The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-23
An ARCHITECTS LAW.
Details of an Important Bill
Framed by the State
Society.

When the New Jersey Society of Archie
tects was organized over year ago. ID
was an open secret that one of its chief
causes for being was the regulation to
some extent to the practice of architecture
in this State. 1t was at first proposed to-
present bill to the Legislature of last
year to fix a definite system for the adj
mission of architects to practice. This
plan was abandoned, as it was felt the
new society had hardly time to get itself
| into proper shape to draft such a bill and
present its significance and value to the
public, says the Newark Sunday 'CalI'
of February 20.
Last Monday night, however, such a
bill was presented in the Senate by Sena-
tor Daily. This bill directs that within two
months of the passage of the act the Gov
ernor of the State shall appoint five per-
sons, all practicing architects in New
Jersey, these persons to constitute ths
State Board of Architects. Two are to
serve for one year and the rest for two
years. This board is to hold examinations
at least twice a year for applicants who
wish to practice architecture in the State.
All applicants must be at least N years
| of age, and if they pass the examination,
shall receive certificate authorizing
them to do business as architects. Be-
fore taking the examinations the appli-
cant must pay fee of five dollars to the
| board and after taking it, if success
| full, he must pay fifteen dollars more be-
| fore he receives his license.
| Persons practicing architecture in tbs
1 State at the time of the passage of the act
do not have to take the examination, but
must pay a fee of five dollars in order to
I
American Institute of Architects are
| also exempt from examination, as
are architects holding license from
| similarly constituted boards in 9TH
er States. The holders of license are to
record them with the County Clerk, and
| the fee for recording them shall be the
same as for recording deed. A correct
| list of all licensed architects shall be fled
with each County Clerk by the State
! Board, which shall report to the County
| Clerk each license within ten days after
it is granted. Persons practicing archi-
| lecture in the State at the time of the
! passage of the act cannot get their
| license until they have submitted affida-
Wits to the State Board setting forth the
| fact.
| Any license may be revoked in case Of
! SIOSS incompetence, lSAloidHCo OT QlH1lOA~
est practice, but the holder of a license
| is to have at least twenty days in which
] to answer the charges against him. The
] board is therefore to have the powers of
court of record, sitting in the county
where their meetings may be held, and
may issue subpoenas and compel the at
| tendance and testimony of witnesses; wit
nesses to be entitled to the same fees as
1 &c in, q of
cused shall be entitled to the subpoena Of
| the board for his witnesses, and reason-
able opportunity to produce witnesses be-
fore them and to be heard in person or by
counsel in open trial. No license may be
revoked except upon unanimous vote of
| all the members of the board.
"If any person shall pursue the practice
of architecture in the State" directs the
act, "or shall engage in this State in the
business of preparing plans. specifications
and preliminary data for the erection and
alteration of buildings. or shall advertise
| or put out any sign, card or drawing
| designating himself as an architect, hav-
| ing an office or doing business within the
/ State without a license therefor, in ae-
| cordance with the provisions of this act,
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
| upon open conviction shall be fined not
|
| less than $50 and not more than $500 for
/ each offense."
Students or employees of licesed archi-
| tects may act for or upon the authority
| of such architects. and any one may de-
! sign his own building, or may act as q
| designer for another person so long as
| the other person knows he Is unlicensedl
| Duly accredited architects in other States
| may also do work in this State, and may
| supervise construction here, without of-2
| Tending the act. Members of the State
Board are to be entitled to reimburse
ment for travelling expenses and hotel
! bills. up to $5 day for each. An item-
| lied account of such receipts and expendi-
| tures is to be kept by the secretary of the
| State Board and a report thereof each
year ending with September. duly veri-
| fed by the affidavit of the secretary of
the board. is to be filed with the Secretary
| of State each year Any surplus of the
fees exceeding $500 is to be paid annually