Evening star., 1923-01-14
LOWPAY HAMPERS
INSPECTION SERVICE
Building Inspector Healy
Says 1t Is Impossible to Re-
| tain Competent Men.
USE OFFICE AS SCHOOL
Board of Trade Committee Assails
Policy Toward Small Com
i pensation.

Building inspection work, which the
remarkable building boom through
out the country has elevated to
plano of paramount Importance in the
construction world. is hampered
seriously in the District of Columbia
through the low salary budget al
lowed for the staff of the municipal
building inspector, persons in touch
with that office declared yesterday.
The local inspection headquarters
is considered by the few applicants
in the light of a valuable training
school to prepare them for their reg
ular technical career, 1T is said This
condition, while SO far resulting in
no marked hazard to the community.
carries potent dangers that even the
layman cannot afford TO overlook, il
Is pointed out.
In this connection Building lnspec-
tor Healy himself makes the follow
ing statement in his annual report:
IIcaly DepIores Low Salaries.
Promising men will accept statu-
tory engineer positions only for the
practical experience that may be OBJ
tanned, the ultimate object being to
form outside connections. Experience
ed engineers decline to enter the
statutory small salary or because,
though the salary may be satisfac-
tory, the tenure of office under an
emergency or temporary appropria-
ton is too uncertain. The best evil
dence of this lies in the fact that
during the past year three engineers
resigned because of offers of more
lucrative financial conditions, and re-
Gently two clerks left the service for
the same reason.
An investigation conducted by the
committee on public and private
buildings of the Washington Board of
Trade found the situation TO be acute.
This committee, following a probe
of the adverse conditions under which
Mr. Healy's Office must work because
of the small number of employees, lack
of adequate technical help and low
salaries, said:
Trade Board Flags Pay.
'It is not meant as a reflection
upon the majority of those doing
work to say that they are not en-
gineers of long experience. 1t needs
only the mention of the salary paid
10 confirm the impossibility OF pro-
curing the services of high-class
members of that profession.
The truth of the matter is that
the building inspection division of
the District has served for some
years. to a great extent. as school
of engineering. One possessed Of
technical knowledge remains long
enough in the service to acquire prac-
tical experience, and then promptly
and justifiably resigns to accept a
position truly remunerattve OF his
professional services"
1t is pointed out that men of tech
nical ability, plus practical training
are not going to bind themselves to
remain, even for year, in Serv-
ice that compensates them at the
rate of only Sc a day-about one-
half the wages received by the car
penter. bricklayer, etc, whose work
they must supervise. Yet this low
wage is greater than that received
by men who have faithfully and cap
ably served the District of Columbia
for years in a like capacity, it is
emphasized.
Technical knowledge Necessary.
Methods and materials of building
construction have kept step with the
advancement in other directions
Concrete and steel construction, with
attendant features. has forged ahead
until it demands a degree Of expert
knowledge that is possessed only by
men of technical training and tested
ability.
In view of these requirements, can
it reasonably be expected that serv-
ices of competent men can be Sc
cured at the ridiculous" salaries
now provided, friends of the office in
Quire, or can it reasonably be hoped
to keep intact a capable staff, even
if fairly recompensed, when only
temporary employment may be prom
ised?