Evening star., 1932-10-15
j. s. LABOR PARLEY
ASKED FOR RELIEF
BY WORK SPREAD
Construction Conference In.
vitation Seeks Cooperation
in Face of Winter.
BARNES OFFERS PLAN
AFFECTING BIG JOBS
Movement Would Help to Keep Up
Buying Power, Says James C.
Stewart, New York.

The Federal Government and the
American Federation of Labor were re.
quested today to confer on a cooper.
at1ve plan to spread work in the con.
struction industry to ease distress this
Winter among the unemployed in this
trade.
The invitation was extended by Julius
H. Barnes, former chairman of the
board Of the United States Chamber OF
Commerce. in behalf of the National
Conference on Construction, which con-
cluded a two-day session here yester.
day Mr.. Barnes is chairman of the
executive Committee of the conference
He was instructed in a resolution tc
take up with Secretary of Labor Doak
the possibility of the latter arranging a
conference between the construction in
dustry and representatives of organized
labor to discuss problems concerning the
rotating OF labor on construction Jobs.
Need of Spreading Work.
The conference took this step after
James G. Stewart, a New York con-
Structlon engineer, stated the spread
work movement is vitality needed to
keep up buying power and to prevent
distress. He advocated that the Treas
ury, in planning future Government
bidding on projects to consider the DOS
si5ility Of a slightly increased cost
occasioned by splitting of available Jobs
among as many workers as possible.
Mr.. Stewart also said that "if organ
lied labor will meet us half way" in
suspending rules and regulations as
would prevent adoption of the labor
rotary system, there would be an ease
ment in the unemployment situation
this Winter
Before adjournment the conference
adopted 81 other resolutions calling fol
specific action on the part of coop
Grating trade groups for the purpose OF
placing the construction industry on q
more staple basis and to simplify the
problems of all classes of people con
templating building. from the small
home owner to the largest constructor
Associations Need Power.
One resolution expressed the belief
that there is need to provide trade
associations with the power. properly
safeguarded, to adopt enforceable hasl.
rules governing the conditions unde,
which their industry shall be carried
on" The same resolution indorseo
legislation, now pending in Congress, tC
give legal sanction to the trade prac-
tice conference procedure of the Fed
eral Trade Commission as a means
well adapted to raise the standards OF
competitive conduct and promote the
well-being OF American industry and
commerce"
Other resolutions dealt with real
property inventories, seasonal opera
tionS, apprentices building codes, sim
pliflcation of building materials. credit
facilities. appraisals and local construc-
ton organizations.
The conference was the outgrowth
of series of informal conferences OF
leaders in the construction industry
and related fields of business, including
finance. insurance and real estate dur
ing 1880. 1t was formally organized
in 1881.
Members comprise architects, en-
glneers. general contractors, manufac-
turers and distributors of construction
materials and equipment. realtors
bankers and insurance executives.