Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-13

remote. This journal has since had to
| about face. However the difference
in the method of conducting the build
Ing business was Immediately notice
able. Many architects who had prac-
ticed these methods thOughtlessly, at
once changed their specifications and
contracts and placed themselves in the
proper light before the building world.
/ others who continued their use for
selfish purposes. exercised this drastic
power with caution as they doubtless
feared publicity
Curb Architects Powers.
! This campaign called the attention
| of business men very fOrcibly to the
/ fact that after q contract was signed,
/ its construction was a matter of law,
to be considered and decided by i'm
partial judges, and not by its author
who had neglected to clearly express
his ideas in its preparation. They then
realized the false position that the
architect had formally occupied and
the too extensive powers that had
gradually been conferred upon him,
the result being that the higher type of
architects and builders promptly start
ed to relieve the architect from this
falsely imposed authority, as he is un-
fitted for many reasons to have the
final decision in regard to the meaning
of the contract He had drawn the
plans and specifications, and in them
had endeavored to express his pur-
poses. He may have failed to express
them in such a way as to give the
reader the impression that was in the
authors mind, but his Interpretation
will generally tend to be in favor of
the view which he meant to express,
rather than the view which he actual
lily expressed Yet what he said, not
what he meant, determined the con-
tract price. and is the standard on
which the contractors rights are to be
decided. Some other Independent and
impartial person should be the judge
to construe the contract document be
tween the interested parties"
Mr. Lewman declared that one of the
most important problems confronting
the builders is the proper cure for IN
fair. irresponsible and destructive
competition. He said the object is not
to suppress legitimate competition, but
to check its abuses, which he said was
to be seen in the practice of inviting
and receiving bids under an actual or
implied promise of an award to the
lowest responsible bidder and then re
jecting the same, resulting in prac-
tically an auction where all ethics and
fairness is cast to the four winds.
i Gain Great Victory.
Continuing he said: we have gain
ed great victory in our campaign for
contract reform, the results of which
are more far reaching than appear on
the surface. Not the least of the i'm
lportant benefits secured in the solidi-
fication which has been brought about
by our united action in striving for
this reform. Contending in firm and
friendly manner, shoulder to shoulder
land meeting obstacles and difficulties
together, in this educational move, we
have all learned by actual practical
Iexperience the immense advantages of
united action.
"A problem which has been an eX-
pensive and dangerous thorn in our
sides. one which no one institution as
a unit, no matter how powerful, would
undertake to solve, has been settled in
a decisive and conclusive manner, and
with proper vigilance upon our part
1.-The evil practices which have been
eradicated, have been banished never
to return. Yet again the prestige and
Influence of the association and there
fore its power for future service has
been wonderfully enhanced. In the
beginning of our crusade, there were
many doubling Thomases' in our own
ranks. who prophesied failure and
who charged US with impractical ideal
ism that could never be translated into
tangible reality, who subsequently be-
came enthusiastic supporters and in
dustrious workers in the cause and
contributed to our final success.
Having bound ourselves together
with such strong ties and having ac-
quired the strength and influence re
.auired for such a task, We should now
proceed to the proper regulation OF
the conduct of our business by the
adoption of such code of ethics in
competition, and other important cur
rent matters as will accrue to ouI