The Washington times., 1905-01-16
HOUSE COMMITTEE
MAY GIVE HEARING
Ii Commissioners Slick to
Master Builders Bill.
OPPOSITION is ORGANIZING
Will Hold Mass Meeting at Riggs
HouseARaising Money to
Beat Measure.

Congress will grant the opponents of
the master builders bill q hearing if
the Cornmiss; ;oneis fail to W thdraw their
support Of the measure after the con-
ference to be held next Thursday morn
ing
This assurance was given this morn
ing to the committee of real estate men
by Representative Allen, of the House
committee which has the bill under
consideration. Members OF the realty
committee called at the Capitol today
and spent the morning in consultation
with those in whose hands the bill now
It was learned that the Senate com
mittee has already returned the objec-
tional measure TO the House as re-
suit of the vigorous protest made
against its passage After learning OF
this action. Col. James L. TAFT, chair
man OF the real estate mems commit
tee, called on Representative Allen to
ascertain what action the committee OF
the lower House proposed taking.
Waiting for Commissioners.
Mr. Alien said it would not be possi-
BILE TO grant ! hearing To the antagon-
lists of the measure until the Commits
sioners have heard the complaint against
its enactment. If the District Board fails
to revoke its Endorsement of the pro-
posed legislation, Mr.. Alien assured Col
onel TaiI that the House committee
would grant the oDposiI,of 4 hearing
Flans 10" tSfiorioW $ neellns a the
Riggs House se@e making rapid progress
SoJicSS nave Deen sent 10 AL Int real
estate interests IN the CITY, and II is eN-
pected that a representative number will
be in attendance at The meeting. Whlcn
Will take place az noon
Subscriptions 20 carry on the fight
against the master builders have been
generous. Already q large amount is
IN the hands OF the temporary or
ganization formed to protest against the
bill, and little fear is held that the op-
position will be handicapped for lack
of money.
Every effort is being made to enlist
the interest of every real estate broker
and builder in the city who is not in
league with the SO called building
trust The response has been prompt
and enthusiastic. and on the side of
those working against tne bIIi are some
OF the letGIng business interests IN
Washington.
Opinions as to the virtue of the meas
ure continue to be expressed by its an
tagonistS aEd supporters alike.
Views of Nj. Soper.
William Soper, a builder, in com
nunication to The Times. has this to
Say regarding the situation:
Whoever is pressing the master
builders bill before Congress rs missing
the mark. unless it is their purpose to
create monopoly for few of the
largest builders The place to strike is
at the architects. If it were not for the
builders, incompetent as some Of them
may be, many of the houses put up IL
Washington would tumble down before
completion. Builders are expected IL
follow the architects plans and speci-
hcations in detail, and from what
have observed the architects are the
ones who should be brought before an
examining board.
.Monopolies NAV be in order when
we consider that there are many build.
ers who do not superintend their work
out leave il to their foremen | would
appeal to every business man to pro-
test against this bill The next thing
We know a first-class joiner will be re.
quired TO pass an examination and tel
how much wheat is raised in Minnesota
Or some equally pertinent thing