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Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 101, no. 21 [2619]: [Articles]: May 25, 1918

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/ol. CI REAL ESTATE HB@®El® AND B UI LDERS NEW YORK, MAY 25, 1918 No. 21 Vew Yorker Who Handles Federal Housing Otto M. Eidlitz and What Led to His Appointment as Director of the Government's Immense Task rHE enormous extent of the Federal building op- rations in the Metropolitan istrict, reaching into hun- reds of millions of dollars, nd exceeding in number and alue anything in the previous listory of the country, natur- lly directs public attention to he manager of these huge uilding projects. Confidence f builders and others inter- sted in these large contracts as been inspired by the selec- ion by the Government o f )tto M. Eidlitz as director of lousing and Transportation f the Department of Labor. irough which channel the na- ional housing program is perated. It will be generally con- eded that the firm of wliich ^r. Eidlitz is the head, is one )f the leading concerns, if not he foremost, in the building ine in this city, as is proved )y the importance of the itructures erected under its nanagement during the last 'ew years. Although the appointment of Mr. Eidlitz was made ;ome time ago, the results of his labors at Washington ire only now becoming apparent in the constantly in- breasing numljer of large government projects that are )eing announced daily. His activity at the National Cap- tal preceded his appointment to his present position. ! In October, 1917, Mr. Eidlitz was called to Washington by Daniel Willard, Chairman of the Advisory Council of National Defense and headed a committee of five appointed by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker to investigate the restriction of output of war materials, due to the lack of housing for industrial workers. After the report was handed in, on November 12, 1917, the Secretary of War asked him to take up the question with the various depart¬ ments of the Government and to see whether the lack of housing could be remedied through existing laws or through existing contracts. On February 12, the matter having been referred to the Secretary of Labor, Mr. Eidhtz was appointed Director of Housing and Trans¬ portation of the Department of Labor to investigate and provide the necessary housing for industrial workers pro¬ ducing materials and supplies for the army and navy. This appointment made him at once the most prominent man in the building frater¬ nity in the United States. Mr. Eidlitz attained the en¬ viable position he now occu¬ pies by the studious appli¬ cation of his talents for organization and his sus¬ tained efforts to improve the welfare of the building in¬ terests, which he has served faithfully for many years. In these efforts he has been assisted by his knoweldeg of human nature. The son of Marc and Mathilde (Sohr) Eidlitz, Mr. Otto Marc Eidlitz was born in New York City, Septem¬ ber 18, 1860. He received his early education in the public schools of this city and in the College of the City of New York. Later he entered Cornell University, from which he was graduated in 1881 with the degree of B.C.E. His degree of CE. was awarded in 1890. He married Miss Anna May Thomas, of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Eidlitz became associated with his father in the building business in 1881 and was included in a partner¬ ship in 1884, under the firm name of Marc Eidlitz & Son. In 1888, upon the withdrawal of his father from active participation in the affairs of the business, Mr. Eidlitz became the head of the organization which has con¬ sistently developed and expanded in scope and influence. For many years the career of Mr. Eidlitz has been marked by the recognition of his diligent and faithful service to the industry of which he is a part. His wide experience and capability and his reputation for fair- minded justice has brought him into unusual promi¬ nence upon numerous occasions when expert opinion and matured advice were required to settle some ques¬ tion of importance to the building industry. Mr. Eidlitz is one of the important factors in many of the controversies that are constantly arising between the employers and workers in the building trades, and frequently has been called upon to settle debated points that have stood in the way of an agreement being reached. His advice and counsel have been taken with¬ out question by either side. (Continued on page 673.) OTTO MARC EIDLITZ. C. E.