Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-11

been taken by the American Insti- tute of Architects:-
 Considerable importance is to be at tached to the following resolution adopted by the American Institute of Architects at its annual convention:-
 Resolved, That the American Insti- tute Of Architects, in convention as- sembled, recommends to the members of our profession the adoption of the practice of direct letting of contracts for mechanical equipment, such aA heating apparatus, plumbing and cleo trical equipment. This reocommenda- tion is based on the conviction that di- rect letting Of contracts. as compared tracts. as compared with soliciting through general contractors, affords the architect more certain selection of competent contractors and more ef- ficient control of execution of work, and thereby isures a higher standard of work. and, at the same time, serves more equitably the financial interests of both owner and contractor"
 It is certainly of interest to the pro- fession to know that for some years there has been a strong movement on the part of the members Of the Nation al Association of Master Plumbers and the National Association of Master Steam and Hot Water Filters to secure the letting of their contracts by own CTS and architects instead of general contractors. They have petitfoned the Institute to take under serious consi l. eration the evils Of the general con tract system, so far as 1t anects the mechanical equipment of buildings. They presented the matter in the most temperate and reasonable way, main taining that the system of an economic waste and works injury to the lesid- mate interests of all concerned They mentioned that general contractors. after securing contracts on the basis pfh pf nfTlnrhInU heating contractors, proceed to farm out their work to lower grade contrac- tors and. by putting in their own pockets the difference in price between cheap and good work, lower the Quai- ] ity to no advantagte except their own. It is the custom of many offices tO let. contracts for mechanical equipment separate from the general contracts and that there seems to be a tendenHv in this direction on the part of arcni- tects in general. It is interesting to note-ir this connection that laws have been passed in New York and Pennsvi- vania requiring exclusion from general contracts and the direct letting of plumbing and heating apparatus TOT State and municipal work. and that in perhaps a dozen other States legisla- ton along similar lines has already been undertaken.
 There is strong feeling in em- ployer's associations. aroused ny the
  contractors. and made intense by low ersng of standards of work to whi :h the best men ire committed. and there is little doubt that they m1ght- IT they would adopt union methods. 11ske concerted effort tn boycott genera co1- tractors in their bidding. IL is evi- dent. however. that the best men m their associations are totally opposed to the adoption of such tactics and that thev prefer to poeal in a leElti- mate way to the architectural profsr- sion. The prominent members of c architectural profession have already 10 2 large extent. made fl 2 practice |" let directly contracts for mech aniral equipn1ent-work which is most sure to suffer and most difficult for the architect to protect where there is tendency to lower the quality of con- strIFction.
 Such activity on the part of the American Institute is in character with it's general policies. and it is to oe earnestly hoped that all architects. whether institute members or not, will support this kind of reform