The Washington times., 1908-07-12
Mr.. Macfarland's Views.

ton
Mr. Macfarland's Views
Commissioner NIacfarland said yester-
day morning:
Three things are obvious. First, that
Congress should provide, as the Com
missioners have recommended, for
licensing builders: second. that II
should provide, as the Commissioners
have recommended. more building in
spectors; third, that, when the commits
sion of experts appointed by the Com
misSioners to revise the building regu-
lations, which has been at work for
over year, reports. as it will do soon.
the Commissioners should have the sup
port Of the community in adopting a
building code which ought 10 be a model
for the United States.
While waiting for this model code the
Commissioners have amended the build
ing regulations to meet new conditions.
but still We want improvements which
shall make our building code the best
Of all. Those who complain Of the
striCtness of our present regulations will
doubtless oppose the adoption Of more
stringent ones, but believe the citi-
Eens generally will support such action
Favors Examining Board.
In advocacy Of his position Major
Morrow said:
Il am of the opinion that some board
or committee similar 10 the Medical
Board or Bar Association. should be
constituted TO pass on the qualifications
OF persons claiming tc be architects or
builders, and limiting or restricting the
responsibility for this character of work
TO architects and builders Of established
reputation or evident qualifications.
There are in this city at least 100 build
ers the equal Of any In the country. ana,
at least, fifty architects better than the
average found in other cities, while.
on the other hand, there are only a very
few builders and architects who should
not, in my opinion, be allowed TO work
on their own responsibility, and who
would do the kind Of work that would
jcOpardiZe life and limb.
4 DO not think that such law would
result In limiting competition very much
where such a great number of architects
and builders are concerned, and the
very few who would be shut out by such
& law could no doubt find employment
in work of a minor character. common
~ called jobbing, that would not affect
the safety Of the structures or risk the
lives Of the public.
Other Cities Follow Suit.
Il find that in other cities the necesi-
~ for such a law is becoming recognized
and that greater care Is used by the
authorities In preventing incompetent
builders and architects from working
Chicago has such provisions. and now,
after frequent coIlapses in New York,
the commissioner of buildings publicly
advocates the passage Of a similar law
to license builders and to restrict work
10 responsible parties.
Most of the accidents happen during
the construction of the building, and
the defects are made manifest at the
sacrifice of some Of the wOrkmen. or
such defects are discovered by some
or the inspectors before the work is
complete. But a licensed builder would
not take such chances. either of killing
his men, or having his work condemned
and himself put out Of business. The au-
thorities are always most anxious to
discover who the responsible parties
are. THIS should be known before the
accident and they are not so likely to
happen"
Big Builders Favor Scheme.
Canvass among twelve of the largest
contractors snd builders Of Washing
ton discloses Il hearty sentiment in
favor of some such regulation as a
license.
So determined are the master build
ers upon securing such legislation that
they assert that II Congress frowns
upon the bill. that the architects Of the
city will cooperate with them and ask
the Government for a licensing board
for architects so all building plans will
have TO come from a licensed architect
Smaller Men Fought Old Bill.
At the time the Commissioners with
drew their recommendation sent TO
Congress several months ago owing to
bitter opposition on the part Of count
less small contractors. the master build
ers claim that they were totally unpre-
pared for such an attack, believing that
with the bill once in the hands of Con-
gress its safe passage would be a mat
ter of course. They we're not at that
time in a position to present TO the
Commissioners their side Of the case,
but, they maintain, that if such action
is necessary when the new bill comes up
they win be in lire and fight the matter
to the finish
The smaller builders and carpenters
stubbornly contested the bill, declaring
that It would deprive them in A large
measure Of their means OF livelihood.
The large contractors in answer to this
say that If a builder is unable to pass
successfully such a technical examina-
ton he has no right to ply his trade,