Evening star., 1947-10-27
RaCketS in Home Building
Many Practices That Add to Today's High Costs
Are Reported to Congress Investigator
By Laurence Sullivan

equipment manufacturers whose products
often are excluded from important markets
by union rules forbidding the use of labor
saving materials and machinery.
A QUESTIONABLE submitted to several thou
sand recent home buyers veterans organiza-
tions, apartment contractors architects, labor
unions and chambers Of commerce. brought in
voluminous information of current significance
covering extortion, intimidation, monopoliStic
practices, jurisdictional disputes, boycotts,
featherbedding, and slow-downs. On the basis
OF this material the Gwinn Committee has
scheduled series of hearings across the coun-
try during November and December, including
stops at New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Chicago, st. Louis, and San Francisco
"It has been estimated by reputable authori-
ties in the construction industry that arbitrary
restrictions on home building are adding about
a billion dollars year to dwelling costs
throughout the Nation" Mr.. Himmelhoch said.
Many OF the unions forbid or sharply limit
the use of labor saving machinery. Other rules
and regulations compel the hiring Of many
more men than actually are needed for a given
job. Some labor organizations even presume
to dictate how much and what kind OF materials
may be used in new house,
Chairman Gwinn emphasizes that his sub
inquiry.
This is not prosecuting committee. We are
not proceeding to indct anybody, but want to
get at the facts"
Make-Work Rules to Protect Jobs.
Virtually every building craft enforces vari-
Gus make-work rules which add unnecessarily
to construction costs, according to reports re-
turned on the committees questionnaires.
In some cities, union carpenters will not per-
NIT use of door fitting machines.
Concrete forms must be stripped by high
priced journeyman carpenters, instead Of un-
skilled labor.
Doors and windows delivered with glass
panels installed, must be placed by journeyman
carpenters with journeymen glaziers idly stand
ing by at full-time rates. although there Is no
work for the GLACIERS to do
Similar restrictive rules prevail in the labor
agreements of painters, plasterers electricians,
plumbers, engineers, steel and iron workers,
and stone masons.
The powerful drive of indignant veterans now
sparks the nationwide crusade to eliminate all
such exactions in home construction.
Typical OF the resolutions reaching the Gwinn
Committee is one from Chicago post OF the
American Legion pledging support to "this
keteering, shakedowns, extortion collusion,
slow-downs, feather bedding, and make-work
rules which tend to limit or delay new construc-
tion in this area"
This resolution continues with demand that
every known labor saving device and every
known time saving and cost-reducing method
be applied vigorously in every phase Of home
construction"
Fairly representative Of the material received
by the Gwinn Committee is an affidavit from st.
Louis covering a subdivision Of 119 homes for
veterans begun on June 80, 1945. Soon. the
business agent Of the AFL Construction
Trades Council called to demand closed-shop
contract on the project, which the builder re-
fused. picket line was established May %,
1s46, accompanied by a boycott which extended
to AFL employees of the local electric light
company. As result, employees of Union
Electric Co. of Missouri will not install utilities
in his subdivision until instructed by their
union."
Between January 1916 and February 1s47, this
builder sold only one house in the entire project
Instead Of 1l9 occupied dwellings in this
project. st. Louis has IS ready for occupancy
save for electrical connections