The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-12-11
BUILDERS HERE
PLAN REFORMS
Association Resolves to Re.
Iieve "Unjust Conditions
and Practices"
PLAN UNIFORM CONTRACT

Al the weekly meeting OF the AS
ISOLATED General Contractors of Chat
tanooga, held Wednesday afternoon
at the Park hotel, resolutions de-
signed to relieve unjust conditions
and practices heretofore existing in
the contracting business" were unani-
mously passed. A second resolution
to the effect that all building con-
tracts must be drawn on blanks
adopted by the American Institute of
Architects was adopted by the con-
tractors.
The action was taken for the pro-
tectioh Of both contractor and builder
Tho resolutions were drawn by the
grievance committee and submitted
for action by c. w. Howard, secre-
tar of the association. Copies Of
the resolutions, together with expla-
nations, will be sent to local archi-
tects by the secretary. The resolu-
tion seeks to arrive at a more Just
and equitable basis in the letting of
contracts.
Resolutions Adopted.
Several important provisions are
included and the resolution in full
follows:
The contractors association was
recently organized. The following of :
ficers have been elected: Walter
Holmes. president; w. f. Stewart.
I vace-preeldeft; e. w. Howard, sec
retary, and Mark X. Wilson, treas
ureE At Wednesdays meeting gem
eral building conditions were dis
cussed at some length.
I'm reference to unjust conditions and
practices heretofore existing in the con-
tracing business as to iguring and
awarding contracts, We, the grievance
committee, recommend that protest
be made to the architects and that their
cooperation In a more Just and equit-
able basis be arrived at in the letting
| OF contracts.
"First-Inasmuch as the cost of
| making up an estimate on the plans
and specifications Is an expense to the
| general contractor that frequently be-
comes burdensome. 1t is a class of
| work for which the contractor receives
| no remuneration whatever. In many
cases the architect and owner use these
| estimates, thus securing the necessary
| information that enables them to cal
culate closely the cost of the building
| and when they proceed to do the work
| by day labor.
| "Second-In order to meet condition
like this. 1t is recommended
That all contractors invited to file
|
| do so with the distinct understanding
on the part of the owner and architect
| that the contract for said work shall be
| let to some one of the contractors sub.
mitting bids. unless for good and justifi-
| able reasons the work is not done, and
that should 1t be found necessary OF
| advisable to make any changes or re-
| visions in the plans and specifications
for the work. that only the contractor
who originally figured the work shall
be given an opportunity to submit new
| bids on same.
| 1T is further recommended that we
hereby enter vigorous protest against
, the practice OF owners and architect!
inviting bids. rejecting same and doine
the work by day or in some other man.
| ner unfair to the contractor, after hav.
ing gained the information as to cost
| which has been made up at a grea
| expense and loss of time to said con
tractor.
I'm view of the fact that all othe
callings or professions charge for serv
ices rendered or WORK performed, W,
deem it nothing but FAIR that som,
| equity be shown the contractor
1t is further recommended. that tn,
architects of the city of Chattanooga
and surrounding country be furnished
with copy of these suggestions. a,
| adopted unanimously by the member.
Of the associated general contractors.
THE organization of the Associated
General Contractors of Chattanooga il
| move that interests the entire city
IN that the object is not only for self
| projection, but for the purpose OF
standardizing forms of contract not only
Tor construction work but for the de-
livery of material as WELL providing
certain standards of quality inspection
In fact every item needed to safeguard
the interest not only Of the contractor
but for the owner, according to the
| secretary.
The local organization has adopted
| Tor its use the form of contract in force
| in other cities and that was gotten ul
| by the American Institute of Archi-
tects, carrying with it a stamp of ap-
| proval of this strong organization"