The Washington herald., 1909-06-15
HACKER GETS PLACE
Former District Engineer
Building Inspector.
BEGINS NEW DUTIES JULY l
J. p. BeaIy Il Nominated Assistant
Inspector and Thomas Francis Gets
Similar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ash
ford Explains New System of Fees.
VIII Not Take Men Into New Office.

AS indicated in the Sunday issue Of The
Washington Herald. Morris Hacker was
yesterday morning appointed building IN
spector for the District OF Columbia 70
succeed Snowden Ashford, promoted TO
the new position. created by the Sixtieth
Congress. OF municipal architect Inspec-
tor Ashford will assume his new duties
in the Office OF municipal architect July
l. and viii be succeeded by Mr- Hacker
as building Inspector.
With the announcement OF the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Hacker as building inspector.
the following nominations were made, 70
become effective July l: John P. Healy.
chief computer IN the building inspectors S
Office, to be assistant 20 the building In
spector; Thomas Francis. IT., who has
been acting assistant TO the building in
spector since the retirement Of A. NJ
Poynton. will become an assistant build
ing inspector at s, 500 per annum, vice E.
J. Curtis, promoted TO an inspectorship
The position Of chief computer. made
vacant by the promotion OF Mr.. HeaIy.
has not been flied. The position pays
$500.
Morris Hacker. the new building In
spector. was up TO two years ago con-
nected with the District government engi-
neering department in the capacity OF
superintendent Of county roads He re-
signed that position 20 accept a more
lucrative one with an Ohio electric trac-
ton company IN the capacity OF chief
engineer. a position he now holds. His
present position pays him a much larger
salary than that OF building Inspector, to
which is attached salary OF $3.50.
Makes "A Sacrifice.
In surrendering his present position 10
come 70 Washington 70 accept a place
under the District government at a lexs
salary than he now receives. it is under
stood that Mr.. Hacker makes this sac
rifce TO crafty his desire TO again re-
side in Washington. He is expected to
arrive here probably a week in advance
Of July l, so as 20 enable him to farnil-
iarize himself with the duties OF his
new position.
Mr.. Hackers record shows thar be is
well qualified to perform the new respon-
sibilities that he VIII assume IN the build
ing Inspectors Office He is a Phila-
delphian by birth and was educated sn
that city. He completed his education for
a collegiate course in Switzerland. He
took his degree OF civil engineering at
the University Of Pennsylvania and was
later engineer OF the Drum Point Rail-
road. in Maryland. Coming to Washing
ton, he was employed by Senator New
lands and the syndicate that laid out
and developed Chevy Chase and the con-
strucuon OF the electric road from this
city 10 that residential section.
Upon the completion OF that work he
went West and for a time was engaged
in mining engineering. On July II, 1898.
he was appointed assistant engineer for
the District government, and three years
later was promoted 20 the position Of
superintendent Of county roads. and as
sistant engineer in charge OF Rock Creek
Park
Engineer Commissioner Judson said.
after the announcement OF Mr.. Hacker s
appointment, that he came to the Com
missioners highly recommended as pos
sessing every qualification to I'LL the posi-
ton. He said that he expected excellent
results from the new administration
John P Healy. who becomes principal
assistant 10 the building inspector, IS a
Washingtonian. and is well known as a
builder and structural engineer. He fol-
lowed those vocations for more than
twenty years in this city and IN New
York. In 1900 he was appointed superin-
tendent Of construction IN the building
inspectors Office. and later an inspector
of buildings under construction. During
the past five years he has been at the
head of the computing department Of the
Office as a civil engineer.
Snowden Ashford said yesterday he be-
lieved Mr.. Hacker would bring 70 bis
new duties an administration that would
prove successful and advantageous, both
to the public having business with the
Office and the District government
New Fees Discussed.
Discussing the new fees OF the build
ing inspectors Office which go into erect
July l. Inspector Ashford said: 1--WE
have Just made a calculation based upon
the receipt OF fees for the Office for the
month OF May at the new fee rates and
find that the receipts would have been
S3.9e more than enough to pay all the
expenses OF the Office, including salaries.
Congress, upon petition Of the Commits
sioners, authorized the increasing C the
fees Of the Office TO four times what they
formerly were. with the object to make
the fees pay all expenses OF the Office.
The calculations Just made on the May
receipts at the new rate demonstrates
that under the new rate in effect July
l, the receipts from this source viii meet
every expense Of the Office. The ad-
vance in rates is best shown when Il Is
stated that under the old rate a permit
to make repairs cost 81. under the new
schedule a similar permit will cost q.
The average receipts OF the Office from
fees has been something like 5000 annu-
ally and the expenses Of the Office have
been for similar period 81 900, OF s22,O00
on the debit side"
Mr. Ashford denied that when he as
sumed charge OF the Office Of municipal
architect he would take a number OF the
best men in the building Inspectors Office