Evening star., 1939-09-25
Architects Pledge
Aid in Government
Monopoly Probe
Moeinnis Addresses
Opening Session Of
Convention Here

Fearless" cooperation with the
Government in its investigation of
charges that monopolistic groups
within the building industries have
sabotaged national recovery was
promised voday by Charles D. Ma
ginnis of Boston, president of the
American Institute of Architects.
Architects have not been held
blameless of failure to find means
and methods which would bring con-
struction within the costs which
would realize the social intent Of the
slum clearance projects" he told del
egates at the opening session of the
Institutes list convention, In the
Mayf1ower Hotel.
He declared that while architects
had grown accustomed to regard
the building industry as the chief
victim of the economic tragedy" they
must now examine the indictment
that "high costs of the industry's la
Dor and materials are not only para
lying long-term investments, but
that these costs are artif1cially estab-
lished and maintained by the indus
try's selfish groups in defiance of the
general interest"
Business Upswing Forecast.
President Maginnis told reporters
the monopoly investigation to which
he Is pledging support is that of the
Temporary National Economic Com
mittee, which is headed by Senator
Joseph c. OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming, and Assistant Attorney
General Thurman Arnold.
Whatever merit lies in the gen.
eral complaint may fully develop
out of the investigation, but it rests
as public duty on the institute to
see that all it's implications are fear
lessly examined" he said. He ex-
pressed belief that the current i'm
provement' in the construction in
dustry is part of a general upswing
in business as result of Govern
ment stimulation.
Mr.. Maginnis asked that the Fed
eral Government, in its building op-
erations, make greater use of pri-
vate architects-either by direct Sc
lection or competition. At the same
time he urged that more private
architects participate in such re-
gional competitions as do exist.
I'm recent instance only 10 per
cent of the registered architects of
the region participated, and the
issue unfortunately was not such as
to support the contention that pri-
vate architects have superior service
to offer,' he reported.
Two Washingtonians Elected.
Speaking of the course to be fol-
lowed by the profession in view of
the European war, Mr.. Maginnis as
sured the American delegates, to-
gether with visitors from more than
q dozen foreign nations, that with
confidence that we cherish no mar
row or selfish interest but a great
cultural idea, we should hold our
course In the belief that man has
not lost his soul and that his world
will presently come again to sanity"
Two Washingtonians were among
II members elected as fellows of the
institute. They were William r.
Partridge, consulting architect of
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, whose home
Is In Silver Spring, Md, and Francis
p. Sullivan of 1920 Randolph place
NV.
Nathan Straus, United States
housing administrator, and Everett
Uberto Crosby of New York were
named honorary members. Henry
Martineau Fletcher Of London, hon.
orary secretary Of the Royal In
stitute Of British Architects, and
Louis Madeline Of Paris were chosen
honorary corresponding members.
Jean Labatut of Princeton Uni
| versity will lecture on Light and
Architecture" at $3.50 o'clock tonight.
Tomorrow morning will be occupied
with nomination of officers and di-
rectors and the report of the Com
mittee on Federal Public Works, to
be presented by Charles Butler of
New York City. Tomorrow night
c. G. Zantzinger of Philadelphia
will present the report of the Com
mittee on Education.
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