Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16
OPPOSE LICENSE BILL
. III
Real Estate ] Men Form an
Organization.
WILL HAVE HEARING
EFFORT TO DEFEAT MEASURE FOB
LICENSING BUILDERS.
Ask for Permission to Appear Before
Congressional Committees-Mass
Meeting to- Be Held.
WILL HAVE HEARING

A number of leading real estate men,
dealers in building material and individual
builders of Washington gathered in the
parlors Of the Riggs House Saturday after
noon to outline plan of action whereby
1t Is expected to defeat the proposed bill
to license master builders in the District
OF Columbia permanent organization
was formed for the purpose of fighting
the proposed measure with unity of effort,
and the following officers were elected:
PRESIDENT, James L. TAFT of TAFT, Omwake
q Co.; vice president, David Moore of
Moore & Hill. and secretary, Ernest H.
Daniel of Willige. Gibbs & Daniel.
The gentlemen present elected commit
tee to appear before the District Commits
sioners next Thursday morning, when a
public hearing will be held on the bill, and
also to arrange for a hearing before the
Congressional committees for some later
date. This committee consists Of Messrs.
James L. TAFT. David Moore, A. w. NAL
lory, ]. E. McLeran, r. E. Bradley and H.
E. Milburn, the latter a local builder.
Regarded as Building Trust.
The meeting Saturday afternoon was pre-
sided over by Mr.. James L. TAFT, who
characterized the proposed license bill as
product of the building trust" Mr.. Tait's
marks on the bill were couched in vigorous
language LAS 1 understand the bill.' said
Mr.. TAFT, ut provides for the appointment
OF master builders examining board.
consisting Of two, architects. two builders
and one inspector of buildings.
1T provides. furthermore that each
builder, before he Is given license to carry
on his business. must pass a prescribed
examination, for, which he must pay an
entrance fee of 80. If he passes the exam
nation, he must then pay $50 and furnish
bond In the sum of not less than 5000.
III all these provisions are not carried
out he at once becomes liable to a fine of
from SO to $50, or three months in the
workhouse.
Now, how does a proposition of that
kind sound to- a freeborn American citi-
to establish a whipping post in the Dis
trict. 80.
ION the latter point some of you may
not agree with me, but feel am voicing
the sentiment of every one here when l
say the bill now before Congress is simply
a blind to establish trust in the building
industry of Washington.
mo attempt should be made to con-
ceal the fact that the measure is drafted
wholly In the interest of the prosperous
and influential builder Its provisions shut
out the smaller builder entirely and leave
nothing for him to do but quit business.
1t seems odd, therefore, that the Com
missioners should approve the proposition.
Especially is their support striking when
it is recalled that the bill is contrary to
laws In force in the United States govern
ment and ,an5,cehtrast to the expressed
At the close Of Mr. Tait's remarks the
meeting arranged for holding mass meet
ing tomorrow r Notices, are to be sent to
practically all the real estate men in the
city. while builders opposed to the meas
ure will also be invited to take part in the
conference syE,
MI. aTaliaferro's Comment.
Mr.. James A. Taliaferro spoke briefly rel
alive to the PROPOSED legislation There
is no law in the District" he said. ''to pro-
hibit the employment of these gentlemen
who are promoting the bill. provided they
offer the same Inducements as men in and
out of Washington. But it would be wrong
to pass a law to compel us to employ these
men regardless OF whether plans and Specf-
fcations in prices are desirable and salts
factory. r. .--e... .-. -.
LAS to the nature of the examination
which would be prescribed by the board it
is only matter of speculation. But # the
advocates would specify the questions to be
asked there would be less opposition to the
ILL.
there is no reason to believe the examina-
lions would be theoretical there is still moth
ing to show they would not be theoretical.
1T might be a repetition of the plumb
ers' predicament. understand many prac-
teal plumbers are. unable to obtain licenses
In the District simply because they cannot
answer a few theoretical questions"
Those Present.
Among those present at the meeting were
James A. Cahill, B. F. Swartzell, Charles
A. Shields, j. A. Wynkoop. W. II. Ridenour,
II. Rozier Dulany, E. r. Schwartz, E. T.
Kaiser, P. C. Hawn, E. T. Forrest, John
Scribner, Maj. s. H. Walker, Franklin T.
Sanner, Lester A. Barr, j. B. Winner. Mr..
Ellyson, Mr.. Wemple and Mr.. Blundon.
A strong supporter of the bill has made
his appearance in the person of W. S.
Eames of st. Louis, the president of the
American Institute of Architects
Mr. Eames has written to Commissioner
Macfarland as follows
My attention has been called to a bill
now pending before Congress for licensing
the building contractors, and beg leave to
state that after reading it's provisions con-
slider the bill a very desirable measure, and
trust that the Commissioners will give it
hearty support