Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-20
Managers Told
To Order Coal
For Year Now
Lecture Series Held
For Buildings Group
On War Problems

Declaring that adequacy of the
1943 coal supply rests to a great
degree on the cooperation of the
consumer, Thomas j. Thomas, asso-
clate deputy solid fuels co-ordina-
TOR Tor war, has called on building
managers to place orders now for
their entire years supply of coal
Mr.. Thomas was one of several
speakers in special course of lee
lures for building managers, con-
quoted this week at the Wardman
Park Hotel under the auspices of
the Institute of Real Estate Man
agement. Such management in war
time, institute speakers emphasized
calls for application of specialized
experience, skill and up-to-date in
formation. Several Government
officials addressed the gathering.
which closes today.
MI Thomas reported that one
OF the large hotels in Washinetoc
plleo up some 1000 tons of coal
against the outside of the BUILDING
last summer. The storing of such
outdoor piles or some other storage
plan viii be necessary for many an
other big building over the country
from now on through the war
period, he intimated.
Coal does not have to be under
cover and it does not loose heating
value by exposure to the weather"
ne said. However, with some low
rank Goals, weathering may produce
degraoation in size. This is not
especially serious under ordinary
conditions"
Coal Storage Data Offered.
Inc Bureau of Mines" he said
rs prepared to give information on
the technical problems connected
win the safe storage of coal" Mr.
Thomas outlined to the property
managers the principal steps for
safe soft coal storage,
l.. Metcalfe Walling, administra-
COR OF the Wage and Hour Public
contracts Division of the Labor De-
partment, IN a statement read to the
group, warned the property man
ayers that they, as we'll as the
building owner, would be held liable
Tor violations of the Wage and Hour
Law by building service workers IN
o1t and Office buildings whose ten
ants are engaged even indirectly in
interstate commerce. He quoted
bne supreme Court which held in
the klrschbaum case, that with
out light and heat and power the
tenants could not engage. as thew
40, IN the production of goods for
interstate commerce"
IL was made clear that the wage
ana hour law does not apply to all
buildings, specific mention being
mace OF apartment houses, rooming
houses, buildings occupied solely by
local retail or service establishments
or any other buildings occupied
solely by local tenants are types to
which the act is not applicable.
Mr.. Walling said his division holds
she status of building service work |
ers should be the same whether
they are employed in lofts occupied
by tenants who actually produce |
goods for interstate commerce on
those premises, or in office buildings
occupied by such tenants as banks,
insurance companies, brokerage
arms, wholesale dealers and dis
trlbutors, home Offices of national
concerns producing goods for inter-
state commerce elsewhere. advertis- |
Ing agencies and other commercial
hrms engaged in doing business
across State lines.
20 Per Cent Rule Adopted.
In both the loft buildings and
Office buildings, the courts have in
nleated that this act applies where
q substantial part Of the building
is devoted to interstate commerce
or to production of goods for inter
state commerce. For purposes of
enforcement, Administrator Wal
ling mas adopted the rule that he
would regard 20 per cent as the
test of whether substantial part
OF the building is devoted to such
interstate commerce activities. If
some floor space is occupied by in
terstate" tenants and other floor
space by local tenants, the admin
;strator will consider the act an
pllcable TO all building maintenance
employees who spend 20 per cent or
more Of their time during any week
IN serving the interstate portions
OF the building"
Many vital problems were dis
(See COAL. Page R-21