Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-07
Builders Association Leader
Appeals to President to
Study Question.
DISPUTE THREATENS
TO INCREASE COSTS
Opposing Factions Are Holding
Conferences Almost Daily, but
No Agreements Reached.

President Hoover has been asked to
give his assistance in settling the wage
controversies between the building con-
tractors and the building trades en-
ployes of Washington, which threaten
to add materially to the cost both of
the Governments $5O,OOo,OOO building
program and of all future public and
private building operations in the Dis
trict.
Only one of the controversies thus
far has been settled-that between the
employing contractors and the REIN
forced concrete rodmen, who accepted
compromise agreement Saturday. The
rodmen have gone back to work at the
old scale, having agreed to an increase
OF 6la cents an hour August OF this
year and an additional 6I2 cents an
hour next February.
Numerous other classes of employees,
however, are demanding increases and
thus far no other agreements have been
signed, although conferences are being
held almost daily.
The President has received a letter,
1t was learned at the White House to-
Gay from E. H. Rosengarten, president
of the Master Builders Association of
Washington, explaining the demands of
the union employees and asking the
President to interest himself in the
matter.
Federal Probe Reported.
While neither Federal officials nor
officers of the Master Builders ASso-
citation discussed the matter for pub
lication today, it was indicated from
Government sources that investigators
of the Department of Labor have begun
inquiries into the local building wage
scale and demands of the workers.
I'VE now are confronted in Wash
ington with demands on the part of
labor" wrote Mr.. Rosengarten to Presi-
dent Hoover, for substantial increases
in the wage scale. affecting buildings in
course of construction and all future
work. The cost Of building, already
high, will be augmented for all future
work by the increased scales. 1t ap-
pears not only to those Of us directly
interested. but to those less directly
concerned, that some steps must be
taken in defense of the taxpayer, the
home builder and even the labor unions
themselves, as it is clear that construc-
ton ultimately will be brought to a
standstill because of the extreme cost
involved.
increases without Warrant"
"Aside from the problem above set
forth as to the great cost of building
facing us, study of the wage scale,
both for skilled and unskilled labor,
agreed upon three years ago, and of
the decreased cost of living, will con-
vince the unprejudiced that wage in
creaseS are without warrant.
May we ask your thought on this
matter, and whatever aid you may feel
able to give in the matter affecting the
great construction program Of the Gov
ernment, as well as all future public
and private building in the District of
Columbian"
1t is understood that President Hoo
yer has delayed replying to Mr.. Rosen-
gartens letter. pending an inquiry into
the exact situation confronting the
builders of Washington.
Five-day Week Discussed.
A conference was held last night be-
tween the employing plumbers and the
union employees. The demand of the
men for a wage increase of a dollar
a day and a flve-day week were dis
cussed.
Although no agreement was signed,
it appears that the contracting plumb
ers may be compelled to yield. 1t has
been proposed that an increase of SO
cents a day be granted, effective at
so cents a day be allowed at later
date The present wage is $11 day.
Among the other classes of employees
who are demanding increases are the
ut-stone workers, cement finishers,
electricians, marble settlers, excavating
and hoiSting engineers and sheet metal
workers.