The sun., 1910-01-16
rAUCHITECTSPUT UP THE PRICE
G PER CENT. INSTEAD OF j NOW
THE AMERICAN MINIMUM.
Ncw NOrk chapter In Addition Raises the
Zee for Domestic work John VI. Car
rere Tells Why the Profession Has
DrcI,icd That Fees should he Higher.

Zee for Domestic WOrk-.JOhn W. Car.
rsre Tells Why the Profession Has
Decided That Fees should he Higher.
ne committee on schedule of charges
ri the New York Chapter OF the American
institute Of Architects decided at it's last
meeting TO increase the minimum COM
nensation of architects from per cent
10 uer cent. The, chairman OF this
committee is John NJ. Carrere and the
orb.r members are Walter Cook. Gros-
vanor Atterbury, a. Van Buren, Ma
Sonigle and bonn Barber. Mr.. Carrere
or tho firm Of Carrere \ Hastings said
Yesterday
because of the constantly increasing
e>pense attending the preparation of
drawings and specifications. due in part
IN the greatly increased salaries which
the higher cost of living compels aud
usrty to the greater scope which the
work Of the architect has assumed and
the much more eNacting demands that
fare made upon him, tho American In
stitute of Architects in convention as
sembled ON December 1911. 1908, agreed
that per cent. is proper minimum
charge for architects services in cases
where ) per cent. had hitherto been
usual The action of the American In
stitute OF Architects is based on the
average conditions existing in the United
States. the jurisdiction of the American
Institute of Architects through its chap
ters extending to practically every State
Of the Union.
1T is obvious that IL the American
Institute Of Architects as a whole ha 8
considered that this increase in the
minimum charge is necessary in large
, centres like New \ iofk the necessity for
an increase would apply with even greater
force. as not only are the expenses of an
architects office greater in this city than
in any other city but tho, standard of
work eNacted is higher and the variety
of the duties which he is called upon to
perform and the responsibilities which
are placed upon him are probably greater
than in any other city i'm the United States
For these reasons the New York Chapter
Of the American Institute of Architects
after two years Of careful consideration
uf the subject has adopted n supple
mentary schedule to meet the eNigencies
Of local practice. and while not raising
the minimum fee OF per cent. as es-
tablished by the American Institute of
Architects il has raised the fee for do
nestle work and determined the Zee in
stitute OF Architects schedule provided
for an increased fee without defining the
same.
This schedule was adopted Ivy such a
large vote a. to make il practically unan-
: lmOuS. the few men voting in the negative
giving reasons Of policy or reasons per
sonal in their character for doing so. and
IN very few cases objecting To the increase:
and those not voting constitute largely
the inactive membership of the New York
han .af th.A .sF
Architects. In "A matter of this kind such
vote Is quite unusual. as at the present
time almost every practising architect
who is member OF the New York Chapter
Of the American Institute Of Architects
has private schedule based on the
schedule OF the American Institute Of
Architects and adjusted to what he be-
leyes 10 be the requirements OF his own
personal practice; and while all OF these
schedules conform in principle to the re-
qurements OF the American Institute of
Architects schedule. they differ as to
matters of detail and as 10 the fees that
are charged for various classes of work,
and this practically unanimous agree
ment where there had been 50 much
divergence Of opinion, is remarkable.
1T should he borne in mind that con-
trary 10 the practice in other professions
architects have never rated their COM
pensation according to their standing
and ability and the price which they could
CpHIIldIlu Vfle bllKnJ
differences in rates between architects
their charges have been substantially
Uniform, 40 that the beginner receives
practically the same compensation as the
architect with large practice and years
Of experience behind him, and in this
respect the schedule Of charges, which
has sometimes been referred to as a
trades union agreement has been
strictly a professional document. pro-
noting the highest standard Of profess
, sional ethics, so that the rivalry between
architects has been almost exclusively
one OF accomplishment and OF merit and
IN no sense based on lesser or greater fees.
lhe method of charging and the rate it
self IL several centuries old and used in
every civilized country and has always
been moderate; and with changing oondi-
tons. as in the present instance, has
grown to be inadequate, 80 that the
present increases are in no wise intended
as a recognition OF the highest order Of
service rendered, but are only intended
as reasonable minimum that applies
To the youngest and least experienced
architects; in other words 1t is the mini |
mum Zee which according to long expert |
tnce will permit OF adequate and compe-
Tent service and provide a moderate com |
pensation for the architect.
There is a general feeling among the |
more successful architects, those who
might command higher fees. that they |
prefer the broader scope which Ia af
Iorded by a more general practice than |
The higher fee which would limit their |
chentage TO the wealthier classes who |
would be willing to pay, or TO certain |
types Of work which would warrant |
higher fee so that not only is the COM |
pensaton of the architect uniform re-
gardless OF his ability and standing. but |
with few exceptions the practice OF all |
The best architects is very wide in its |
range and includes a great variety of !
problems requiring versatility OF talent !
as consequence of the uniform Zee |
ms policy has undoubtedly contributed |
very greatly TO the rapid progress Of the |
art OF architecture in this country"