Evening star., 1936-12-19
BUILDING GROUPS
PLAN CONGRESS TO
DEVELOP INDUSTRY
Cooperative Organization
to Be Formed at Meeting
Next Month.
new YORK UNIT MODEL
FOR LOCAL SPONSORS
Architects, Builders, Real Estate
Men and Engineers Take
Lead in Move.
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

A Washington building congress,
cooperative organization OF repre-
sentatives of all groups connected with
the building and construction field.
designed to work for the best interests
of the Capital and the industry, Is IN
the process of formation, it was an
nounced today.
Tentative organization plans have
been worked out, constitution ana
bylaws have been written, and 1t Is
anticipated that the final work OF
creating the congress will be accom-
plished at a meeting to be held early
in January. Taking the leadership
In the movement is group OF prom
inent architects, builders, real estate
men and engineers.
Need for an association which
would bring together members OF the
various groups included in the build
ing and construction industry. to work
co-operatively for the interests of the
city and the industry, has long been
felt here. An unsuccessful attempt
was made several years ago to create
such a congress The effort failed
largely because of depression and the
lack Of cooperation on the part OF
some OF the individual groups.
Branches that will compose the
congress include: Architects. en-
rineers, contractors. labor, bankers,
representatives of building and loan
associations, real estate men and de-
yelopers. sub-contractors, members OF
the Producers Council and any other
persons interested in the building IN
dustry.
Announcement Is Made.
Announcement of the formation OF
the organization was made by Arthur
3. Heaton, one of Washinston's most
prominent architects, who served DUR
ing the past year as president OF the
Washington Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects. Some of those
who have taken active part In the
organizing work include: Theodore 1.
Coe. supervising architect for the
United States Supreme Court Build
Ing: Hector N. airing, assistant to the
president Of the Johns -Manville Corp,
and member of the Producers Coun-
ell: Edwin Davis and Reuben Skinker.
well-known builders; Fred Rice, at
torney, and Irwin S. Porter, architect.
The Washington organization will
be modelled after the Building Con-
rress of New York, which was formed
several years ago. The New YORK
group has furnished voice for the
industry in that section and has been
highly successful in co-ordinating the
various elements Of the construction
field. Those who are organizing the
Washington Congress have been able
to utilize the experience, and profit by
the mistakes of the New York group
In working out their formative plans.
In addition to having the effect Of
raising standards OF construction
here. it is held that the proposed
organization will prove a valuable
representative of the industry both
In Congress and in dealings with
officials of the District government.
Sponsors plan to make it the officlal
voice of the industry. The congress
will not confine its membership and
activities to the District. but will be
designed to represent the entire met
Eopolitan area.
Favorable Response Reported.
The idea Of co-ordinating the work
of all branches of the building busl-
ness has met with widespread favor
able response, Heaton said. Spokes-
men for all phases OF the industry,
including labor, have Endorsed it.
John Locher, secretary of the WASH
ington Building Trades Council,
Heaton said, has expressed himself
as being in favor of the congress.
A statement issued by sponsors OF
the organization follows:
What is worth while Is worth
working for is the belief of those who
for several years have hoped and
worked for the formation of a CO.
operative organization to bring to-
cether those interested IN the welfare
OF Lne DulluluS anu cois'A uSefoii AiA
dustry in Washington and vicinity.
These efforts have been crystalized
In the Washington Building Congress,
which will be fully organized early in
the new year.
1.-THE building congress movement
had its inception in 1921 in the for
nation Of the New York Building
Congress.
"That the idea was the answer to
che long recognized need for a closer
affiliation of those variously interested
In the field of building was evidenced
by the formation of similar con-
gresses in nearly all of the important
(See CONGRESS, Page C-3)