The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-05
Citizens 10 Oppose Change
Before Congress - Fac
That Neither Official is an
Architect to Be- Pointed
Unsatisfactory Re
suits Are Feared.

Attention af District officials has been
called TO provision of aEa District
appropriation bill. as passed log the
House, for RETURN TO the system c.
having all municipal bGtzAlEs con
s1ruc-0E under plans and specifics tiaus
pre2sraI u-5ar the supervision OF the
inspector o5 rla District Of Columbia
and approved by the superintendent Of
the Capitol Building and The Commits
Biou-~s or The District
a delegation of District citizens viii
20 before tEe Senate committee Tor the
purpose Of submitting arguments point
ing out The injustice of the proposed
change. aal advocating that this pro
vision te STRICKEN out Of the bill
For several years che District has been
erecting an envjable class Of municipal
buildings. particularly Tor the public
schools. The competitive system has
been in rogue. 20 the end hat a EoodIy
assortment OF specifications has been
offered and The Commissioners have
been able 10 make selection Of the one
best adapted TO the needs. This plan is
regarded as more satisfactory than any
ever suggested.
Neither is an Architect.
The principal objections made to the
proposed change are that neither the
superintendent Of the Capitol nor the
District Inspector Of Buildings is an
architect The fear IS expressed that
the barn-Iike class of buildings with
which the District has several times
been threatened. may be the result Of
The passage Of mis- provision OF the ap-
preparation bin
No plausible excuse has been offered,
say District authorities. fer adopting O
system for the District shat has proven
unsatisfactory to the government. At
EentIou Is called 10 the fact that the
various Government departments invite
competition now whenever an appTG-
priation is made for new buildings
The Objectionable Provision.
The provision so seriously objected to
appears on page 90 of the Dis.xict bill
aud Follows the appropriations made
for the construction of new school build
ings as follows. TOWARD The consUuc-
ton of business high school. $4,000
providing the total cost is not to exceed
S175, 600; for site and to begin constrUc-
tiou in Second division Of an eiEht-room
school building S8o.0o0. total cost not 10
exceed $4,000. for site and toward con
struction in Sixth division OF eight-room
building S30. 600. total cost NOS to exceed
Ss33,5#6i for four-room addition 10 Ia
koma school 500 coo
The text of the proposed change in
he system Of procuring plans follows:
That the plans and specifications for
school buildings shall be prepared under
the supervision of the Inspector Of
Buildings Of the District Of Columbia
and shall be approved hy the Commis-
sjoners OF The District ana shall be con
sJructed by the Commissioners ia con-
formity herewith and The plans and
specifications for all other buildings pro-
vided for in This act shall bee prepared
under The supervision of the Inspector
OF Buildings Of the District Of Columbia
and shall be approved Dry The superln-
Iendent OF the Capitol Building ana rEe
Commissioners Of The District. and shall
be constructed in conformity herewith "