Evening star., 1961-02-01
Citizens Back
Regulations to
Curb Cheuters
By MIRIAM OTTENBERG
Star Staff Writer

PASNCooCo al O1lC OAoLI1CI , IOIIl6
improvement industry.
A few witnesses, however,
raised questions about the
bonding requirements Of the
proposed regulations. Commis-.
sioner Robert E. Mclaughlin
directed that a small committee
be named to work out the
bonding problems of small
contractors.
More than IS persons gath
cred in the District Building
board room for the public hear
ing on the strict new regula-
tionS to protect homeowners
from fraudulent practices in
home repair.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said uues-
tionable or dishonest practices,
apparently engaged in by a
relatively few persons" in the
home improvement. business.
indicate the need for regula-
tions to protect the public from
possible financial loss.
Star Series Cited
At the outset, Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Robert p
Kneipp said the proposed regu-
lations deal directly or in
directly with all the evils cited
in The Stars "Homeowner Be-
ware" series.
Mr.. Kneipp added that the
regulations were designed to
permit the homeowner to pro-
tect himself easily against un-
scrupulous practices while not
putting too much Of a burden
or legitimate operators.
He explained that the licens-
ing requirements Of the regula-
tions would apply to contracts
OF $500 or more and contractors
who take any payment in ad-
vance of completion Of the
work.
Mr.. Kneipp added that even
II the homeowner contracted
for less than $500 worth of
work, he would do we'll to ask
If the contractor is licensed.
He said that If the contractor
is not licensed, that would
mean either that all his Jobs
were "piddling" or that he
could not qualify for a license.
Witness Urges Bonding
John H. Haas, president Of
a contracting firm known as
Workshop 221, Inc, came out
emphatically for licensing and
bonding Of home improvement
contractors and statesmen.
He said the regulations are
needed now because the grow
ing demand for better housing
is Turing an ever-growing
number Of ill-equipped and ILL
intentioned marginal operators
into the twilight zone Of q
catch as catch can business
where the laws of moral con-
duct and ethics become hazier
by the day."
Mr.. Haas said the regulations
would protect not only the
unsuspecting or ignorant home
owner but also the ethical con-
tractor who endures consider
able harm and hardship from
unfair competition and misled
customers"
Mr.. Haas proposed an addi-
tional provision which would
place the authority for han
ding complaints in the hands
of "a special board or COM
mission
Other Benefit Seen
Frank WolfSheimer, repre-
senting the District chapter of
the National Society Of Profess
sional Engineers. predicted that
the bonding requirements Of
the regulations would have both
a psychological and a practical
effect because bad contractors
would stay away from any area
where they have to be bonded.
David Yoho, representing
NERSICA, Inc. a national
association of contractors, said
Washington " is about as bad
a place for this as any we
have seen in the United
States" But he said the pro-
posed regulations could not
clean up the industry. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin assured the witness
that I'VE will attempt to en-
force our regulations"
The difficulty that the small
contractors would face in get
ting a company to bond them
was brought up by Lisle T.
Lipscomb, whose firm serves
as an insurance counselor for
the Home Builders Association
of Metropolitan Washington,
Inc, and Allan Dresner, whose
firm supplies contractors in
kitchen remodeling.
New Study Urged
It was after their testimony
that Mr.. Kneipp proposed a
committee to work out the
problems Of small contractors.
Strong Endorsement for the
regulations came from Nelson
Roots, chairman of the Hous-
ing Committee of the District
Federation of Civic Associa-
tions, and John A. Upshur,
chairman of the Housing Com
mittee of the Pleasant Plain
Civic Association. both Of whom
told of the hardships suffered
by victims.
Two victims, Wilton M. john
son, 4248 Brooks street NE,
and Mrs. Beatrice Eisenbeiss,
10 Whittier street NV, told Of
their experiences with the same
contractor.