Evening star., 1942-03-17
.U.S.BuiIdingPay
Held 66% Over
Private Scale
Lusk BIomes Higher
Government Costs on
Bucon-Dovis Act
BY JAMES T.. CHINN.

High wage scales paid by the
Government on defense housing
projects will eventually force private
builders out of business or raise
private building costs 20 per cent,
Rufus s. Lusk, president of the
Washington Taxpayers Association,
today told the House Public Build
ings and Grounds Committee.
He cited figures showing that the
average wage rates paid by the Gov
ernment on defense housing projects
In Metropolitan Washington are Sc
per cent higher than private build
ing rates.
This Is very serious matter"
Mr.. Lusk warned. IF the Labor
Department continues its policy Of
fixing the prevailing wage rate un-
der the Bacon-Davis Act, private
builders will have to go out of busi-
ness or building costs will have to be
raised 20 per cent"
The plea was made by r. Byrne
Austin and Fred Tumeler of the
Maryland National Park and Plan
ming Commission and Joseph A.
Cantrel, attorney for the Montgom-
cry County Board of Commissioners.
as the committee resumed hearings
on the Senate revised Lanham bill
authorizing an appropriation of
SIC, 0,000, 900 to finance the proposed
housing and a related public works
program.
The three officials painted a glow
ing picture of the advantages Of
fered in Montgomery County, and
pointed out there are at least 500
the District line for housing devel-
opments.
improvements Cited.
Mr. Austin declared the land on
which homes for Government
workers could be erected is more ac-
cessible to Washington than other
adjacent suburban areas. Moreover.
he said, Montgomery County has
Much more to offer"
He pointed out there is a $780,
000-gallon reservoir under construc-
ton which will provide water for
125 900 additional consumers, that
/ 500 seats have been added TO the
public schools and that SIS, 900, 900
has been spent for parks. roads.
water services and other utilities, all
of which are now available for a
popuation influx.
Mr.. Austin also declared there are
80 highways leading into Washing
ton from the county which are mot
hampered by bridges or water" In
/ addition, he said, there are many
fine shopping centers" near the
available building sites.
| Mr.. Tumeler told the committee
the area has the advantage Of rail-
road transportation, and that COM
muter trains make the run from
| Capitol View to Union Station in
IT minutes.
Representative Wright, Democrat,
of Pennsylvania remarked that rail
transportation would become in
creasingly necessary because of au-
tomobile tire and gasoline rationing.
Mr.. Cantrell declared If one enemy
bomb fell on Chain Bridge, Airing
ton County. Va, would be deprived
of water, since its water supply is
carried across that span from the
Delecarlia Reservoir.
He testified further that the Mont
gomery County commissioners arc
now cooperating with Government
housing officials in building de-
fense housing units in the vicinity
Of Kensington and the naval test
ing basin at Carderock.
Backs Mall Dormitories.
Mr.. Lusk also gave his indorse-
ment to President Roosevelt's sug-
gestion for erecting temporary
dormitories for unmarried Govern
ment workers in the Mall and on
public park lands. The plan, he said.
is highly desirable" because it will
permit housing for Government
workers to be built cheaply and
quickly, and save critical material.
Further, he declared. the park lands
are close to existing sewer and wa
ter services.
Comparing the hourly rate paid
by private builders and the Gov
eminent, Mr.. LuSk submitted the
following schedule: