Evening star., 1939-08-17
.S.Conci|iator HOPES
To Halt Strike Of
Smoot Employees
CoIvin Will Seek to
End Tieup Of Large
Construction Jobs
(Picture on Page All

Conciliator Howard T. Colvin of
the Labor Department said today
that he will attempt to halt the
strike of employees at the Smoot
Sand & Gravel Co., at least tenn
porarily, when the warning factions
meet with him this afternoon, in
order that vital concrete construc-
ton projects in the city can proceed.
Concrete work on millions of dol
lars worth of Federal and District
construction jobs was abandoned
this morning when the Smoot COM
pany, principal source of concrete
materials in Washington, shut off
deliveries completely
Il hope we will be able to get
these men back to work to relieve
the construction tieup,' Mr.. Col
win stated, with the agreement that
negotiations between the union and
management will follow immedi-
ately."
The conciliator explained that ne
gotiations necessarily would take
time, and that the immediate con-
cern is to get the employees back
at their posts while parleys progress.
Il don't know how far we will get,
but that's what I hope to do to-
day." he added.
Little Hope Held Earlier.
Construction officials throughout
the city earlier had expressed little
hope that the grave situation would
be relieved for days.
Empty concrete forms were
spaced around the half-completed
base of the Thomas Jefferson Me-
mortal. The K street widening prof.
ect was idle, as were scores of other
street-paving jobs in the District.
Test borings and excavation work
continued at the site of the new
Lafayette Building, future home of
the Reconstruction Finance Corp,
but pouring of concrete pilings
ceased. Engineers there admitted
their work would be halted in its
entirety within a few days unless
concrete materials are made avail
able.
Minor Outbreaks Reported.
Company officials complained of
minor outbreaks of violence over
night at the Smoot concerns main
plant in Georgetown. They claimed
yesterday that violence caused post
ponement of a negotiation meeting
and ultimate shutdown of the plant.
Union leaders-all members of the
newly formed Sand and Gravel
Workers Union, No. 22O75, an affili-
ate of the American Federation of
Labor-insisted, on the other hand.
that any outbreaks were caused
through individual differences and
not picket line activity, and that the
plant closed because materials were
exhausted.
I'm fairness to builders and con-
tractors in the city," a union spokes-
man said today, I'VE did not attempt
to stop deliveries of materials on
hand. We had hoped the strike
could be settled before this crisis
was reached. 1t wasn't and the
plant was forced to close"
The company spokesman stated
that the concern did not wish to
jeopardize the lives of those who
wanted to work and some employees
IN the picket line for whom "the
company has high regard"
Highway Work to Halt.
The union claims that more than
200 employees walked out on strike
and that few more than a score
remained on duty.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
of highways in the District, said
yesterday that concrete work in
his division would come to a halt
almost Immediately. This means a
delay in construction on the Taylor
street bridge, the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. bridge and the K street over
pass in addition to the projects al
ready mentioned.
Union spokesmen say they are
asking for a living wage" better
working hours and a preferred"
shop. A company spokesman said
negotiations were progressing ia
vorably until the issue of the
closed shop" was introduced. The
walkout occurred Monday.
Among other important local prof.
ects affected by the strike are the
new Social Security Building, con-
struction at Naval Hospital and the
Navy Yard, the National Gallery
Of Art, the Municipal Center, several
District schools and . number Of
private construction Jobs.