Registration Act

Sacramento, April 1S.-Determined to prevent repeal of the state contractors' registration act, representative leaders of every branch of the construction industry in California today were preparing to appear before the senate governmental efficiency committee Wednesday in opposition to the repeal movement.

A spirited battle is in prospect when the abolition bill, sponsored by Senator Ray R. Ingels, Ukiah and Senator David Bush's fact finding cdmmittee, comes up for action before the committee. The California State Builders, Exchange heads a group of builders and contractors organized in leading the fight against the repeal movement.

"Repeal of the contractors' act," according to Ralph E. Homann, Los Angeles president of the state builders, exchange, "would achieve nothing, and would fail to save one penny for the state's general fund.

"In addition, repeal of the law would throw down the bars and result in a horde of crooked and irresponsible carpet bag contractors and jerry-builders from other states invading California and robbing the building public. The recent earthquake disaster in southern California strongly emphasizes the need of this regulatory measure, which was initiated by the contractors. Its operation is entirely selfsupporting."

More than 20o builders' exchanges, contractors, plasterers and plumbers association, material dealers, home finances organizations in virtually every California county, and representing 95 per cent of the persons engaged in construction work, have gone on record as strongly, opposed to the repeal bill, Mr. Homann said.

The Los Angeles coroner's jury, which investigated the quake, also went on record opposing repeal, according to Mr. Homann, who was a member of the jury.

Charles Knight, manager, industrial department,- California State Chamber of Commerce, declared today that "abolition of the bureau, which is performing excellent work in wiping out the crooked contractor, should be strongly opposed." The state chamber has opposed abolition.

Northwest Retailer Visits Southern California

John Crawford, president of the Tum-A-Lum Lumber Co., Walla Walla, Wash., has been visiting in Los Angeles with relatives and calling on his lumbermen friends. The Tum-A-Lum Lumber Co. operate a chain of retail lumber yards in Washington and Oregon.

Re-Enters Fir Market

Moore Mill & Lumber Co., Bandon, Ore., is now cutting timber that runs into a much larger percentage of Douglas Fir than formerly, and the company has therefore re-entered the Douglas Fir market. This Fir grows in ,the Coast Range about 50 miles back from the Coast, and is of softer texture than that which grows within a few miles of the Coast.

Ralph T. Moore is general manager of the company, and Carl R. Moore is in charge of the San Francisco office, which is at 525 Market St.

R. O. Wilson & Son, with offices at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, are sales representatives in California.

Beer Boosts Business

The return of beer has resulted in considerable new business for his firm, according to P. R. "Bob" Kahn, manager of Forsyth Hardwood Company, San Francisco, who states that they.have sold an average of three bar tops daily and much other material since the sale of beer has been made legal.

Mr. Kahn believes that some kind of a record rvas made when he recently placed an order with a mill in the Philippine, Islands for 100 Philippine Mahogany bar tops, lt/+ by 22 inches wide and 22 to 30 feet long. He says they are getting inquiries for these from as far East as Denver.

Jack Rea Moves To New Office

Jack Rea is now located at room 801, Petroleum Securities Bldg., Los Angeles. He was formerly in the Chamber of Commerce building. He represents W. R. Chamberlin & Co. in the Southern California territory.

Some Speed

Homer Maris of the Maris Plywood Co., San Francisco, has been in the panel business for many years, but says the quickest service he has ever experienced frotn a manufacturer was in connection with an order he recently placed with C. W. Buckner, Northern California representative of the Harbor Plywood Co., Hoquiam, Wash., for 10,000 feet of Douglas Fir panels for concrete forms. The order was wired to the factory at noon on April 12. When it arrived the logs were in the pond. These were cut into veneer, the panels were dried, glued up, trimmed, sanded, oiled, and the shipment was loaded and delivered in San Francisco April 19, in exactly one week from the time the order was given.

tVill Represent Northwest Firm

W. S. Cram, well known Northwest lumberman, is now representing the Tacoma Crate Co. of Tacoma, Wash., in the Southern California territory. Mr. Cram is making his headquarters in Los Angeles. Jacob Siler, who was associated with Mr. Cram for many years in the sawmill business at Raymond, Wash., recently opened the Tacoma Crate Co. plant at Tacoma. The company are specializing in vegetable crates.

ANDREW McNAIR VISITS S. F.

Andrew F. McNair of the McKinnon-McNair Lumber Co., St. Helena, recently spent a few days in San Francisco. While in the Bay district he attended the meeting of the California Lumbermen's Council and the Lumbermen's Reveille held at the Hotel Leamington, Oakland, April 21.