Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-16
THE MECHANICS LIEN LAW.
kEoVs 1t Affects Building Operations
Az Interview with VIZ. Thomas J.
Fisher.

'The mechanics lien law passed by Congress
last session is having very serious effect upon
building interests in the CITY," said Mr.. Thomas
j. Fisher. the well-knOwn real estate man to a
STAR reporter. ut operates greatly to the dis
advantage of the city. and, later on the effect
will be felt in a great reduction in the number
OF buildings erected"
why should it operate so seriouslysn asked
The STAR
Because it Is not safe to advance money on
a building in the course of construction. and no
one will do it. 1t has always been custom
with men who have a bit of ground and money
enough to start building to begin the work,
and. after prosecuting it to q certain approach
to completeness, to borrow money on it to 90
ahead. This they could always do very readily
heretofore, all parties being perfectly safe i'm
their Investment. Now. piece OF property in
this condition may be covered with debts of
which the owner knows nothing. and of the ex-
istence OF which there is no way of learning IN
til the claims are presented"
.How can that be-"
'Why the new lien law" said Mr. Fisher,
gives to every man who furnishes either ma
terial or work on the building legal claim
upon it, which. without having been on record.
can be collected if presented within three
months after the completion of the building
In this way. you see, mans house may be
mOrtgaged to its full value even after he has
once paid for 1t. He may pay the contractor.
and yet if he does not see that he In turn paws
for everything. the wOrkmen and material men
may all put i'll their claims under the lien law
and force repayment"
This must be very depressing upon builGinp
enterprse?"
1t is, and later on it will be felt even more.
There are many buildings now in the course of
construction which will soon reach that stage
when the owners will want to borrow money
on them to assist in their completion, and they
will find it very difficult to do so. Many will
probably have to be allowed to stand in a half
hnished state. know now of gentlemen who
wants TO borrow money to complete $50 900
house. and can get no one to let him have il on
account OF the uncertainty OF this security
There are lots of people who would be GLAD
enough to let him have the money ii ii were not
for this new law, but with 1t in force there is
no security at all: dishonest contractor might
load house down with mort RACES and there
would be no way of discovering it,
Il won't put out money on any uncontrolled
building unless know the contractor On the
first of last May promised gentleman who
was commencing some new houses that when
he got them far enough advanced would loan
nm the money he wanted on them. Mean
! while this bill was passed, and when I was
| called on to fulfill my promise, was as good rs
without security. 1t gave me no end of trouble
| could not disappOint the gentleman so the
only thing could do was to get the written
statement OF all the wOrkmen aud material men
mat they had no claim on the property The
bill, too. operates greatly to the disadvantage
| OF many very good contractors and workmen
who have not property enough to secure one
against loss at their hands"
What will be done to correct this?"
II don't know; but / understand that some
OF the lumber men are going to petition Com
gTess next session TO repeal the law"
TITLE sEARCHER's VIEW.
Mr.. Buchanan Beale, secretary of the Title
: Insurance company, stated to STAR reporter
THAT many complaints were made respecting the
law, although its worst effects were not vet felt.
as sufficient time had not elapsed since the law
went into effect. To insure title it was neces-
sary to hunt up all the parties who may have
furnished labor or material on building, or
depend upon the affidavit of the owner of the
| property.
when we give an abstract Of titles said Mr..
| Beale, I'VE always attach to Ii synopsis of the
| mechanics lien law, SO that the person for
whom we make the title may have full warning.
| We furnish only an abstract of the record in
| such case, and do not hold ourselves respon-
bic for anything else. In case, however. a per-
| son discovered afterwards that a lien was filed
| against the property he might blame us, SO we
attach this synopsis to the abstract that he
| may be on his guard"
The form of the notice o. warning appended
| to the abstract is as follows.
Under the act OF Congress Of July 2 1894 II any
building has been erected or repaired on said ground
4
contractor material man, JOurneyman, or lab0rer'
SHAH, within three months after the completion of
such building or REPAIRS file in the clerks office a
notice OF his intention to hold lien upon said
premises for payment for work DONE or material or
| machinery furnished or contracted for, In and
about or connected with such building, such lien
| VIII De preferred to all judgments, mortgages,
deeds Of trust. liens and Membranes which
attach upon said building or the ground aforesaid
Subsequent to the commencement OF said building,
or repairS'D
|
4 The German authorfffpS are urenorfnr orree<
! Johann Most who Is now supposed to be In New
YORK city, II he should venture To return To En-