The Washington herald., 1911-08-05

but oftentimes the decisions call for SUBJ
sequent reversal. and the owner is face
to face with the fact that he has been
forced to expend a lot of money un-
necessarily. Take. for instance. the reg
ulation that was promulgated some time
ago, requiring the emplacement OF vents
for the passage of sewer gas in the front
yards At the time the regulation was
put into effect 1t was pointed out that
these vents, SO placed, would be unsani-
tary as well as useless: that the sewer
gas arising from them would find its
way IN large part to the living rooms Of
the house, especially in summer, when
doors and windows are open.
Despite the storm of protest that was
raised, the reGula tion was enforced at
the cost of no little added expense to
builders and owners. Lately, however, It
has been admitted that the regulation was
not only unnecessary, but insanitary,
and the vents are no longer required
George c. Hough, secretary Of the Mas
ter Builders Association. said he had
no doubt his organization would take the
matter up at the September meeting and
give the Chamber its hearty support.
THE frequent and sudden changes Of
the building regulations have been q
matter of marked Inconvenience to US all
and no little expense to some Of u.s." he
said It have no doubt our association
will take the matter up at its September
meeting
Benjamin r Pillow, a prominent men,
Der Of the Builders and Manufacturers
Exchange and until recently secretary Of
the organization, was most emphatically
In favor of entering the fight to obtain
notice Of proposed changes in building
regulations.
1T takes two men and a boy at the
District Building all the time to keep
track of all the changes. We never get
one permit under the same requirements
as the last was issued under. I think 1t
entirely proper that the matter should be
agitated at this time. have long been
in favor Of some such action. The build
ers should, and think will. at their next
meeting take some action looking to the
support of the Chamber in this"
Builders League to Act.
James L. Parsons, president OF the
Builders League. promised to take the
matter UP at the next meeting Of the
body, In about three weeks time. Tt Is
a very important movement" he said
Yesterday, "and something should be
done to help It along. It is most impor-
tant to the interests OF the building in
dustrtes and owners as well that they
have notice in advance Of any proposed
change in the building regulations"
When Ernest H Daniel first broached
the proposition before the directors of
the Chamber Of Commerce Wednesday
night, Robert N. Harper, president of the
District National Bank, was one of Its
strongest supporters. Mr. Harper takes
exception, in particular, to recent regu-
lations under the f1re-escape law, regard
ing the protection of fireproof buildings.
Mr.. Harper, whose building was finish
ed only recently, has been notified that
the law requires patent automatic fire
shutters in all fireproof buildings having
windows or doors within thirty feet of
combustible buildings. Mr.. Harper stated
that a number Of other. occupants OF fire.
PROOF buildings had received like notices.
It Is considered strange that, although
the requirement IN question has been q
part Of the regulations for four years. II
escaped the attention Of the architects
and builders of number Of recently
completed fireproof buildings. Inquiry
at the District Building DEVELOPED the
fact that the regulation has not been
risidly enforced Of late. No reason was
assigned for the sudden activity In this
line.
Fight Over stables.
The regulations surrounding the erec-
ton of public stables furnish another Peg
upon which the reformers Of the building
regulations expect to hang q strong
point In this. too, the Commissioners
are charged with exercising arbitrary
powers without due consideration of the
consequences Of their decisions. More
over. those most interested IN this phase