Bill Introduced to Prevent lmports Assistant Selectcd lor of Forced Labor Products

Washington, Dec. 28.- A bill rvhich r.vould eliminate flarvs and "jokers" from present law and make possible actual protection of "American labor and industry from competition of products of convict, forced and indentured 1abor" .-as introcluced in the House o{ Representatives, December 22, by Congressman Samuel Kendall of Pennsylvania. Though not an amendment to the Tariff Act, the bill makes possible and practicable the carrying out of the policy intencled in section 307 ol that act.

As introduced, the bill contains four sections, the first of rvhich u'oulcl prohibit the importation of all goods manufactured l;y a business enterprise using convict, forced or indenttrred labor. In this, though similar in form to section 307, it goes further by carrying back to the producer the penalty of exclusion formerly limited to specific goods sought to be irnported and prevents his taking advantage of general methods of production which compete unfairly with Arnerican stanclards. This section also defines what is meant by "forced labor" so as to circumvent the subterfuges bv means of .w'hich the intent of the law may now be evadecl. In addition, it includes State trusts and other producing units among those whose goods can be barred and comprehensively includes "goods, \vares, articles and merchandise mined. produced, nranufactured, transported, handled. loaded or unloaderl" l>y parties using involuntary labor n'holly or in part. It exempts only the goods needed to make up actual requirements in this country due to inadequate production here and in other conntries which do not use forced and convict labor.

Section 2 requires the Treasury Department to hold up imports procluced bv any foreign industry in rvhich the Secretary "has evidence of the use of convict, forced or indentured labor" until it is determined the soecific imoortation is not in violation of the act. The burdin of proof is thus placed rrpon the importer in cases rvhich are open to question.

Uncler Section 3 re1>orts and depositions of officers of the United States Government are admitted as evidence in determining admissibility in questioned cases. This will be particularly helpful where it is difficult or impossible to make otherwise satisfactory search for facts at the point of production or along the course of transit of the proposed rmports.

Section 4 rvould make the ne'w' act become effective Tulv r,1932.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, where it is hoped l.rearings on it can be held shortly after Congress reconvenes.

Secretary-Manager

The Pacific Coast Building Of;ficials' Conference announces the selection of Charles A. Aikins as Assistant to the Secretary, which position was created by a recent vote of the Executive Committee. Mr. Aikins rvill rvork through Conference headquarters in its nerv lcation at 562 I. W. Hellman Bldg., 124 W. Fourth St., Los Angeles.

Mr. Aikins comes to the Conference rvith high recommendations and nearly 19 years' experience rvith the building industry in Los Angeles county. He was closely associated with Sylvester L. Weaver for 15 years during which time he held the positions of secretary, director and credit manag'er of the Weaver-Henry Manufacturing Co.; supervisor of credits for tl-r.e Weaver-Henry Corp., and later a similar post'rvith the D. H. Burden Materials Co. and Owl Truck Co. combined. He also has many friends in the building trades due to long service on the board of directors of the Building Material Dealers' Credit Association of Los Angeles, oi which he was vice-president at one time. Active participation in the trade groups sponsored by the Building Material Dealers' Credit Association and the Los Angeles Credit Men's Association has further rottnded out Mr. Aikins' wide experience.

It rvill be Mr. Aikins' rvork to contact membership prospects for the Conference, leaving Secretary David H. Merrill free to concentrate his time and attention upou the code consulting service and the r,vork of the Research Department.

Becanse of Mr. Aikins' experience the Conference feels confident he rvill handle his nerv duties effrciently. Given the active support of Conference members, his tvork should result in many additions to the membership and increased interest in Conference activities over a u'ide area in the u'est. This lvould enable Confereuce headquarters to. render an immeasurably greater service to the building industry at large ancl to all cities interestecl in the Uniform Building Code.

James Clifford

James Clifford, vice president artd general manager of the Sugar Pine l.umber Co., Pinedale, and of the Yosemite Falls Lumber Co.. Nferced Falls, died at N{erced, Calif., Jantary 7. His death rvas due to a heart attack.

Mr. Clifford had been with the Sugar Pine I-umber Co' since March ,1929, and prior to that was associated with the Feather River Lumber Co., Delleker. He was born in Nebraska 34 years ago. He is survit'ed lty his n'idor,v, Mrs. Patricia Clifford. and four children.

Do You Know That

Redwood Piling is now specified on many State, County, and other jobs?

BECAUSE it is lower in price than othet piling' lasting qualities considered. It'is a California product. We sell it to lumber yards at prices which enable them to meet competition.

The natural beauty of Redwood is excelletrtly demonstrated in the office building of the Ambrose Lumber Co. at Santa Barbara, Calif. Heart Redwood is used exclusively both for the interior and exterior finish. In the planning and building of this modern and attractive oftice home, the owners have followed out the Spanish type of architecture prevailing in Santa Barbara.

The heavy beams, posts, corbels and post caps used on the exterior give the building a very distinctive appearance. In the general offrce, which is 28 by 50 feet, five trusses finished at the rvalls with heavy corbels and V joint sheathing are used. The corrnter is also constnrcted of Redrvood as are the desks. and the face of the counter