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Texas State Association of Architects. 5

live up to our requirements and the rules governing the same, but who almost daily break their promises by making overtures to the prospective client, to do work, for figures, that are about one-half of the regular fees.

In an official announcement, requesting plans and specifications for public buildings, the competing architects were invited to submit sealed proposals on the following conditions:

"1. The building to cost not over $22,000 each.

"2. PArties furnishing plans to state what per cent. of the cost of the buildings will be charged for plans furnished.

"3. What per cent. of cost of building will be charged for superintending the work on building to completion.

"The city reserves the right to reject any and all bids, etc., etc."

As the cost of the structure was not to exceed a stipulated amount, it appeared as though the award would be made contingent on the lowest fees proposal, irrespective of the merits of the sketches.

Is it for fame or wealth that we enjoy life? Take for instance the student or apprentice in the profession, particularly in Europe and our older northeastern states, entering an office at any age from 15 to 19 years, signing articles to serve for a period of three to five years without any remuneration, and oftentime paying a bonus in addition for the privlege of learning the devices, arts and technicalities of his future occupation, to preserve the office secrets and divulge nothing that transpires therein, then going through the drugery of cleaning off the boards, stretching paper, washing prints, dusting the cabinets and sketches, executing messages, copying specification, tracing details and a lot more unintersing work.

Reaching the estate of a draftsman, and working hard and long at a meager salary, he finally signs the fatal term, architect, to his name, and launches forth to do battle with the world. His hoped-for firends and clients rate him for maintaining such high fees and employ older heads at the same prices. Maybe he is taken to task by his clients for being too conscientious or lenient, and on the other hand is abused by the contractor for extoring too high a standard of workmanship and material, and for being a martinet, on the work, and so the years roll on.

When one is perfectly conscientious in the discharge of his duties he finds his percventages dearly gained and barely sufficient for the services rendered, more so on account of being now and again "brought into contact with scheming agents, manufacturers and unprincipled contractors," who work against his interests. Therefore, to guard against further abuse of this nature, a defense association, or, in other terms, a bill entitled "An act to regulate the practice of architecture," was introduced in January, 1886, for presentation to the legislature, but not until the following year was action taken on it by the association; then it appears to have been hoisted until 1888, when the bill as amended was gone over, and approved in convention, with instructions to have same published and presented in the house. In due time the bill was introduced, but gave offense to some members on the floor, in consequence of which it was pigeonholed. In 1889, in our convention the bill was carefully discussed and amended, so that all objectionable features were apparently obliterated, and our small but enthusiastic association grew interested over its importance, and teh weight of its twelve sections. Eminent counsel was secured, with power to over-rule our approved bill, to make such changes as appeared desirable, draft the reolution, look to the proper moders of procedure, and extert every endeavor to carry it through.

The bill was reduced to eight sections. Lobbyists were busily consulting with great legislators, who personally offered to "see it though" and bring it up for its third reading. Petitions were circulated among citizens of various towns by interested architects, but with such indifference that our representatives in the house were unfavorably impressed. Lethargy entered and the result was the when the Twenty-first legislature of the state of Texas adjourned the bill had only gone as far as the first ereading, and our labors were utterly lost for two more years. In 1891 the act is again taken up and special instructions give to one of the most influential members of our association to urge the passage of the act.

In 1887 the Engineers' Society of Texas endorsed our endeavors, and offered their assistance in working for our mutual welfare. In the respect they have suffered the same as ourselves.

About thirty months since the American Architect and Buidling News took occasion to criticise our action in the matter of licensing architects in the state, speaking against its enact for so close a compact of wild westerners in harsh terms, as that our intention was to exclude in every possible way the competition of architects from outside states, or taxing them such an extent as would prevent