Lumber lndustry Recovery to be Pushed

Washington, D. C., Jan. 11,-In an appeal for the adoption of "a few sound policies" and not a sequence of "selfcontradictory policies" Dr. Wilson Compton, secretarymanager of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, today told the Byrnes Committee on Unemployment and Relief that "whatever the Government or Congress does or does not do, we intend to keep on trying. This iq our depression as much as it is yours and we are not going to warr for you before trying to do something about it." He urged the Government that if it has anything to shoot at in business to use a riflle and shodt at what it is aiming at instead of using a blunderbuss and scattering shot over everything and "terrifying everybody."

Dr. Compton showed in his testimony the effect of declining lumber consumption on employment which, he said, had declined 30 per cent or from 320,000 employees this spring to approximately 225,ffi at the end of 1937, while production, during that same period, had decreased 4O per cent. With a production of 37 billion feet the lumber industry employed 419,000 wage earners in 1929 reaching its low point in 1932 with a production of l0 billion feet and an employment of 155,000.

As evidence of the progress which has been made in adjusting production to changes in demand and consumption the witness recalled that following the 1929 slump the lumber industry required 20 months to adjust its current production to the reduced current rate of consumption. By contrast, in 1937 the industry had adjusted its production to the reduced volume of consumption within a period of 7 months. This, Dr. Compton described as "progress in the right direction."

Wide fluctuations in demand have been responsible for the "important fluctuations" in employment, the lumber industry executive declared. "Important interruptions," especially in the last three years and on the Pacific Coast, have been due to strikes which did not directly involve the sawmills, and more recently by warfare between unions competing for dominance, whose quarrel is not with their employers, but among themselves. "Right now and for months past," the speaker continued, "rival timber workers' unions on the Pacific Coast have been staging a public spectacle of alternating pickets and boycotts which have denied many mills even a chance to run and have deprived thousands of willing workers of even a chance for a livelihood."

Outlines Recovery Aids

Declaring that extension of employment, especially outside of the Pacific Coast, awaits merely an increase in the demand for the industry's products, Dr. Compton reviewed the industry's program to stimulate lumber consumption, especially in the field of low-cost housing. "We in the lumber industry," he said, "can help mobilize the building industries in behalf of a nation-wide program of building low-cost small homes. We are doing so. Incidentally, we can build a good modern small home of standard materials and equipment, for a family of two, right here in suburban Washington and right now for a construction cost of less than $2000; as for a family of six, for $3,400; not including land." Passage of the Housing Bill, now pending before Congress, was urged by the witness, btrt he added, only if the "prevailing wage" payment dmendment is eliminated from that bill.

Asks Labor Relations Act Amendment and Removal of Discriminatory Foreign Tariffs

As an aid to an industry, which he described as the victim of labor disputes to which it is not a party, Dr. Compton recommended the Labor Relations Act be amended to protect workers against coercion and intimidation; to require strike votes to be by secret ballot, and to prohibit boycott in interstate commerce of the product of a company which has had a valid collective bargaining agency election.

"The recovery of much of our industry," he continued, "depends upon the restoration of export markets. Since 193O our products in the competitive world trade have fallen in volume more than one-half and in rank from first place to fifth. This is due principally to discriminatory foreign

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tariffs. Our export trade will not recover until it has an equal competitive chance at the principal world markets. These foreign discriminations are imposed by public authority. They can be rcmoved by public authority." The witness also urged the enactment of legislation now pending in Congress which would recognize the Federal Forest Service so to handle the one-third of the commercial timber supply now controlled or owned by the Federal Government as to foster and facilitate sustained yield management of forest lands.

In speaking for what he described as the "oldest American industry," Dr. Compton said "I am of course greatly interested in determining the causes of the present depression. If we don't know the causes, we won't know the cure. But I am not interested in determining who, if anyone is to blame. As to the forest products industries, anyone who seeks to explain their reduced activity on the ground that they are 'on strike' against the Administration is talking utter nonsense."

In over an hour's questioning by members of the Committee, Dr. Compton elaborated on his recommendation that there be established the means for enabling the factfinding agencies of the Government, in cooperation with various industries, to make available more complete inforrnation on the condition of inventories and on present and prospective consumption. This, the witness admitted, would be a hard job and would cost money, but, he added, "it will cost vastly less than will the additional unemployment relief periodically if it is not done."

Strable Hardwood Company Moves Into New Offices

Strable Hardwood Company, Oakland, moved into new offices on January 24. The new offices are a part of the rebuilding and modernizing of the whole plant, which is expected to be completed in a few weeks.

The walls of the general office are finished in Celotex Plank in various colors. Celotex Tile in different colors and assorted sizes is used on the ceiling. Art-Ply panels are effectively used on the walls of one of the offices.

The floor is l3/L6" Oak plank, tavern grade. All doors and trim are Philippine Mahogany.

President B. E. Bryan's private office is finished in Upson Board, with a two-tone treatment which is attractive. Upson Decotyle is used on the walls of the lavatories. A circulating heat system, using gas as fuel, has been installed.

The offices are well lighted by large windows and indirect lighting.

The Venetian blinds on the windows have Port Orford Cedar slats.

Dealers are invited to inspect the new offices and see the effective installation of the various products.

Visits Los Angeles Office

Bill Davies, Phoenix, Arizona representative for Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Co., spent a few days at the company's Los Angeles office around the middle of January.