Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-27
SCALE FOR BUILDING PERMITS
FEE TO BE IN PROPORTION TO
OPERATION.
Recommendation of Mcfarland In
dorsed by West, But Engineer
Department Not in Accord.

Believing there ought to be some equita-
BILE relation between the cost of build
ing operation and the cost OF the building
permit for the work. and following a pro-
test Of Heiskell & McIleran of 1908 H
street against payment OF a permit fee
Of 81 for $3.50 worth of repairs to a back
fence. Commissioner Macfarland has sug-
gested to Acting Engineer Commissioner
William Kelly a readjustment of the per-
init fees for building repairs.
The real estate brokers complained a
few days ago to the Commissioners that
to get permit to make $50 worth Of
repairs to the back fence of premises at
1903 r street they were compelled to pay
a one-dollar fee This charge, they as
serted, was unreasonable unjust and
extortionate,' and they asked some
change.
In answer to the letter Building In
spector Morris Hacker declared that the
object of the new schedule of building
permit fees, which went into effect July
10, is to make the building department
self-sustaining, and that 1t cost just as
much to issue a permit for So. 90 worth Of
work and inspect 1t as for larger piece
of work Acting Engineer Commissioner
Kelly approved his view that no change
in the schedule of fees should be made.
The matter was brought up before the
District Commissioners In board session
yesterday. Both Commissioners Macfar-
land and West declare that the charge
OF 81 for permit for repairs to a back
fence to cost $50 seemed unreasonable.
Il don't believe In putting a heavy tax
on persons who want to keep their homes
In good repair" declared Commissioner
West
Following the conference this morning
Commissioner Mcfarland made the fol-
lowing Endorsement on the protest of
Heiskell & McLeran:
While / appreciate all that is said In
the Endorsement OF the Inspector of build
ngs. and while l believe that a fee
should be charged for every permit is
sued. l think the fee should bear some
relation to the cost of the work done.
In the present case It Is stated that
the cost of the repairs was $50. i think
10 per cent of that amount, or 25 cents.
would have been ample to ask for the
permit. l. therefore. return the paper
to the Engineer Commissioner, with the
ed so as to provide for a more equitable
relation between the cost OF the work and
the cost of the permit
Acting Commissioner Kelly began this
morning an investigation of the new
schedule Of fees to determine whether
any change can be made to bring the cost
of the work and the cost OF the permit
into more equitable relation. The entire
matter. however, he said, was looked into
carefully by the committee on the re-
took the view that the cost of the per-
NIT ought to equal the cost of the work
to be done by the building department.
that is. the issuing of the permit and the
inspection of the work. 1t costs just as
much, it is pointed out. to issue a per-
NIT and inspect $50 worth of repairs to
a fence as $50 worth of repairs.
Commissioner West said he favored the
issuing of permits for repair work to cost
less than $50 for 25 cents, and the cost to
increase as the cost of the work in
creaSeS