Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-11
STERN OPPOSITION TO
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Business Men Say City Needs Fire
Protection and improvements
Before Luxuries.
ALDERMEN TO VOTE TONIGHT
Discrepancy in Resolution Leads
Some to Believe City Would BE
Obligated for So, 900 Fee Instead
OF 49, 800 as Stated.

oohSdtcu LOT SSO,OOo rec instead
OF $500 as Stated.
In spite of it's remarkably easy pas
sage IN the Common Council. tho FL
nance Committees resolution appro- =
priating $500 for working plans" to
be prepared by Carncal & Johnston Cor
the proposed new municipal building
promises to encounter stern opposition
Tonight in the Board of Aldermen
where a determined faction. it is un-
derstood. stands ready to vote for
recominittal OF the paper.
Since Its passage by the Common
council a week ago. the resolution has
been subjected TO close scrutiny BY
members Of the upper branch and by
influential buTiness men generally. The
resolution. in uumistakable language.
oficially approves and adopts the de-
sign OF Carneal g. Johnston for the new
municipal building. To what extent
the measure also binds the city TO pay
over all or a portion Of the entire ar
chitect's fees, whether the building Is
built or not. Is a much debated ques-
ton.
WOULD WAIT UNTIL CITY
CAN AFFORD LUXURY
Interviews with representative bust
ness men last night on the question of
the adv!sabiiity at this time Of approx
ing tho design ard entering upon plans
looking to the construction OF an $3.50
600 building, revealed ;he general feel
ing that while new municipal build
ing on the Ford lot will undoubtedly
he one of tho desirable developments
Of the future. the city is not in the
position now financially TO undertake
so ambitious a project.
The resolution, in tho passage Of
which the Board of Aldermen will be
asked tonight 10 concur. provides:
Il. That the design CT Carneal e.
Johnston. architects. for a new NUM-
cipal building. herewith accompany
ing be. and the same is hereby. ap-
proved and adopted as the design for
the new court house, auditorium and
library for the city of Richmond 10
cost not exceeding $4,000, including
architects fees. 10 be erected on the
lot of land located east of the City
Hall. commonly known the 'Fords
Hotel block. and bounded by Broad
street on the north. Capitol Street on
tho south. Twelfth Stree, on the east
ana Eleventh Street on the west
2. That the sum OF $500 or so
much thereof as may be necessary. be-
and the same is hereby. appropriated
from any moneys in the treasury not
Otherwise appropriated. and ordered
placed to the credit Of an account to
be raised and called New Municipal
Building" and the Special Joint Com
m!ttee on New Municipal Building is
hereby authorized TO draw upon the
Same TO pay the costs for working
plans TO be supplied by said Carneal
=" Johnston. architects, for said NUM-
clpal building
MAY BIND CITY TO
FURTHER EXPENDITURE
Friends OF the resolution point to
the fact that it places no monetary
obligation upon the city beyond the
payment of $500 that is provided
This view was taken also by a compe-
tent. legal authority yesterday, who
pointed out, however. that the city's
nbligat !on might be modified in inpor-
tant respects hy the terms of the pro-
gram under which the plans competi-
tion TOOK place. Tho provisions of
that instrument. it is stated. will come
instantly into play should the pending
resolution pass, and impose its own
special contractual obligations upon
the city.
Section Of the program under which
me competition was held provides as
follows:
This program constitutes AN agree
ment between the committee on tho
ono hand and each competitor and the
appointed architect. severany on the
other. to which each architect gives his
assent by submitting design in this
section - o; tho same instrument
reads:
The city Of Richmond reserves the
ahsolut" right 10 reject any and All
OF the plans or designs submitted, and
also to abandon the erection or CON
struction of the building herein con-
templated." In such an event. how
ever, the section provides, the COM
mttee will nevertheless recommend the
payment OF sl.15O in prizes 10 archi-
tects submitting the three best designs
This money has already been paid over.
SUCCEEDING SECTIONS
BECLOUD CITY'S LIABILITY
While the section just quoted ap-
parently gives the city unlimited pow
ers In the direction of suspending or
abandoning the erection OF the new
municipal building, succeeding sections
OF me program appear 70 becloud the
question of the extent OF the city's
liability for the architects commissions
should suspension or abandonment
or the work be decided upon
The pertinent portion of section 81,
which describes the manner in which
the architect shall be compensated in
the event of an abandonment or sus-
pension OF the work. reads:
Until an actual estimate is received
charges are to be based upon the pro-
posed cost of the work, and payments
received are to he on account Of the
entire fee. In case of abandonment or
suspension of the work the basis Of
settlement after the winning architect
has been Instructed by the committee
TO proceed shall be as follows:
Upon completion OF preliminary
studies one-flfth of the entire fee For
general working dra wings and speci- |
hcations. exclusive Of details further
o-fifths of the entire fee, i. c., three
1fths OF the entire fee for complete
service"
SOME CONTEND THAT TT
CARRIES FEE OF $4,000 !
An attempt last night to apply the |
provisions Of this section to the situa-
he
sage of he resolution pending before |
the Board of Aldermen. led to startling |
results. 1t was pointed out I'm some |
quarters that the resolution before the |
Board, according to the language used, |
Is TO pay the costs for working plans" |
i.:,dar sect ion - iust csIiatad tiaa !