The Washington times., 1902-06-01
m ARCHITECTS AND OBSCURlTY "

advised the litigiously inclined to pay
their bills.
How many architects dare charge a
penny over the so-called legal per
cent, however difficult or responsible
the work, and how many have prospec-
tive clients respectfully waiting around?
Fewer still are they whose clients pro-
claim them great after passing through
their hands.
A lot of men who will spend s60.C00 in
competitive plans for building COM
mittee that did not even take the trou-
BILE to look at those plans before or
dering'' new competition, involving
further outlay of $4,000 to the competi-
| tors, and then decided not to build at
all-those men, l say, need not wonder
why the aforesaid committee did not
even thank them for their trouble. This
is not an isolated case. but one of the
many high-handed actions common to
people who have buildings to erect. Are
you surprised that such things occur?
Is 1t not more TO be wondered at. rather.
that such a lowly and meek profession
is not oftener made to serve the general
purposes OF door mat?
Supposing l have studied and trav-
eled and delved for thirty years, and
built great structures and believe my
self fully equipped to meet any demand;
supposing. in fact. should have gotten
we'll up toward the top notch OF my So
called profession. And supposing a fell
low takes an office next to mine and also
hangs out the magic word. architect"
even though last week he was a plumber
or a candle-stick maker. Well, what
happens? People are as apt to employ
him as me. He probably will skirmish
around and talk big. and ii he is shrewd
enough to employ clever craftsman
he will turn out some pretty catchy
sketches; he will cut his rates, and the
chances are he will have twice the bust.
ness / have next year. Supposing he
does get things all tangled up. and
buildings cost more than they should,
etc; his clients may congratulate them
selves things are no worse they feel
sure there would have been as much
trouble with any other architect. They
are all the same, you know.
And why should he not be employed?
True. he bears no brand, the State has
not licensed hint does its plumbers
there has been no imposition OF hands
or other ceremony; he just says he is an
architect, and there you are, But neither
has the State licensed me. have come
in by the same road as he. We have all
come in that way. That | have tasted
and prayed and done long noyitiate.
and am really thoroughly prepared for
the work | am willing to undertake
seems TO be no concern of the public IA
a matter OF fact. from the public's stand
point, was | not great Ounce to go to
so much trouble; am | not lacking in
business shrewdness for not having
taken as short cut as he did?
This is not lamentation, mark you.
am finding no fault with the dear pub
lie. am simply telling you how things
are. Perhaps you have given scaut
thought TO the subject before. know,
indeed, that you have not thought about
ii at all
have shown YOU the sore. Dcrhacs I
have offended in making its unsishtli-
ness conspicuously apparent. Will you
not aid in healing it, Give the devil
his due; show some appreciation when
il seems to be merited. Do not so out
Of your way to cast slurs upon us. AZ
least do not place obstacles in the way
of those who are doing the dressing. and
Ave years from now | will paint you
another Picture in words. perhaps as
poorly drawn Us this. but under the far
more PLEASING heading OF THE Profes-
sion OF Architecture Fine Art w.
F1tzpatrick. of the Treasury Department
In the INLAND Architect"