Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-10-01
THE ARCHITECTS REPLY.
What He Has to Say About the Fees
for the Court House.
Los ANGELES, Sept. 20,

Los ANGELES, Sept. 20, 1890.
EDITORS HERALD: Referring to
communications in the Los An
geles Times, signed taxpayer"
and to the editorial commenta-
ries on the same, in justice to Mr.. Cur
lett and to the profession at large, l
desire to make statement of facts here
to relating, and also to architectural
practice in general.
l shall quote from "the scale of archi-
tects' charges and professional practice
of architects as Endorsed by the Ameri-
can Insti tute of Architects
LIST. For full professional services per
cent on the cost of the work, inclusive
of partial services as follows, viz.
Preliminary studies, per cent; pre-
liminary studies, general drawings and
specifications, 2% per cent; preliminary
studies, general drawings, specifications
and detailst 31a per cent.
End. For warehouses and factories 81
per cent of the cost.
3rd. The architect bases his pro-
fessional charge upon the entire cost to
the owner Of the building when COM
pleted, including all the fixtures
necessary, to render it fit for occupation,
and is entitled to fair additional COM
pensation for furniture, or other articles,
designed or purchased by the architect.
4th. Drawings as instruments OF SER
vice are the property of the architect.
9Th. That the supervision or superin-
tendence by an architect, as distin-
guished from the superintendent by a
clerk Of the works means such occasional
inspection of a building in process of
erection or of other work, as the archi-
tect, personally or by deputy, finds nee
essary to insure its being executed in
conformity with his designs, and speci-
tications, orsdirections, and to enable
him to decide when the successive in
stallments with the contractors are due
and payable.
1t includes among his other duties,
the exercise of authority to stop the
progress of work condemned under it,
to decide in constructive emergencies,
and to order necessary changes.
9th. On buildings where it is necessary
to employ clerk of works, the remun-
Grafton of said clerk is to be paid by the
owner or owners, in addition to any
commission or fees due the architect.
The selection or dismissal of the clerk of
works is to be subject to the approval of
the architects.
7th. None of these charges above
enumerated cover professional or legal
services connected with negotiations for
site, disputed party walls, right of light,
measurement of work or services Incl
dental to arrangements consequent up
on the failure of contractors during the
performance of the work.
When such services become necessary
they shall be charged for according to
time and trouble involved.
Now in making the above resume OF
what is and has been the legitimate
custom of professional practice, not only
in the United States but in Europe as
well, I, as an associate of Mr.. Curlett,
in the firm of Curlett & Eisen, desire to
enlarge upon the above American Insti-
tute quotations, and to note to what
degree the reimbursement of the court
house architect, has varied with the
above accepted custom. ! use the word
reimbursement for the present, know
ing as | do that the Los Angeles oficS,
situated within stones throw of the
court house, has suffered an expense
for the first two years ranginA
from 800 to 600 dollars per month, biz