Evening star., 1941-10-10

~ dHt
Representatives of the construc-
ton Industry predicted here today
that thousands" of workers IN
Washington and about 4,5OO,OO per-
sons throughout the country would
be thrown out of jobs as a result
Of the Governments action yester-
day curbing new building projects
not essential to defense or to the
health and safety of the people.
Arthur B. Heaton. president of
the Washington Building Congress,
estimated that the policy decree
by the Supply Priorities and Allo-
cation Board will force 5000 small
building and building supply firms
and contractors out of business in
the Capital.
M. w. Watson, president Of the
Associated General Contractors Of
America. declared that if the order
is strictly enforced 1t will add
4.500,000 persons to the Nations 5
unemployment rolls. He said that
S. P. A. BIS estimate of 100000
men working on non-defense con-
struction did not include the 30OO.-
900 men and women employed by
materials makers and in other
branches of the industry.
Calls for Explanation.
Mr. Watson said S P. A. BIS
announcement did not reveal figures
which Justify such a drastic step
and added that while the construc-
ton industry is willing to make
any necessary sacrifice for defense.
It should not be shut down with
out ample explanation by the Gov
ernment Of the absolute necessity
OF such action and assurance that
! other industries are expected to
make equal sacrifices"
Experts at the Office Of Produc-
tion Management estimated that
building construction of all kinds
will drop in 1912 from an estimated
sll 200 100000 to about S8.5OO 900. 900
with the volume of non-defense
construction expected to be around
s2,0000 000,0G0 as compared with S.
600 100000 this year.
The o. P NJ. statisticians placed
the employment drop at materially
less than the estimate of Mr.. Wat
son. reaching a figure of 100000 as
compared to his estimate of 100000.
Construction workers in many
communities will be very hard hit"
! o. P. M. said, although those in
other localities will benefit by the
shift in activity. Building trades
workers as a rule are more mobile
than industrial or commercial
workers"
Richard Gray, an A F L, building
trades official said that thousands
of construction workers would be
affected by the order. but he would
not venture more exact estimate.
Finished in Is Months.
A large portion Of the 100000
building mechanics organized by the
A. F. L. are now engaged in defense
plant construction work. but in an
other 18 months, he said, most of
this work will be finished He pre-
dicted that with ban on new non
defense building these construction
employees would be left without en-
ployment
1T will be job for us to try to
establish these workers in some
other line" said Mr.. Gray, and
with their average age about At,
rehabilitation will be dificult."
S. P. A. B. asserted that due to the
Il nfn rle IL
the United States cannot build all
the Warships, planes, tanks and
other things essential to national
security if scarce metals are unnec-
essarily used in building projects
that are not vital to defense.
Many concerns here made reports
similar to that of w. L. Browning of
Barber q Ross Co., who said the
S, P. A, B, order will put us out Of
business" He said his company. one
of the city's largest materials firms,
furnishes supplies primarily for pri-
vate projects and have little Gov
ernment or defense business. He
added that local builders so far seem
to have little trouble getting pri-
critics and that effects of curtail-
ments had not been felt to any con-
siderable extent-up to now.
S4,600,000 in Permits Pending.
At the District Building. a check
up revealed that applications for
building permits are pending on
projects for more than s4.60O,000 in
the city. Only s191,200 in permits
were issued this week. the smallest
total in several years.
Pointing to S. P. A. BIS assurance
that construction already started
and substantially completed will be
allowed critical materials whenever
possible to permit completion of the
job, some District officials expressed
confidence that no major public or
private projects here will be halted.
Their forecast did not apply to all
private pending projects. however.
While the far-reaching order in
dicated that every navigation and
f1ood-control project on the billion
dollar program now pending in Con-
greSs would be subject to critical
study by S. P. A. B., authorities said
that the program would be altered
only slightly. since plans were made
with the thought that such devel-
opment might occur.
Members of both the House Flood
Control and the Rivers and Harbors
Committees said that projects were
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