Evening star., 1935-01-29
SEE
MENACE IN HUGE
WORK RELIEF PLAN
Builders Convention Fears
Day Labor System Will
Be Used.
INDUSTRY IS CHEERED
BY BUSINESS REVIVAL
Government Spokesman Seek to
Allay Alarm Over Future
Policies.

Continuing their attacks upon Gov
ernment agents who use day-labor
on projects, and their express
sionS Of fear as to treatment of the
contracting industry under terms OF
the pending $4,000, 100000 work-relief
measure, the convention delegates of
the Associated General Contractors of
America led three divisions this morn
ing to consider special problems.
Terming the proposed Government
program ian enlarged menace" the
staff report submitted to the construc-
ton and railroad contractors division
said I'VE are now threatened with the
possibility of all of this $4,000, 900, 900
being expended for relief projects on
the day-labor system, without any con-
tinuation of the public works pro-
gram, which has supplied a large por-
ton of new construction projects dur
ing the past two years"
From the highway contractors divi-
sion came the advice to all members
of the association that they bring
pressure upon their congressional rep
reSentatives in favor of increased utili-
zation of the contracting industry in
Government projects.
Hopeful Note Sounded.
The building division sounded one
hopeful note in attempting to look
ahead to 1885.
I'VE read that some of our major
industries are actually making profits"
the report said. I'VE also hear of
profits being made in retail trades. II
profits are accommodating, we may ex-
pect at least part of this to flow
into new construction. which fact
should offer us some slight encourage
ment with respect to an increase in
the plan and construction market"
In contrast to the alarmed attitude
Of the convention delegates, Govern
ment spokesmen continued their at
tempt to allay fears of the industry.
Secretary of Commerce Roper told
the convention yesterday that the
industry is about to play an lever
increasingly important part in the
Government program"
Edwin E. Witte, director of the
Committee of economic security,
sounded similarly assuring note, and
Government speakers appearing at
this afternoons session spoke in the
same vein.
Ardrey Sees Opportunity.
For the general contractor there
is an opportunity for greater business,
not only through the insured mort
gage program, but also through the
lDu-rOct boriciy,0 iy,curaona y,ro,,;Jad
in the powers of the administration"
said Deputy Housing Administrator ].
Howard Ardrey.
This is not an emergency spring
board toward artificial stimulation of
construction" he continued While il
is true that we need thousands of
new homes at the present time because
OF lack Of construction in the past few
years, 1t is also true that we do not
need major boom. To prevent such
booms is one of our aims. We hope
that immediate heightened activity will
come in supplying our present needs,
following which our whole construc.
ton and financing system will settle
down to sustained, undiSturbed and
normal activity at all times. Ever
lasting StabiliZation of your industry
should be attractive to you"
Other speakers this afternoon we're
Elwood Mead, commissioner of recla-
nation; ], G. Ghoston, chief engineer
of the inspection division of the p.
w. A.; M. j. BERN, vice president of
the American Radiator Co.: H. o.
Schermerhorn of the New York De-
partment of Public Works, and w. E.
Hayes of Washington.