Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-04
THE ARCHITECTS OFFICE.
Mr. Carrere Declined Because of Bat
Condition of Work.

In a recent interview in the New York
Sun Mr. John NJ. Carrere, the New York
architect detailed the efforts of the archi-
tects' committee to secure the passage OF
the McKaig bill providing for an improved
system of government architecture and the
efforts they had made to induce Mr.. Bank
head, chairman of building and grounds
committee, to withdraw his opposition to
the measure. 1--WE told Mr. Bankhead."
said Mr. Carrere, that we We're not riding
a hobby, and did not advocate any particu-
lar form of bill so long as the principle in
yolved was carried out. We told him that
the existing bill had the support of the
thinking people of the country and of Con-
gress. We asked for his reason for taking
q stand against it, and he positively re-
fused to give any. and then uttered that
famous remark about running the country
hy reckless expenditure of money. TIE
McKaig bill does not touch work IN hand.
1t only applies to the work OF the future,
and that work would be under the legisla
ton of the House and Senate committees
on public buildings.
THAT he acting absolutely for po-
litical motives could easily be seen. and We
retired. 1t is the general impression in
Washington and among architects that
Logan Carlisle runs the architectural part
of his fathers business. When ex-Supervis-
ing Architect O'Rourke disagreed with Mr..
kenper, his assistant, who is an intimate
chum of Logan Carlisle, ORourke went
and Kemper remained. 1t is the opinion Of
many well-irformed people that O'Rourke
went because Logan Carlisle said he was
| to go. Do you suppose Logan Carlisle would
want a commission of architects and en-
gineerS? This is opinion, of course, but i,
is entertained by every architect who
| worked for the McKaig bill, and may it not
account for the action of Mr.. Bankhead?
Now, as to my declining the place offer
| ed Ivy Secretary Carlisle. In the first place
the condition of the work in the architec
t,ral bureau is almost indescribable from
| the point of view of both the architect and
the business man. DisorganiZa ton is the
| only word for it. For instance. right ir
Washington one contractor has contract
| TO put a roof building iii thirty days
| under forfeiture, and the walls Of the
| building are not half up.
1.-The iron framework of the flooring III
| that building is in position as far as it is
| built and the masons have not been allow
| ed to place their fire blocking in it. Labor
| ers are walking over those floors in mo-
] mentary danger of death. Mr.. kemper re-
| Gently went before the House committee
| and admitted that the work could not be
| done in proper order. One building had
| been built in which provision had been
made for plumbing.
| There is not a man from top to bottom
| who has had the experience that would
| justify his holding his place. Logan Car
| isle is no architect, and yet he is said to
| run the bureau.
| ID. H. Burnham, the director general of
| the worlds fair had the best assistance
| the country could afford. He had ali the
| work concentrated in one place. The SUI
| pcrvsing architect of the Treasury Depart
| ment has his work scattered all over the
| country, and is supposed to do the work
that Burnham and all his assistants did.
Then between him and his work comes the
| politician. Do you wonder I declined? If
| made the present system success there
| would never be a change. By constant
fighting we will get what the people ought
| to have