The Washington times., 1905-01-20

The climax in the agitation started
by The Washington Times over ts~ pro-
posed law establishing a board 10 ex-
anime and license builders and centfse-
tors in the District OF Columbia MS
reached to-day whensoyere EJG interestesi
citizens met in the District Builsal--s
board room 10 present te the thr1e Dis
trict Commissioners their arguments for
ard against the proposed measure.
Representatives Of dozen different
interests were present, and many were
unable TO gain entrance 10 the crowded
| room Arguments were limited to five
minutes in length for each person. and
thirty men were heard on the subjeet
before the conference adjourned
Substitute Bill Offered.
Early in the hearing a new light was
thrown on the situation by the introduc-
ton of substitute measure by 5. H
Warner. which. If adopted. removes the
chief bone Of contention-the proposed
examination-tkough still retaining the
license fee and bond for builders
Many OF those who came TO oppose the
original bill stayed 10 speak favorably
of the substitute. while others remain
ed rigidIy opposed 10 the builders bill
| or anything that smells Of it
The substitute represents. according 10
Mr Warner, the views OF large num-
her of master builders and other eiti-
zens OF influence in the District who
are opposed 70 the bill now pending in
Congress It8 also provides for prose
cution for failure 10 observe building
regulations.
The bill requires every person, firm,
or corporation licensed TO engage in
building 10 file bond TO be approved by
the Commissioners for not less than
800 and not to exceed S.0O0. for the
faithful performance OF all work in COM
piiance with the building regulations,
drawings and specifications TO be fled
with and approved by the building in
spector's office
The annual license of builders is fixed
at $40. Penalties are provided for vio-
IationS Of the provisions of the bill, and
IL is declared to be unlawful for owners,
! leSsees, tenants. OF occupants OF build
( ings TO employ unlicensed persons to do
any constructing, reconstruetinS, or
structural repairs.
Speakers Heard.
| The speakers aIternated for and
| against the original measure. and Com
missioner Macfarland. president of the
/ Board, called first on the represSutati- -e
of the Master Brick Layers Ass1eIa-
tion, at the request OF which the neaf-
/ ing was held.
/ Following the arguments presented by
| this organization a representative in
/ favor of the original bill was heard and
! then in turn every other representative
present who desired to be heard
| Among those who spoke duSng the
course OF the hearing were the following
opponents Of the bill:
Thomas Hughes. representing the
Master Brick Layers Association: Cci
James TAFT. representing the Riggs
House conference, OF real estate men
and others; B. H Warner, representing
group OF master builders: ". Nick
Clayton. representing special interests
and the Brightwood Citizens Associa-
tion; E. a. NJ Lawson. representing the
Northeast Suburban Citizens Associa-
tioni joseph Williams. representing the
small builders; MILFORD Spohn. repre-
seating Brick Layers Union No. /;
Michael l. Weller, representing proper
" owners and builders: Dr. A p. Far
don. Louis 1. Rand. builder, and ]. W.
BraSheaTs.
Those who favored the proposition
with speech were John J. Langley, rep
resenting the original Master Builders
Association of the District OF Columbia,
not incorporated; and Samuel J. Pres
cott. repre- senttng the Master Builders
ASSccfe JloH. incorporated
At the beginning of the hearing Com
missioner Macfariand outlined the his
tory Of the bin as far as the District
Commissioners have had anything TO do
with II. He wished TO correct the
statemt nj that the measure had origi-
referred TO the Commissioners py Con-