Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-10
Congressional Probe of Stu.
alton Here Suggested as
Struggle Develops.
CONTRACTORS TO MEET
TO DECIDE ON COURSE
Federal Projects Involved in Pro.
posed Pay Increases for
Five New Groups.

Congressional investigation of de-
mands OF six building trades for in
creases in wages ranging as high as 10
per cent, announced as filed with the
Builders and Manufacturers Associa-
ton of Washington, will be sought in
connection with the fight which general
contractors and subcontractors are
making against the pay boosts. it was
announced today by Ross H. johnson,
secretary of the exchange.
The exchange, which has in its mem
bership many of the prominent local
contractors and builders, Mr.. johnson
said, arranged to appeal to Senator
Smoot of Utah, chairman Of the Fed
eral Building Commission, and to Rep
resentative zihlman of Maryland, chair
man of the District committee of the
House. to inquire into the demands for
increases. as affecting both the Federal
and municipal building programs. and
were going into the matter with Mr.
zihlman this afternoon.
Contractors 10 Meet.
A mass meeting OF contractors and
subcontractors is to be held tomorrow
evening at O'Clock, at 2525 Pennsyl-
vania avenue, for the purpose of for
mulating definite resistance to the in
creases.
Mr.. johnson declared in a statement
today that there is definite threat
of strikes in the air." in connection
H-ith the 0o innraa cae unioa he eoiA
five building trades to date had formal
ly laid before the members of the local
exchange.
Iron workers engaged on the Internal
Revenue Building. being erected on the
site south of the Post Once Building,
recently obtained an increase in wages
following what was described by the
exchange as strike and which union
officials insisted was a lockout"
Five New Dena nds.
The exchange secretary declared to-
day that five other building trades, us
ing this instance as a wedge" had
made demands for increases. and that
others we're preparing tp make similar
demands. Those who, he declared. had
made demands for increases were said
to be the tilesetters steamfitters, stone
inforcing iron rod men. Union plumbers
also are preparing to file demand for
a wage increase, he declared.
Meanwhile, the exchange secretary
continued, the iron workers continued
"on strike" on a number of building
operations here, though those engaged
on the Internal Revenue Building have
returned to work. These buildings, he
asserted, include the iron workers on
the new Government Printing ONCE be-
ing erected on North Capitol street ad-
joining the old printing Office building,
the ornamental and sash iron workers
on the new headquarters of the South
ern Railway, Fifteenth and K streets
and on number of smaller operations.
The basis of the plea for a congress
Sional investigation. 1t was understood
would be that should any number of
the building trades win wage increases
it would jump the cost of the erection
those in the municipal building pro-
not been awarded OF general con-
tractors.
School Program Involved.
In addition to the Federal operations
here and private building projects,
wage increases would affect the build
ing program of the District. including
the projected new school buildings and
other municipal structures.
Mr. johnson said local contractors
regarded the situation as very serious"
because of the increased building costs
that would result should the wage in
creases be granted. He declared further
that in consultations with union off,
cials, no reasons were given for the de-
manded increases He pointed out further
should the unions obtain the increases
the wage levels here would be SO per
cent higher than the average in 100
cities.