The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-10
4 PLUMBING ORDINANCE.
What Practical Plumbers in the City
Think Of the Proposed Law.
OPINIONS FAVOR THE ORDINANCE
The Need OF Competent Sanitary Super
vision- Health of the City nc Stake
strict License Laws should he OBJ
served.

So Tar as has been ascertaineu 'no Pi"-
posed city ordinance regulating the
drainage and plumbing of buildings
meets the approval OF the city plumbers.
There Is a certain contingent OF quack
plumbers TO whom the idea of
having their license, viewed by
the critical eye OF the in
spector OF buildings, as required by the
new ordinance, is not the pleasantest In
the world. The pretical plumbers have
nothing TO fear from rigid examlna-
tion. aud hail the proposed law as con-
venient escape from the competition OF
workmen whose only claim TO being
Numbers is the fact that they say so.
Several licensed plumbers expressed
their opinion yesterday regarding the
advisability of the proposed ordinance,
ard seemed generally favorable To it.
Mr.. Phillips of Phillips & Phillips stated
thar he regarded the proposed law as a
good one. 1T gives the Inspector
more poaer- than formerly" he-slid.
s'whicn Is something that he needs. The
plumbers license at present. Is IL tie
more than a permit. and doss not signify
that the holder IL n competent workman.
Their only Requirement now is 10 see that
the streets are properly guarded where
torn up, and liz does not take a plumber
10 do .nat. The ordinance looks like an
attempt TO r, ach nigher plane or sani-
tary precautlon uLon which the heallh
OF { people depends. In the present
age plumb bag has passed almost from
trade 10 u science.
A Rigid Inspection Necessary.
"A rigid inspection should De con-
stantly maintained of all sewers, cess
pools aud pipes. which. / believe. is con-
tempated by this law. Stoppage OF
pipe sLould be gwen prompt attention
and tbs utmos, care should be taken in
directing sewers and other conveyors OF
fetid matter from tie sources of our
drinking water supply. The law as pro-
posed seems TO cover these exposed points
OF danger.
$50 far as know the reliable plumb
ers OF toe city are favorable TO the pas
sage of the bill which they think will
work to the mutual advantage OF them
selves and the public. Tue plumbing OF
the city should be under competent in
spectiol and the ordinances rigidly en-
forced."
j. S. Fuller says: II favor such an
ordinance In common with the rest OF
the practical plumbers. The plan OF
presenting liceuses TO the inspector Of
buildipps should have been adopted
long ago, The city Is infested by "A horde
OF quacks who know no more about
plum bing than they know absut shoe
making.
Precautionary Health measure.
"The health OF the city should not be
left to the mercy OF such people. A prac-
tical plumber has no show under the ex-
isting rules, Anyone may be plumber
who is willing 60 20 to the expense of
painting his sign. The laws ana restric-
tions governing the methods to be pur-
sued in the drainage OF the city seem to
mo to be intelligently framed in the or
uinancs."
Daniel Holmes says: 81 d. not op-
pose q reasonable law regarding the
plumbing la the city, but there is such IA
thinR 40 undue stringency. PrJvldence
seems TO compare well with other cities
in its sanitary condition. A too strict
law would not be OF advantage TO US and
would be likely to work a reactionary
effect.
There are many good points embodied
In the ordinance about TO De submitted.
The plua! binx fraternity as rule, /
think, favor It The section relating to
licenses would undoubtedly work among
Incompetent workmeE. but even under
The present laws IA license must be sub
United to the Judgment Of competent
meu Le. ore IL Is accepted, and the ch inces
tor slipshol workmen To obtain a permit
are not 80 good as many peop thinS."