The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
RING THAT WRECKS BUILDING
TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH or
WHAT SrARRETT SAYS tBOJTIT. 8
Builder HoSsson Tcns Of $1,000 Loot
Divided Among Fake Competitors
for "A Job at Plastering 80. 900 Profit
r. Stlll Ipft In II Then Remedies.

W. j. Hogrs1u OF Hoggson Bros OF
East ForIv-f fourth street. who have been
for many years in the butlIihE iS4-
ness here confirmed Yesterday all that
Theodore Stnrrett of thr Thumpson -S.Hrrett
Comnany, has been saying concerning
existing conditions IN The building ln'llStiY
In thia civ. Mr. starr EFT has charged that
there IL a conspiracy between rng OF en-
blowing builders and trades unions. WHEREBY
cornpatition "a virtually crushed ont ana
owners sui, ected TO merc7less cxtortlon.
a,rhat statement IA absolutely correct
said Mr.. Hoggson yesterday, 9uch coz
hjsion as Mr. Starrett points out does exist
~ NV knowledge it has existed at least
ten years. and how much longer | do not
know. II exists not onty mere IN Ne"
York but IL has spread 10 other cities We
found lust such rings both in cities IN Louls.-'
ana and In Tennessee. where we recently
put up buildings. But here in New York
1t nourishes TO perfection
"To give an idea OF what farce compe-
tition is reduced to here in New YORK leo
me- cite lust one instance which came uncer
my observation not long ago certain
lob of plastering was lot TO the lowest oil
four or five bidders for 81 900. When the
lowest bidder got his contract for that
figure he divided up just $1,000 among
the three or four other competitors and
then went ahead and did the job on the
$40 900 basis that was left after tho DIS
tribution of plunder-out' Of which he, Of
course, got his share,
He made s. 900 or 5000 profit on tho
lob at $4,000, That. you, will allow, waS
a pretty good profit of itself. The SlloOo
he divided up with his fellow competitors
was pure plumber. the result OF a ring com
bination before the bids we're put in Inns
information was given to mo in person by
one OF tho competitors engaged in the
transaction
sNow that Is Just a specimen OF what goes
on In the competitive bidding in all the
trades engaged in the erection OF building
carpenters. plumbers, painters. brick-
LAYERS. iron workers. all the rest Of them
The moor owner has not n single friend in
this c,ltthroat work. His architect even,
technically, is his enemy. for the architect
nav ia a percentage on the cost OF the build
ing.
"Of course, do not mean the slightest
reflection on the profession OF architecture
The architects of this city and elsewhere
In the country have in their ranks men OF
the highest sense Of honor. But just sup
pose for one instant if one may indulge
in 80 bold fight of fancy just suppose
that an architect could be found who was
actuated by mercenary motives. Don't
YOU see that his interests become absolutely
inimical to the interests OF the ownerf
What such an architect would do would he
to make a building cost just as much moro
beyond the estimates as the owner could
be made to stand. lam informed thao hls-
tory has afforded instances Of architects
actually acting on that principe, or rather
lock of principle.
THE owner has nobody on his side A
is a clear case Of Hit him again; he's got no
friends' And 40 they do hit him light and
left up TO the very limit Of his endurance
and sometimes beyond it.
~But it Il not from mercenary motives
on the par If rh> architect that the ownor
neoe3st riiy siIers He suffers most as q
matter If fsct from tho architect Z Jack Of
practical knowledge Of the trade condi-
lions in building and from tho cutthroat
competitive methods that prevail. The
architect IS an artist Perhaps the better
artist he is tho more poorly - he equipped
TO meet the practical things the rings, the
combines and what not that the actual erec-
ton of has building iuyolyes
Inc OMItI kptN ~ ttlt hl'IlAi'fA HAtN
saws: y want TO put up building to cost
no more than $500 900. Make me plans for
n structure that can lie finished for that
money Tho architect makes tho plans
and the estimates. The plans arc salts
factory and the estimates within the
amount
Then comes the invitation 10 contractors
for bids. And night there is where the
Tho rat
their work The Job can't be done for the
original estimate Either the plans must
be modified OF the limit Of cost raised
The architect trims down HIS plans as little
"a possible and jacks up the owner Tor
additional money "a much "a possible.
1t ia the rule that buildings here IN New
York cost three, four five or even more
times the original estimates before they
ere completed You would be astounded
al the figures IN some OF these cases, The
owner who mas begun his building * abso-
Iutely at tho mercy Of those into whose
hands no has fallen He has launched
his boat and is IN a bowling tempest with
no pilot but his architect, VINO IL about as
helpless in the emergency a. ne Is uin-ci.
sand finally when the blll.iiug Is At last
completed what s the -ituauon' The
owner has been hatasscd, months Of his
time has been wasted and he has not got
what he wants and what he was told he
could have for the sum he was prepared
Inatelv what he does want anl has paid ONT
three or four times wha he set ont to spend.
Il know but one instance where the
owner OF a building here in New York came
out satisfied That WAS in tic case Of one
OF the big bank buildings recently erected.
Tho president Of the bank waa the man who
was satisfied and he explained IL 10 'ae
In this way:
y told the architect to figure out the
utmost cost of putting w - building aC-
cording 10 certain plans he submitted
He did 80. l just exactly doubled his figures
in my own mind and my own calculation
was 81 little under the actual cost that /
felt satisfied.
This state 81 affairs In The building
trade in New York II prcpos'erous aud cun-
not continue. One way ont Of II is for "a
responsible third party, thoroughly in
formed in the practical workings If the
building business. 20 stand latween the
owner the architect and the building tradcs.
let him take the amount the owner "a pre-
pared to spend and guarantee the con-
struction at building within those figures
on the basis Of plans which the owner ap-
proves and which the gunruntor knows
from his knowledge Of the business can to
carried TO completion FOR the sum -pcCi-
fed let this third persons profits be u
agreed upon percentage Of the hNcd price
settled on with the owner. the owner 20 get