b'prices.Mandatorycontrolswereimposedwiththehope thatduringthecontrolperiod,theemployersand unionsintheconstructionindustrycouldachieve bargainingparity.Whileprogresstowardthisgoal hasbeenmade,thegoalhasnotyetbeenachieved. Bargainingimbalancecontinueswiththecertainresult ofinflationarywageincreasesettlementsshouldmandatorycontrolsbeeliminatedatthistime. Atthepresenttime,roofingcontractorsacrossthe countryaswellascontractorsintheotherconstruction tradesarefacedwithunprecedentedandstaggeringprice increasesofmaterials.Suppliersofroofingmaterials, particularlyasphalt,pitch,feltsandinsulation,have recentlyannouncedtherewillbenopriceprotectionor advancenoticeofpriceincreasesofanykind.Togive youagraphicexample,thepriceofroofingasphalt deliveredinKansasCityhasdoubledsinceJanuary1, 1974,from$SOto$98perton.Insomepartsofthe country,asphaltpriceshavesoaredtoasmuchas$13S aton;andinsomeareasroofingasphaltisunavailable atanyprice.Substantialincreasesinthecostofroof insulationareanticipatedshortly. Compoundingthepriceincreasesituationisthe extremeshortageofconstructionmaterialsofallkinds. Ordersplacedtodaymaynotbeshippedforsixmonths, orlonger. Inthefaceofthiscompletelyunprecedentedsituation,roofingcontractorsinallpartsofthecountryand otherconstructioncontractorsarefightingforeconomic survival.Somearesimplydecliningtobiduntilthe situationstabilizes.Othersareincludingbidmarkups intendedtocovereventhemostextremepriceincreases. Eliminationofmandatoryconstructionindustrywage controlsatthistimewouldcompoundthepresentinflationarypressuresresultingfrompriceincreasesfor__ materialsandcreateanupwardsurgeinconstructioncosts withoutparallelintheeconomichistoryofthiscountry. Verytrulyyours, /s/RobertP.Lyons ExecutiveSecretary Itappearsthatagreatnumberofconstructioncontractorassociationsaswellasnumerousindividualcontractorshavewrittentothe AdministrationandtoCongressmenurgingthecontinuationofcontrols. Whiletherehasnotbeen,toourknowledge,anofficial Administration statementinresponsetothecontractorletters,informalsourcesin Washingtonindicatethatthemassivecontractorresponsetogetherwith supportbysomeoftheinternationalunionsmayhaveswayedChairman Dunloptothepositionofcontinuingconstructioncontrols.'