Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-25
GRADING PERMIT FEES
SUGGESTED METHOD OF INCREAs-
ING DISTRICT REVENUES.
Mr.. Hornblover Dfsapproves Builders
License Bin and Recommends In
crease in Eumber Of inspectors.

A contrfbutionito the current discussion of
the proposed law providing for the licensing
of builders is made by Mr.. Joseph c. Horn
blower of the firm of Hornblower & Mar
shali, architects, in letter addressed to
Mr.. -Snowden Ashford. the inspector of
buildings. Mr.. Hornblower is of the opinion
that an examination proposed would not
have the effect expected, and then makes a
suggestion of value as to how the great
need, which is generally recognized, of more
inspectors can be supplied, or at least. the
revenue sufficient for their pay can be Sc
cured.
The letter Is as follows:
Il have been looking over the draft of the
bill entitled a bill to determine the quail
fications of builders and others have no
desire to criticise the language of the bill,
put the general proposition of preventing
puliders from carrying on business in the
District unless examined and licensed does
not appeal to me favorably.
I'VE have full and detailed set of build
ing regulations, which seem to be sufficient
to insure safe building, provided they are
strictly enforced, and it also seems that a
strict enforcement would prevent improper
men from continuing to build within the
limits of the District. 1t does not seem so
much question of skill as a question of
honesty, and cannot see how the proposed
examination is to exclude the sharper.
way to Increase Revenues.
THE point is frequently made that we
have not enough inspectors. This is not the
fault Of the builders of the District I be-
lieve that the income Of your Office ought to
be largely increased, and that it might be
increased by making graded fee for per-
| mits. There seems to be no good reason
why the owner of house costing 100000
should pay exactly the same sum for a
building permit as the owner Of a house
costing $1,000 or less. The owner Of the
$1O0OO0 house, with more elaborate plans
and specifications, requires much more of
your time and that of your subordinates
than does the owner of the house costing
$1,000, and the owner of the 100000 house
could properly pay a much larger fee.
This Is a source of income that has been
neglected for years. I understand it is said
that II the charge for permits were in
creased that the funds would not be turned
into your Office. That may be- but it would
gress this larger income, and to show that
your force could be increased without a
drain upon the income of the District. l
understand that such graded fees as l sug-
one city charges for a permit SO for a
building to cost 81, 900 or less, with an in
crease of 81 for each additional $1,000 in
cost. Gin the city referred to above as hav-
ing graded charges l find the lowest charge
is much less than the sum mentioned.)
Can you exact an examination from the
builder of a two-stery house that would be
appropriate for the builder of a twenty
story building? Does not this bill of neces-
Sity force all owners to employ general
contractor, whereas many prefer to deal
with individuals belonging to different
trades?
II believe You have ample power to make
it undesirable for owners to employ 1ncom-
petent builders, but l should like to see your
hands strengthened in every way, and would
suggest an act of Congress that would en-
able you to decline to issue permits to a
builder who had been convicted in the Po-
lice Court of serious violations of the build
ing regulations. This might be determined
by the court Also that a license fee should
be exacted from all persons other than
builders to; whom permits are issued.