Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-06
OWNERS BANQUET
And TALK SHOP
Managers of Big Structures in
0maha Gather and Discuss
Particular Problems.
ATTACK EXTREME sKYscRAPER

All the suave diplomacy with
which building owners and managers
collect rent from tenants was thrown
aside last night, when the local as
ISOLATION OF this craft held its third
annual banquet at the Fontenelle
hotel.
II was "just between ourselves"
affair. The tenants were not present.
So the owners and managers told
tales out OF school and had a lot Of
fun. Nevertheless they are game lot
of sports; so they tipped off a lot Of
good Jokes on themselves in which
the tenants came out best.
1t wouldn't do for tenants to hear what
the managers think of them sometimes.
Likewise II wouldn't do for the tenants
to hear the owners and managers con-
fess II when tenants are too much for
them. IT'S tit for tat game, but the
toastnaster. Carl Herring. gave it as
his. unauthorized opinion that you Just
can't get even with the building man
ager, so you better not try"
HerrinE some ToastmRster.
In the current vernacular OF old Mis-
SOU" Mr.. Herring made a right smart
ltoastFnaster. Such a volume OF wit tore
itself out of him. that 1t was mat
ter OF some concern lest he be left a
mere shell.
About seventy-five members and guests
attended the banquet, which same ban
uuet was served in so many courses that
one could no more count them than he
could count the French walters with
which the dining room was constantly
animated.
Thomas Kimball, The architect, who
planned the building In which the BAN
quet was held, treated the banqueters
TO a discussion on architecture. and sew
eral phases OF building activities. He
was supposed to tell the story Of the
planning OF the Fonterelle hotel. He
declared. however, that the hotel had
spoken for itself for a week. so he de-
sired to let II rest while. He made
plea for common sense in city ordi-
nances II should not be necessary, he
held. to provide elevators designed for
cities OF ten times The population OF
Omaha. All should work toward fur
nishing Omaha with ordinances that
while they provide for public safety, are
yet favored with common sense.
Too Many Go East.
Mr.. Kimball lamented the fact that
Omaha has lost many Bplendid men who
have done great things for the civic life
OF the city. He declared It should be the
aim OF all to help retain such men among
us. instead of letting the east come and
get them constantly,
Among other things he attacked the
extreme skyscraper as a building for the
western country. I'VE should make
protest" he said against the extreme
skyscraper particularly here in the west
where II is neither good taste, good sense,
nor good business. He made a plea for
cooperation between building owners,
managers and architects.
]. e. RRndell OF Chicago. manager OF
the Continental and Commercial National
Bank building OF Chicago, and president
OF the National Association Of Building
Owners and Managers. addressed the
men on construction. operation and CO.
operation. Efficiency In the office
building" he said. Should begin with
the selection OF the lot II It cannot be-
sin there II should begin with the Sc
lection OF the building plan at least
/ AACunoiny u 10 nNOco1df1s IL
has proved unsafe to trust TO the archl-
teets TO decide what design OF building is
best suited as a revenue getter IN a given
locality This Is not his speciality"
The speaker urged as q remedy for
this a close cooperation OF architect
owner and building manager to the end
that each would help the other 10 gain
the desired end for which a given build
ing IL constructed
Cooperation SeedfuI.
AT present" he said, 'the owner often
waits until the architect has spent thous-
ands OF dollars on plans before the build
ing manager IL engaged. The plans the
manager puts forth are naturally op-
posed by the architect. and there Is no
harmony and no cooperation. We hope
for a larger consideration by the archi-
tects and owners for the opinions OF the
manager"
He spoke Of the inequality in the bur
dens OF Insurance In that the new fire
proof building il compelled to pay hlgh
Insurance premiums 70 carry along the
insurance on a lot OF fire traps insured
in the same company.
III II were possible for the owners OF
fireprOof buildings 70 carry each others
insurance and not carry other risks alorg
with them, our losses would be infinitss-
inai and our premiums correspondingIy
low he said