The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-03
THE STATE-HOUSE PLUMBING.
The Jonrneymen Plumbers Association Offers
to Prove that the Work Is Imperfect.

The Journeymen Plumbers, Steam and Gas-it-
tiers Association have statement to present to
the public in reference to the Journals article Of
Oct. Il, referring to the plumbing work in the
new State-house. They claim they are able to
substantate charges against the work in oues-
ton and take issue with Mr.. Pendergast in as
serting that specific charges were. made in rela-
ton to the work by the associations committee.
who visited the State-house. In reference to
this being scheme to compel Mr.. Farrell's men
to join the union, representatives of the assoca-
alton say these men are ineligible to member
ship.
They represent that an inspiring motive in
their complaint against the State-house work is
the lack of any laws that compel one to do plumb
ing work of the best character. There is nothing
to require inspection of plumbing and there is
no sanitary plumber in the employ of the city to
go from one place to another and examine every
job while the work is in progress. In fact. they
claim not merely a deficiency in sanitary laws
IN this respect, but an entire want of legal re-
qulrements to prevent bad jobs being done
they say: I'VE are men who depend for living
on the wages we earn. and desire to see union
men employed, but, at the same time, we do not
wish to coerce any man in joining our union, and
the statement that we authorized any one to make
threat against any employer or his men is
raise. The object of our union is to try to ele-
vate the plumbing trade to its proper place; to
strive to have good work done in the city"
referring to Mr.. Pendergasts remarks that
the work was incomplete the association Jour
neymen answer: IF the work condemned is
incomplete, thesame will apply to it ten years
hence" Again they ask, Twill Mr. Far.
iron soil ana waste eD'I pipes inc to 'AS: a
testi Suppose he securely caps up all openings
In the soil and waste pipes. and this having been
done, suppose he connects said pipes with the
water pressure, and subjects this cast enameled
iron pipe to forty fifty pounds PRESSURE will his
joints stand the test2"
They deny that it is a scheme of the boss
plumbers to injure Mr.. Farrell. 1t was eheir
committee that reported the work to be bad,
because the iron soil and waste pipes were put
together in very careless manner that the
joints which had been left as finished were not
half caulked that pipe was put in crooked to avoid
using an offset, and that the joints in conse
quence were not loaded or caulked sufficiently to
make them lmpervious to sewer gas; that little
or no attention had been given to the ventilation
for ventilation purposes had 81 bee been n
constructed; that in cutting the soil-pipe the
enamel had been cracked and broken off, and
that the job throughout was not what it should
be- They claim that in these specific charges
they will abide by the decision of any practical
expert. and pay for the examination. They
want to know of Mr.. Farrell what he thinks Of
this proposition, assuring him of their sincerity
In the matter. They say they are willing to
prove all assertions as to the work in question
being bad, and will do so whenever called upon.