Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-14
Purpose of American Institute
of Architects.
OPENING SESSION TODAY
Welcoming Address by Maj. Judson
District Engineer Commissioner.
Review by President.

Leading architects from all over the
country were at the New Willard Hotel
this morning when the first session or
the forty-thrd annual convention OF the
American Institute of Architects began
at $50 o'clock. The president of the In
stitute, Cass Gilbert of New York. occu-
pied the chair. Engineer Commissioner
Judson delivered a short address of well
come on behalf of the District govern
ment.
The institute has grown. it is stated,
during the fifty years Of its existence
from small group of men to powerful
and influential national organization, with
twenty-nine chapters in various parts OF
the country and a total membership OF
more than 1,OCO. Its aims include not only
the improvement of the architectural pro-
fession, but the development Of the fine
arts i'm every sense-the formulation of
definite codes for architects and the Gre
alton Of definite scheme of American
architecture.
Review of Past Year.
In his address to the convention this
morning President Gilbert reviewed the
work of the past year and announced
that after hard struggle. the financial
deficit had been wiped opt and the insti-
tute had been put squarely on it's feet.
He said the institute needed more money
and, in order that the necessity for call
ing for subscriptions might be avoided,
he recommended that the Initiation fee
and the dues be raised.
Mr.. Gilbert referred to the creation by
President Roosevelt of the council of
fine arts, which with other commissions
created by Mr.. Roosevelt was wiped out
of existence by congressional action. Dur
ing its brief life, Mr.. Gilbert said, the
council of fine arts had done valuable
work. To take it's place he recommends
a department of public works.
Effect Beneficial.
Such a department, he said, would have
powerful effect on bringing to a higher
standard the architecture, OF public build
ings, the identifying Of cities and parks
and the general development of the ar
tistic. While the main object Of the in
stitute was the care of the architectural
profession, Mr.. Gilbert declared, it should
not forget the value of the artistic
Contracting corporations, which some
times act as promoters, oNner-contrac-
tors. financ!ers and even architects, were
characterized by Mr.. Gilbert as a menace
to the architectural and building inter
ests. and 1t was time the abuses that re-
suited from them were stopped The
solution, he said. is easy. and simply in
wolves the cutting out of the middle man
and dealing direct with the minor con-
tractors.
Report of the Governors.
The report Of the board Of governors
showed that there are 1.026 members of
the institute, including 3O3 fellows, $50
associates. 81 honorary and - corre-
spending. Particular attention was called
to the International convention of archi-
tects which will meet in Rome in the
autumn of 1911 and to the introduction
by Senator Newlands Of Nevada Of a
bill creating government bureau of fine
arts.
In a preliminary discussion Of the next
place OF meeting President Gilbert ia
vored the Pacific coast. He offered it as
his opinion that the institute should hold
two successive conventions in Washing
Angeles has extended the institute an in
yitation to meet there In 1910.
Financial Statement.
The report of the treasurer and audit
ing committee. read by Glenn Brown,
showed the institute to be in good finan-
cial condition.
Most of the morning session and the
afternoon session were occupied with the
reading Of reports. The convention will
be in session until Thursday, when 1t will
close with a banquet at the New Willard
in the evening.