Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-10
Gen. Young 10 Urge
Central Bureau for
Building Permits
A plan to establish a central bu-

A plan to establish a central bu-
reau at the District Building for
issuance of all construction permits
to builders will be recommended to
the Commissioners next week by
Brig. Gen. Gordon =. Youlag, Engi-t
neeT Commissioners. -
Designed to eliminate the. pres
emit lengthy procedure builders must
undertake to get construction per
miSs, the plan is the result OF q
study made by a committee OF Dis
trict officials and local builders who
reported to Gen. Young yesterday.
It would coordinate the operation
of six departments, Gen. Young
said.
Representatives from the six de-
partments would be available to
the public all in one place, and
could act for officials of the cleo
trical, plumbing, building, sewer,
water and highway Offices.
The new bureau would cost about
s35, 900 a year to operate and would
be self-suSaining, Gen. Young said,
through a minor increase in fees,
it is hoped. If approved by the
Commissioners, it will go into oper-
alton on July /.
Causes "BoOtlegging.'
1.-THE present system is very bad
one" Gen. Young declared. 1T Is
founded on the idea that fellow
has to take papers himself to the
various agencies, and 1t makes him
run all over the building and some
times occupies days"
The Engineer Commissioner said
this present plan undoubtedly
caused great deal of the boot
logging" in construction changes
which the builders admit goes on.
The "bootlegging" referred to Is
the practice of some builders max
ing structural changes without per-
mits.
The new bureau would be set up
on the first floor of the District
Building, Gen. Young explained. In
the Office would be representatives
of all agencies who will be in direct
touch with their agencies by tele-
phone.
Limits Visits to Two.
The result would be that a person
wanting permits for construction
work would not have to call more
than twice-once to file the ap-
plication and once to get the per-
mits and pay for them.
The committee making the report
was headed by Sam Harrison, dep
uty engineer of streets. Also on the
committee were three other District
officials and five representatives
from the building industry.
Gen. Young said that at a meet
ing of all his department heads
yesterday he explained the plan to
them. Within a week, they are to
report back to him their sugges-
tons, and if the plan meets with
general approval, it will 60 to the
Board OF commissioners.
Gen. Young added he is not sure
what legislation would be necessary
If any-to get the plan into opera
ton.
The plan would require nine more
employees, at an estimated cost of
s28, 900 a year. Other expenses, such
as installation of telephones and
counters, Gen. Young said, are ex-
pected to run the total up to $35, 900.
The committee recommending the
bureau, in addition to Mr.. Harrison.
were W. N. Handiboe, assistant chief
clerk of the engineers department:
j. j. Ilgenfritz, deputy director of
inspections; E. A. Press, assistant
to the director of sanitary engineer
ing: G. T. Santmeyer, architect: L.
L. Kemp, builder; ]. L. Bateman,
plumbing contractor; ]. A. Stone.
electrical contractor, and c. J. Har-
matt h,1ildipu contraction