Evening Star Newspaper, July 19, 1930, Page 13

WASHING TON, D. C, he WITR SUNDAY NORNING EDITION Rning %1&?. " SATURDAY, J["I\AY 19, 1930. BUILDING NEWS l Home-Owning and Building Section for Washington and Suburbs MEASURE PROPOSES CURB| ON CUT-RATE CONTRACTOR Raises Question Whether Local Labor Should Be Protected From Cheap er Workmen Imported by Low Bidder on Public Projects. HOULD an economic_ barrier BY DON S. WARREN." be built around the District to prevent itinerant building mechanics of other sections of the country, where wage scales are lower than here, from obtain- ing work on Government construction projects here that other- wise might go to un The question is ra ing Washington and all States of favorably at t Committee on Lal next Winter. It has been found in eral Governments here that certail ting lowest bids have imported buil scales of wages than are standard tice is widespread throughout fher This has given rise to consid-) erable agitation and a concerted | movement for passage by Con- gress of legislation designed to check “cheap” labor groups from | roving from place to place at the | call of equally roving contractors, | who thus have been able to un-|Property Was Acquired Several derbid local contractors who must | pay higher wages to local labor. | ‘While little public attention has been centered as yet on the pro-| posed legislation, serious study is being given the matter, since it would bring about a radical change in the practice of letting ©overnment construction work contracts affecting labor, the em- ployer and, no doubt, the tax- - paying public. The question is timely, since during the past six months the Federal Gov- ernment, industrial organizations, State governments and the District have adopted the policy of pushing construc- tion programs with a view to relieving unemployment problems. Lowest Cost Under Law. The District law and the practice in almost universal use, however, is that on public works the contractor who submits the lowest cost bid, and other- wise fills requirements, must be award- | ed the contract, regardless of where he | is a resident and regardless of from what jurisdictions he may draw his labor supply. The theory back of this, of course, is | to obtain such projects at the lowest | service cost to taxpayers and to avoid | favoritism in the award of Government | contracts. employed local labor? ¥ ised by a proposed legislative measure affect- the country, which was reported he recent general session of Congress by the House | supcontractors on public works of the bor and placed ou the calendar for further action | united States and of the District of a number of projects of the local and Fed- | n out-of-town contractors submit- lding tradesmen working for lower here. Reports are that this prac- country. . SHOREHAM COMPANY TAKES BUILDING TITLE Months Ago by Southwestern , 0il Producer. The Shoreham Investment Co. thes week took title to the new Shoreham Building, 12-story office structure on the northwest corner of Fifteenth and H streets, completing a sales transac- tion contracted several months ago, under which the property was acquired by Joseph I. Cromwell, millionaire oil producer of the Southwest. Mr. Cromwell is president of the Shoreham Investment Co.; Joseph W. Cromwell, son of the wealthy oil man, is first vice president; T. J. Dugan of Indianapolls is second vics president and treasurer, and Robert L. McKeever of the firm of McKeever & Goss of this city is secretary. McKeever & Goss, which handled ne- CUTRATE WAGES ; Measure, Now on Calendar of | House, Fixes Rate on D. C. Work at Private Scale. The Sproul bill, reported by the | House Committee on Labor, which is on.| the calendar for action at the general session of Congress next Winter, is | titled: “A bill to regulate the rates of wages to be paid to laborers and me- chanics employed by contractors and The measure reads: | “That on and after the passage of | | this act no laborer or mechanic who is | | or may be employed by any contractor | or “subcontractor on the construction, | alteration or repair of any public work of the United States in any city or | town in any State of the United States | | shall be paid less wage rate for any | | services rendered by him in such city | or town to such contractor or sub- | contractor while so employed than the | then lowest existing wage rate estab- | lished for such services in private in- dustry in such city or town, either by the joint action of private employers and an organization of employes be- longing to or affiliated with the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, or by the ac- | ceptance of such wage rate by private | employers and an organization of em- ployes belonging to or affiliated with | the American Federation of Labor, if | there be such an established wage rate | for such services in effect at said time | in such city or town. “Sec. 2. That on and after the pas- sage of this act no laborer or mechanic who is or may be employed by any contractor or subcontractor on the con- struction, alteration or ¥epair of any | public work of the United States or | of the District of Columbia, in the | District of Columbia, shall be paid a less, wage rate for any services ren- dered by him in the District of Colum- bia to such contractor or subcontractor | while so employed than the lowest ex- isting wage rate established for such Columbia.” i | gotlations leading to the purchase of | Services in private industry in the Dis- the building, have been appointed ' trict of Columbia, either by the joint management agents for the property. (Continued on Third Page.) Supporters of the proposed new leg- | islation, however, claim that great ben- | efits would come to a comftunity and | its taxpayets if local citizens and tax- payers were protected from the com- petition of citizens of other communi- e ies. ‘The suggested new law, covering the various States of the Union and the District of Columbia, would seek to change the present conditions by re- quiring that all contractors on Gov- ernment building projects pay their building tradesmen no less wages for | the various lines of work than the low- | est_existing wage rate established for | such services in private industry in the city where the work is done. Setting Up of Wage Rate. The “lowest existing wage rate” is described in_the bill as that established | either by the joint action of private | employers and an_organization of em- | ployes belonging to or affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, or| by the acceptance of such wage rate | by these groups if there be such an established wage rate for such services at the time the contract is let. ‘The wage rate as established or ac- cepted by bodies affiliated with the Federation of Labor, it is explained, was inserted in the peasure to avold difficulties over legal “interpretation of what otherwise mfght be called the “standard” wage, scale of a community. While the law, if adopted for Wash- ington, would prevent successful bid- ders on Government construction from paying lower wages than are “stand- ard” here, and thus possibly bring about some increase in the costs listed by the successfyl lowest bidder, it is declared by proponents of the measure that it is not designed to hold up the ‘scale of wages or the profits df the successful contractor. The measure, introduced by Repre- sentative Sproul of Ilinois, has the backing of numerous union trades lead- ers, including a number of officials of $12,750 5514 Nevada Ave. New brick and frame Colonial, close to Conn. ave., stores and schools. 6 rooms, 2 baths, ga- rage. A REAL HOME VALUE OPEN SUNDAY Edw. H. Jones & Co., Inc. 5520 Conn. Ave. Cleve. 2300 New Corner Detached 3501 Reno Road N.W. Cleveland Park $22,500 planned brick home. 2 complete varie- Exoellently 4 big bed rooms, gated tile baths. ‘extra lavatory, im- nse floored atic, sereened sleeping and breakfast hes, cement front porc! Bhe: Frigidaire. Reached via Sith at Ordway Street 8-Room Semi-Detached 3731 Van Ness St. No. Clev. Park $12,950 Stuceo eonstruction. refinished like new. big, airy bed s LJ Open Every Day Until 9 P.M. Tower Met. 4508 Ridge St. Just North of Chevy Chase Country Club Here yon enjoy the Slessures-of yerd, par- den, trees, etc. Come in and see the unusual treatment of the large living room. Three bed rooms, six closets on second floor. $12,250.00—Easy Terms—Lot 50x125 . For investment, your home is situated in the heart of present and future substantial develope ment. We lower material and construction costs without cheapness to you whenever it is possible. For a home of this type we offer you full value for every dollar you invest. Three other homes of pleasing design are now nearing completion. To inspect—Drive out Commecticut Avenue to Bradley Lane, turn west on Bradley Lane three squares to East Ave., then north on E Si ast Ave. ome block to Ridge Si Come Out Sunday—Open Daily Until 9 P.M. M. & R. B. WARREN RiTstls and Dapanidabls Oferators Tel. Wisconsin 2873 * 5305 SEVENTH STREET N.W. ONLY ‘49 PER MONTH ing Interest Prin 8s $oeesteeeseteessessettssseesseessssseessssesssessssssss HERE'S YOUR BIG CHANCE! Splendid six-room, all-brick home in beautiful elevated, section just off Georgia Ave. Excellent condition, . big, dry cellar, large rear yard. Two With $1,000 Cash car lines and bus available. Price 87 250 t.'to 7th and Kennedy, walk south 1 block: or 16th St. o Sherms ahes ‘Circle, walk north 4 blocks. bea ' t0 ARpeRen OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Week Day Inspection, Phone Wisconsin 2489 M. and R. B. WARREN @ [ //'fl/cr The Hurley-Wright Building, corner of avenue, which was reported this week to have been purchased by a syndciate of Iocal investors from Patrick J. Hurley, Secretary of War. reported to approximate $1,000,000. Mr. Hurley and G. N. Wright erected the building in 1917, Mr. Hurley later acquiring the interest of his partner. | names of the mew owners were not revealed. through the agency of McKeever & Goss. NEARSCOMPLETION Construction of Last of Se- ries in Advanced Stage. Soon Will Be Ready. Construction of the fifth and last of the serles of model homes being sponsored this year by The Star in co-operation with the Operative Build- ers’ Assoclation now has reached an Indvanoed stage and will be ready for | its month of public exhibition about the middle of August. This is a large house of early English design of the Elizabethan period, being and Garfield streets, Wesley Heights, by W. C. & A. N. Miller. The main framework of the house now has been completed and a_ corps f' mechanics is engaged in the plaster- ng of the interior “wglls. The house thus already reveals its unusual and distinctive outlines. Carries Out Period Style. ‘The dwelling has an exterior of local granite, with half-timbered effect in the second story, carrying out the character of the period style. A fea- ture of the house is its red old English tile roofing, which gives d pleasing tone to the whole development. Another feature of the house is the porte cochere garage, through which the_entrance drive passes, which will prove a convenience to the owner in inclement weather. The house’ is entered through an oak doorway the full depth of the house and ig ap- proximately 10 feet wide. A coat closet is conveniently placed adjacent to the front door and is of ample proportions. Stepping down from the hall through an arched opening one finds himself in a huge living room facing an old English_ fireplace ug! (Continued on Fourth I Eighteenth street and Pennsylvania The consideration was The The transaction was handled A Beautr'fu”y Situated Home at a Great Sacr;fice Cle}velancll Park Overloo & -For Immediate Sale on Substantial Cash Payment $18.500 Representing the Utmost in Sound Value—Plus Desirability of Location king the Cathedral A Lovely Colonial Home That Cannot Fail to Appeal 8 Splendid Rooms - 2 Inclosed Porches 2 Tile Baths Maid's Room and Bath Buiigbodisines Oil Heat Frigidaire Electric Dish Washer —and Many Added Features Open Sunday 11 to 6 1704 Conn. Ave. ANOTHER — Schwab, Valk & Canby Potomac 0830 BREUNINGER DISPLAY HOME COMPLETELY FURNISHED o Tomorrow . . . . Sunday Morning, at 7513 14th St. N.W., near Hemlock St., in Shepherd Park, another Breuninger Display Home is placed at the disposal of a discriminating public. In appointment, it is the last word. In the matter of construce tion, 1t 13 to duplicate every convenience that the other homes of Breuninger have offered and continue to provide . . . it rep- resents no change in Breuninger Construction . . . it marks an extension of Breuninger Construction. moment Especially at the when Breuninger homes so agreeably suggest them- selves to the present-day home buyers, the opening of this Fteenth an occas "Th‘ Wfly to Beautiful HO"IC’" Breuninger Display Home in Shepherd Park froves jon that still more interestingly is to be recorded. - Your Inspection Is Invited Directions: Drive out 16th St. to Alaska Ave. to 14th St., turn left ocks to this display home. Lbraninger Som Investment Building National 2040 Builders—Realtors |erected at the corner of Forty-fourth | into a hall which runs, SPROUL BILL TS| [ruorse souw s wan secwwraws ] FIFTH NODEL HOME WILLIAM MILLER NAMED TO U. S. REALTY BOARD- | [Term of Capital Man as Member Will Start in January and Continue for Three Years. Nichols Made Vice President. ILLIAM C. MILLER, former president of the Washington Real Estate Board, was elected a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Real Estate Boards for a term of three years, beginning next January, at the | convention of the national body held last week at Toronto, Canada. Mr. Miller, who is 2 member of ile local firm of W. C. & A. N. |Miller, is now serving the last half ofhhis term of one year as chair- ‘man of the home builders and subdividers’ division of the natiénal association. ; J. C. Nichols, a Kansas City, Mo., realtor, who is well known in Washington through his position as a member of the National Capi- tal Park and Planning Commission, was elected a vice president of the national real estate body. JUNE CONSTRUCTION AWARDS INCREASED | District of Columbia Total Placed at $5204 " for Mont... =, Harry S. Kissell of Springfield, Ohio, was elected president for the year 1931, and William H. | Gardner, Winnipeg, Canada, was | chosen as the new first vice presi- dent. Other new officers named include George D. Robertson, Los | Angeles; August C. Sehrt, Mil- waukee, and Col. Goodwin Gibson, Toronto, vice presidents. Earle G. Krumrine, Chicago, was re-elected treasurer. Chairmen of the 10 divisions of the | association, to serve in 1931, are: Peter | Hanson, Glendale, Calif., appraisal | division; Max Ramm, Detroit, brokers' division; David V. Sutton, New York June contract awards for new con- struction in the District of Columbia were valued at $5,204,500, according to F. W. Dodge Corporation. This was a gain over both the previous month and | City, re-elected chairman of the co- June, 1929. operative apartment division; J. A. New construction undertaken in the | Willeughby, Toronto, farm lands “di- District of Columbia during the first| vision: Hugh Potter, Houston, Tex., half of 1930 was valued at $31,521,- | home bullders and subdividers’ division; 300, compared with $59,598,500 for the | S. E. Lyons, Toronto, industrial prop- corresponding period of 1929. New | erty division; Sydney Middieton. planned work of all types reported in | Chicago, mortgage and finance division June totaled $12,069,200, as against Oliver S. Turner, Chicago, propert, $5,707,000 in June, 1929 | 77 (Continued on Fourth Page.) 3532 EDMONDS STREET N.W. Massachusetts Park Beautiful new center-hall Colonial brick house, close to the Embassies and Cathedral. : Note these features: Size of House, 38'x34'6” Breakfast Nook Living Room, 14'x24'6” Four Master Bed Rooms Large Den and Lavatory Two Servants’ Rooms and Bath Two fine Tiled Baths Two-car Built-in Garage Two large open Porches Electric Refrigeration Oil Burner All-Brick Construction 15 sawed White Oak Floors Celotex Insulation Master Bed Room, 14'x24'6” Copper Down Spouts Lot 50'x158" Completely Weather Stripped AND MANY OTHERS Open Today until 8 P.M, Sunday 10 A.M. until 8 P.M. Drive out Mass. Avenue to Edmonds Street (just above Observatory ~ Circle), turning left to property. EVER=dGOS! ervice Nat’l 4750 The Older One Grows. .. The Quicker Time Passes Of course, it doesn’t really pass quicker e « . it just seems to. Five years ago where were you living? « + « That doesn’t seem such a iong time ago, does it? X Where will you be living five years from NOW? . . . The time will pass quick- ly—-almost before you realize it! WILL YOU SPEND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BUYING AN APARTMENT FOR YOURSELF . . . OR FOR YOUR LANDLORD? Why not permit us to show you how easily you can buy your own co-oper- ative apartment heme by a reasonable initial deposit and monthly payments actually less than the rental for a similar apartment? You will be charmed with the beauty, the many conveniences and comforts in Washington’s outstand- ing co-operative apartment home devel- opment. TILDEN GARDENS A WARREN DEVELOPMENT Connecticut Ave. at Sedgwick Street Cleveland 6084 The Exhibit Home, tastefully furnished by W. B. M. & Sons, is open for inspection every day until 9 p.m.