conferences
we will have effectually buried
agitation that has been in progress
In that direction"
Standardization Favored.
General resolutions favoring the
Standardization Of sizes and gradts
, of lumber and association inspec-
tfon and guaranty of integrity
of quality and quantity for the pro-
lection of the public, were adopted
unanimously by the conferees yes
terday.
John E. Lloyd, Philadelphia, pres
ident of the National Retail Lum-
bermen's Association, said that the
retailers were eager to cooperate
with every effort of the govern
ment and that 1t would be most un-
fortunate If all concerned were not
able to agree at this time. He
thought agreement could be OBJ
tained IL all elements concerned
would be reasonable. He thought
\they ought to be big enough to set
Ytle all their differences and get to-
gether on the common ground cf
servtng the consumer satisfactorily.
He was opposed to government in
Iterference and expressed the belief
tthat the trade could effect revisIons
IN its practices without govern
mental interference.
President ]. W. Blodgett, of the
Lumber Manufacturers National
association, who presided over the
oint conference, made the explana-
fion regarding the committee re-
ports, that while not all commit
tee members were empowered to act
FOR their respective lumber manu-
Featuring associations, and were
therefore only committing them
Belves personally in some instances,
2 was his opinion that any agree
hent reached by the conference
you'd be ratified by the regional
associations composing the Ma
ional Association.
Architect Tells Troubles.
Arthur T. Upson, of the Forest
ervice, Department Of Agriculture,
eviewed the committee reports and
<pressed the opinion that there
ould be a national grade inspec-
pn service to supplement the in
ections of regional associations
considered 1t especially impor-
mt that very definite standards
ould be adopted regarding the
ckness of boards.
Albert T. Harris, of the American
stitute of Architects, said that
Standardization of sizes and
ades was of extreme Importance
the architectural profession. The
riety Of sizes and grades now pre-
ling were, he said, the bane of
ehitects' existence
T. l. warrick. president Of the
nerican Society for Testing Ma
kials, Philadelphia: Henry II.
elling. Of the American Society
Mechanical Engineers: Herman
n Shrenk. of the American So
ty for Testing Materials; w. H..
|m. Bridgeport, Conn, of the
herican Society of Building En-
heers. and Mr.. Lloyd, gave their
Iws and suggestions concerning
committee recommendation.
r. B. Rayner. OF the American
holesale Lumber Association.
icaeo. speaking of the Difficult
of grading lumber, remarked
kt a tree was an unaiterable
bduct of nature and world have
IN standardized long before now
II had heen DOssible"