Evening star., 1954-06-07
Foes Of Boost
In District Fees
Offer Views
Use for Speedier
Inspections Urged
If Approved

Witnesses against proposed in
creased fees for District permits
and certificates today combined
their opposition with a plea that
if increases are granted, they
should be used for additional
personnel to get Speedier inSpec-
tionS.
After hearing a parade of wit
neSses from the building and
trucking industries and the utili-
ties, the Commissioners decided
to withhold a decision until the
opponents have had a chance to
sit down with District officials
and go over the revised fees.
The Commissioners were told
by Denver w. Warnock, chief Of
the Office of administration of
the Department of Licenses and
Inspections, that it now costs
the District $1,626.997 annually
to issue the various licenses and
permits.
Mr.. Warnock said the revenue
through fees amounts to $1,057,-
1913. The proposed increases. he
said, would raise this annual
revenue to $1,570,000.
Inspection Cost Cited.
In arguing for the increases,
Mr.. Warnock stressed that the
reason for it was the increased
cost of inspection. He said that
a 81 fee had not been increased
since 1892. while the annual
salary for an inspector had in
creased from 1890 in 1892 to
between $3,795 and $4,205 today.
Mr.. Warnock said the increases
should not be considered as tax
revenue but to cover actual costs.
E. L. Davis, representing the
M st er Builders Association.
underlined the theme of several
witnesses that increased revenue
should be used for more inspec-
tors. He said builders now have
to wait many months before a
building permit is issued and
necessary inspectors are assigned
to the job.
Walter G. Cobb. representing
the Electrical Contractors Asso-
citation, argued that electrical
fees should be decreased, not in
creased. He said at the time the
Mayfower Hotel was built, the
electrical contractor paid 81 for
permit. Today, he said, the
contractor for the same lob
would have to pay $4,000.
Other witnesses and their tes-
timony follows:
q Charles ]. Bauer, executive
secretary of the Building Owners
and Managers Association of
Metropolitan Washington, said
the operators felt substantial in
creaSes were unfortunate but
didn't challenge them. What
they do challenge, he said, Is
putting in an inspection fee for
elevators. He said this was pre-
viously waived by the District
because insurance companies
make a more thorough inspec-
ton.
GrosvenOr Chapman, WASH
ington Building Congress, said II
the increases are put in effect,
they should be accompanied by
better inspection service. He
asked, and was given permission.
to go over the fee reports from 80
cities to which Mr.. Warnock had
referred.
w. E. Gallagher of the WASH
ington Gas Light Co.'S legal de.
partment said the gas company
had no quarrel about paying its
fair share but he asked that the
definitions in the new regulations
be clarified.
ID. F. Hughes, assistant to the
manager of the Potomac Electric
Power Co., warned the Commits
sioners that any substantial in
crease in fees to the electric
company probably would cause
an increase in rates to con-
SumerS.
Hugh M. Steinberger, District
Trucking Association, said II
extra fees are put in for inspec-
ton of cranes and other large
trucks, it would amount to dou-
BILE taxation because truckers al
ready have to pay for tags.
Walter ]. TObriner, attorney
for excavators. said If the Dis
trict puts on an inspection fee
for heavy trucks, Virginia would
make District truckers pay a fee
because Virginia and the District
have a reciprocal arrangement.