Evening star., 1933-11-07
BUILDING OF c. G. G.
CAMPS UNI0NIZED
UNDER FECHNER
Continued From First Page,

Continued From First NPagel
Army was able to construct the camps
at comparatively little extra cost.
When 1t came time to establish the
forest recruits in Winter quarters, Di-
rector Fechner went to the White
House and placed before the President
q picture of the emergency need for
haste in the construction OF the Win
ter quarters. Secretary of War Dern
"sat in" at the conference.
Fechner told the President, he said
today, that he thought that all con-
struction work in connection with the
Winter camps should be done through
the hiring OF local labor at the wages
prevailing in the local communities.
This would give employment to thou
sands of idle workmen in 46 States
over a considerable period of time. tax
ing that many families of the public
charitable lists. At the same time,
Fechner said, he told the President he
wished to assume the same authority
given the Secretary Of Labor under the
Bacon Davis act, to act as the fnal
arbiter in determining the prevailing
local union wage scale in any dispute
arising over wages.
Conceived as Dual Program.
The Emergency Conservation Corps,
minimum of $3.50, 900 900, was con-
ceived as q dual program for unem-
ployment relief and conservation. In
that way the employment of local Ia
Dor in camp construction work fits ex-
actly into the program, according to
Director Fechner.
At the same time, he pointed out
that the hiring of local labor would
leave the 200 900 forest recruits free
to put in all their time at work OF
clearing up the forests for which they
were primarily engaged. At many OF
the camps It was possible to utilize
the services of only q few of the forest
recruits as carpenters. This slowed
up the work considerably and took
men from their regular conservation
work.
Under the present program, about 80
hired carpenters are being engaged at
each camp There is also small dis
tribution Of plumbers and electricians
and common labor.
Where such men formerly were paid
50 or So q day, they are now receiving
the prevailing local scales for union
labor, which varies slightly in differ
ent sections. At Cumberland, Nd, the
prevailing scale was fixed at 80 cents
an hour for carpenters. In most dis
tricts Of New Jersey, the rate for car
penters is 81 an hour. In Butte County
Calf, the rate is 80 cents; outside
Savannah, Ca, the rate is 30 cents
an hour.
40-Hour Week Established.
Bricklayers, plumbers and electric
workers in the Pontiac, Mich, district
for instance, were paid the prevailing
rate of SIPS an hour. This scale gen.
orally ranges between 81 and s1.25.
The c. c. C. has established 40
hour week for all labor hired on con-
struction work, with result that brick
layers are receiving $40 or more pei
week. and carpenters from $32 to S3t
weekly. In cases where the local boards
have been unable to make the decision
the disputes over wages are referred tc
Director Fechner in Washington, who
determines the amount. All work is be-
ing done under contract and when In
creases in pay are granted, the increase
Is made retroactive.
Especially in the colder climes. the
G. G. G. camps are being built 10 with
stand the elements. The barracks are
being equipped with hot-water heat
wood-burning stoves and plumbing. AL
this requires skilled labor, Mr.. Fechnel
pointed out, and the work must bt
rushed as speedily as possible in view o.
approaching cold weather. In onl!
about 200 camps in the deep South viii
the forest recruits sleep under canvas