Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-31
THE PLUMBING REGULATIONS.
A Petition From the Association of
Master Plumbers for q Change.

For some time the Commissioners have re-
ceived many complaints from master plumbers
that the plumbing regulations governing the
practice of plumbing in tia District we're de-
fective. Recently the Commissioners received
a long petition from the association of master
plumbers of the District calling their attention
to certain evils existing in the Office of the
plumbing inspector which, they claimed,
worked a hardship to plumbers in the District
Of Columbia The petition was referred to
Capt. Lusk for consideration. They held that
the present regulations require Of q person
who desires to register as a master plumber
that he file bond for $500 and a letter from
two citizens stating that he is plumber. This,
they said, is always complied with, but a bond
and q letter from two citizens do not make a
plumber. Some Of the registered plumbers
on the list, they charged, are not
even apprentices and never were, but
merely plumbers helpers, who have served
only few months in some shop. They said
further that they find that the general con-
tractor upon getting out a permit to build
gives the name Of some reputable plumber as
the one TO 90 the work in the house, who has
never seen the plans of the house and whom
the contractor takes good care never shall, and
knowing at the same time this name is given,
ne has already given the work to some other
man.
WHAT rs WANTED.
In conclusion they suggest:
That the regulations be so amended a. to
require larger bond, say 1880.
That board of registration be established
and some standard of merit or fitness as to
character and ability be required
That when a contractor takes out permit to
build he be required to furnish q certificate
from the plumber to whom he shall have
awarded the contract prior to applying for the
permit TO build.
That instead of the deposit required each
time the concrete is to be cut, that a standing
deposit of $50 be required and that when a
certain portion shall have been chargedag against
any plumber he be required to replenish same
so that permanent deposit may be kept al
ways on hand
That the portion Of the regulations which re-
CURES registered plumber to have a place of
business and sign with his name and the
words Registered plumber" thereon exposed
to public view be rigidly enforced
That the force of the plumbing inspectors be
increased four men, making six inspectors in
all beside the plumbing inspector, and that the
city be divided into districts or sections and
apportioned to the different inspectors, SO that
the city may be fully inspected at all times,
and that at least one inspector be required to
be in the office from to 4, and not from to /
as at present.
CAPT. LUsK's RECOMMENDATION.
Capt. Lusk was given the matter for his con-
sideration and report. He gave the subject
much consideration and study and referred it
to Major Raymond approved, with the excep-
ton of the recommendation relative to the
appointment Of board of registration. He
says in connection with this that the present
law, as interpreted by the courts, does not give
the Commissioners the necessary power Capt.
Lusk, in conclusion, says that the above recon-
mendations are made with the knowledge that
the law on which the existing plumbing regu-
lations are based is quite defective. The regu-
lations themselves, he says, need alteration in
many important particulars, but new legisla-
ton is necessary before any changes of value
can be effected