The Washington times., 1905-02-12
BURIED WITHOUT
TRIJHPET'S BIAR[E
Commissioners Put Master
Builders Bill to SIeep.
DEATH EASED WITH PRAISE
Report Goes to Congress Recommends
ing That No Action Be Takes
at This Session.

! at This Session.
Without bIare OF trumpet or beat Of
drum the District Commissioners yester-
day afternoon quietly laid to rest the
much lamented master builders bill, to
which the publfc7s attention was attract
| ed by The Times Their short report
on the bill, submitted by J. w. Babeoek,
chairman OF the House District commit
tee. was the bills euIogy
| Like most eulogies, It CLOSED over
| the faults Of the departed, and in figure
| of speech piled high the grave with en-
| eoniun1s of praise.
| The Commissioners can easily be par
doned for dropping few gentle tears
upon the last resting place OF this young
| legislative effort. The Commissioners,
| it Will be remembered bore hand in
nursing the bill. though they disclaim It's
| parenta ge.
| The Final Blow.
| The report was prepared by Engineer
Commissioner BiddIe, and approved by
| both the other Commissioners In brief,
| it reeites the history of the bill before
| its youthful existence was nipped in the
bud OF promise. and explains the Conn
| missioners' reason for once reporting
in favor OF the immediate enactment of
| the measure. and later calling upon Con-
gress to pause and consider.
It closes with q recommendation that
no action on the bill be taken during
the present session Of Congress, which
was foregone conclusion, anyway, and
only needed the official action Of the Dis
triet triunvirate to make certainty,
Roar Went Up.
The master builders bill, which pro-
yided for an examination of all appli-
cants for licenses as builders by a board
Of five members to be appointed by the
Commissioners, two members Of the
board to be architects and two master
builders. was framed at the request OF
the master builders themselves, ap-
proved by Building Inspector Ashford.
and forwarded to Congress by the Com
missioners, with their approval, on De-
cember 30.
Immediately the glare Of publicity cen
tered upon the measure it began to
shrink in the estimation OF those who
had unwittingly fostered it.
The Times was the recipient of a null
titude of complaints and protests from
small builders and others whom the
measure threatened TO harm.
hearing was asked before the Com
80 granted. Dozens of or
ted at the
p was made
commissioners
their action.
result. The
',.sizf1' follows
ain.
-ed at the sug-
gestion u4 builders of the
District of Columbia. and its general
purposes were approved by the Building
Department
1T was drafted by the Corporation
Counsel. The purposes Of the bill, from
the point of view of the building de-
partment, were that by requiring regis
tration and bond it insured more care
ful and honest construction on the part
of the builders, permitting the Commits
sfoners, in case of bad construction, to
prosecute the guilty parties.
Under the present law the only re-
purse is against the owner, and he very
'ten is the innocent party, having let
contract perhaps to some builder in
ION he had confidence which was not
titled.
The present laws Of the District OF
Imbia require the licensing Of all
ling and other contractors, but do
specify who are or are not con-
1rs, so that as a matter of fact in
very unfairly, some persons or
taking out the license, while
doing similar work do not, and
no way of obliging them to do it.
le they do contract work, they
in the general contracting bust
See Light.
his bill was prepared there did
rs be any opposition to it, and
a. hearing, held in November
Ia la lection was raised TO its pro-
Wis
lieved by the Commissioners
tha met the general approval of
the
IS time, however, much op-
posit a developed. based mainly on
what isa4 ppear a restriction OF the
perso rized TO build, and dtpriv-
ing any persons of an oppor-
tunit. work of this nature; and
forcin price of work done
IN lie opposition. and on ac-
count artness of the remaining
time sion, the Commissi oneTs
have I mt time to thoroughly
ronside new aspects presented
They therefore recommend that no ac-
ton be taken by Congress on this bill
during the present session.