, 1876-04-07

coIIusroN or AncnsrEcrs AND nulLpEns.
10 the Editor Of The Chicago TRIBUNE:
CHICAGO, Apstl SIN Il late number Of your
papor you, to sono oxtont, ahowod up tho NO.
fafiotis manner in which tie buildings Of our
city and county arc being constructed.
1t la said that in this city tAore are 160 Arcll-
tocta more or lost, tho writer Of thie botug ono
Of thcm. and 10 onr shame BE- It said that out Of
that number thcro is hardly bakers dozan who
Conduct their baslnosB IA regards tlelr fees aud
otherwise in wav that would bear ,nvcRttga-
tion ut all and worry largo aharo OF lhcAe sre no
positively dtshoneat that they would Mot bo atn.
ployed ii thpy woro known By tho public as they
aro known by tlto butiders and :Leir brother
il ia an old and trto s.ylns that doctors know
themselves better than other people know them.
aud the snlno ru1o In applicable 10 architects.
1t ts fact vol know, 10 tho builders that
very large proportion OF thoao WHO dub tLcm-
Rcl7es architccte would not DO trusted 30 far ns
one would trust d dog With his dinner II Their
sw bas. as .hcy oa
from exposure by tliotr brother architects, be-
cause 1t IL always dcltcnte and tlnwGlcome
duty to preeent to public 9hzo tho shortcomings
Of thoae with whom they ought to bo on
the most frlondIy torms; and the interests ut
buildcrs ls against exposing them, because thoy.
tho builders, woud 10 decdadlY ct q diaad vant-
nge In obtaining work from thou, or III executing
II untsor their direction after tlloy bad obtained
ltt LUZ tHGIH hlH l0H-1 FV4J dulhll 4ulAVE4~
OF architocta In the city who sro In this respect.
as think, without spot OF bteD[ah, aud thoy
arc meu who aro wosl known III this community
not your eleok, oily-tohgned rog1les who Charm
your eyes md cars while they deliberately plot
to swindto you. but men who would scorn to
praetico auch deception on anybody. And II you
would know WHO tilcae men are, IS vol ~ who
tho toGuos hro. Inquire Of some Of our arat-class
buldorc,-ot whom. fortunately.w We have few.-
and they can point them out to you without any
Il il strange, indeed, that business mon,
ailurad by tho tempting bait Of gotttug their
work dono for halt she usual foe. will employ
these dilroputablo {ollo~B when II ought % be
pass without doubling, their fees by colus!on
with tho builders, md tho money thus obtained
always conaos ont OF tho proprietor.
What night has an architect to hoodFink hth
for small sum. nero "nominal" prico, and
then mako up %ho balauco by solling himsolf to
the buildors2 What individual would em-
Ploy an ,aEchitoct to fook after ills
interests In tho construction Of u
building, whom be understood was go compro-
1nisel by collusion With contractors that he
could net enforce d proper observance of =
contraot BY tho latter for foar OF exposure and
disgrace BY them :
When an architect stcps aside from the limo Of
Ills duty in this way hla Independence and iiyui-
" ia gouo, and he should bo mad0 10 Btep down
and OUT 1t onco. But ihose PRACTICES arc going
on III tho tmo, aod will. 80 long ns this kind of
post-tgadorehips arc profitable, and 30 long as
toct's service for hall ita value, ehan continue
to employ theae leochoB bocauso they can aud
Will oaten1lbly work for nnything they can get,
a mere nominal" pricc, and thon sell Them
solvos to tho butlder8 to make up the compile
mens OF thois fec. wnllo mon who conscientious
~ nerve their employers and charge Reasonable
fee for such scrvice muat ramAin idle for nAnt
OF business. AN ARCHITECT.