The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-18
BOARD CONFUSE
OVER THE PLANS
Police Court Designs Make
Bunch of Trouble.
DECISION FOLLOWS DECISION
Architect Submits More Than One
Sketch and the Result Is
Complicated.

The District Commissioners announced
this morning that Henry Simpson, Of
154 Fifteenth Street northwest, had sub
mitted the best plan for the new Po-
lice Court building.
An hour later they further announced
that they did not know who would get
the $3.50 set aside for the best plan
Half an hour after that they again
announced that, perht ps. all three ar
chitects who had beer given places at
the head Of the list or competitors might
be disqualified from the contest
The cause Of uncertainty was a be
lated discovery that each Of these archi-
tccts had submitted more than one plan.
The Commissioners are still uncertain
whether such action viii prevent the
awarding OF The prize as had been de-
termined on.
Plan of Competition.
The Tian Of conducting the competl-
tion was 20 have the architects submit
their plans, and. in separate envelopes
place their names. in the envelopes bear
ing the numbers of the plans. The idea
was 10 keep the Commissioners minds
from any possible influence by knowing
he names Of the architects.
Having picked out a plan that suited
them best they opened the envelope that
went with il by number. found that its
author was Henry Simpson. and declared
him the winner Of the competition.
An hour later II was discovered. wher
the other envelopes Werc open "a, thai
Simpson had submitted two plat Also
the next TWO architects, given places a
I honorable mention, had submitted. one
three plans. and the other two pIans
This was what caused the COmmissio.
crs TO hesitate.
A Puzzling Question.
According 10 the terms Of the eompe-
tition, could any architect take two
chances on winning the prize?
The matter will be carefully considere d
before a final decision is reached II
is claimed that any architect had a Der
feet right to submit two or three plans
If he chose 10 take the trouble. Others
argue that the ethics of the profession
compel architects. under such circuri-
stances, TO submit only one design.
The difficulty has caused the Commis-
sioners no little worry. as they were
well pleased with the design they had
selected, after many days OF serious
study and argument over IL. Even now
there are many who predict that Simp-
son Will eventually be awarded the 81 500
and that the building will be erected on
his design. The matter will be decided
/ IN day or two by the Commissioners
and Building Inspector Ashford
Mr., simpson is an Englishman who
has been IN Washington about ten years
According 10 his plans the building will
cost 81. 600 viii be of brick, is designed
| in the modern American style" and
modelled after "A hotel dc vile IN France
Big Court Rooms.
The District and United States Court
rooms will be on the first and second
floors, respectively measuring sixty
| feet in length and forty IN width. each
| having its north wall almost entirely OF
| glass. owing 20 ihe large number OF
windows reaching from floor 10 ceiling.
These rooms viii occupy the rear OF
| the building and will be flanked by the
| jury and witness rooms on one side, and
| by the clerks rooms on the other. y,
| their location i'm the rear, the court
| rooms viii be as far removed as possi.
Continued on Sixth PageD