Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-07

The attorney for the District decided an i'm
portant question today relative to the exami-
nation OF plumbers for licenses by the plumb
ing board.
Some days ago John w. Hurley appeared
before the board for examination. All Of the
members OF the board were present with the
exception OF representative Of the water de-
partment After the examination Hurley was
refused license bys unanimous vote Of the
board. Hurley appealed for a re-examinst:on
through his attorney, Mr.. H. E. Davis, and
based his appeal on the ground that the board
was composed Of six elements, including the
inspector Of buildings, Representatives of the
water and sewer divisions, two master
plumbers and one journeyman plumber, and
that at least one representative Of its constitu-
ent elements should be present to enable il to
legally act as board.
Mr.. Thomas in his opinion SAYS:
Ine object OF the regulation, which Is a
reasonable one, Is to get the judgment of each
constituent element of the board az TO the
fitness OF applicants for licenses. II Mr.. Hur-
ley was only examined by two master plumbers,
then he was only examined by one element of
the board, and it follows that the examine
non OF the two master plumbers, assum-
ing to act for the entire board was illegal.
ana Mr.. Hurley IL therefore entitled to
another examination before q legally consti-
tuted board. quorum Of the plumbing board
as now constituted, there being nothing said in
the regulations as to how many members shall
constitute quorum, consists OF four persons,
namely, one representative Of the
water department, one representative of the
sewer department. one raster plumber and q
Journeyman plumber. Ordinarily a quorum
consists Of a majority Of board, but this is not
the case where, a. in the case Of the plumbing
board, such board composed Of
constituent elements. In such case all the
constituent elements must be represented In
order to avoid in the future the dificulty pre-
sented In Mr.. Hurley's case, would suggest
that section "A Of the code for the
examination, registration and licensing Of
master and journeymen plumbers be amended
by adding the following thereto or its eouiva-
lent: Provided, That quorum Of said board
shall be composed Of three members represent
ing the sewer and water departments and the
plumbing trade; that in the absence Of the in
spector Of plumbing the three members above
mentioned may appoint one Of their members
II do not think il wise to require that the
presence Of the journeyman plumber should he
necessary TO a quorum, as under certain
conditions, which may be readily supposed,
there could be no meeting Of the board,
and it is for this reason that omitted the
Jourue.m8u plumDer Dy name In the makeup
OF the quorum in the proposed amendment Of
the regulation constituting the plumbing
board. He would be necessary in the absence
Of master plumber"
APPLICATION FOR GRADING.
Application has been made 10 the Commits
sioners for the grading Of Michigan avenue
from LIST street northwest to Lincoln avenue BY
the chain gang II 10 represented that the
grading Of this street viii be great pubic con-
venience. 1t is the only east and west street
between I and the north line of the Soldiers
Home, distance Of about two miles.
WANT IT CANCELLED.
In March, 1887, John Hoover made q subdi-
vision Of square So 1t appears that at the
time the subdivision was recorded he did not
own all the land. Recently Messrs. James z.
Miller and John A. Hamilton, owners Of the
east part Of the square in question. petit
toned the Commissioners to cancel the sub
division. The assessor was asked to give his
opinion Of the matter. and he stated, after
examining the books. that his Office had never
recognized the subdivision Of Hoover The
papers were then sent to the attorney
for the District for his investigation and re-
port. This afternoon he submitted his reply,
in which he recommends that the subdivision
be cancelled and an order issued accordingly.
BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits were issued today as fol-
lows: Marie F. Webster, two brick dwellings,
18th street extended; $4,000. W. G. Mcdowell,
one brick dwelling, l420 Rhode Island avenue
northwest; el0, 900.