The herald., 1893-10-30
WAR ON TIE PLUMBING LAW,
Numerous Complaints as to
Mandatory Expense.
Many House builders Claim 1t Is an
Unjust Burden.
The Plumbers' Side of the story-The
Ordinance to Be Rsvised-Inter-
view with One of the
Examiners.

A kick of no small dimensions has
been caused by the present city plumb
ing ordinance. The complaints are nu-
merous and more or less we'll founded.
The committee of the council to whom
the ordinance was referred for revision
are struggling with it almost day and
night. This is made necessary from the
fact that nearly every person who builds
a new house lodges complaint against
the ordinance.
1t is claimed that the ordinance COM
pels too expensive plumbing. To chow
this side of the question case of recent
occurrence is cited. A man built a
$2700 house, and the plumbing cost him
$685.. At this he strongly objected.
This is only one of a hundred cases.
On the other hand the board of health
aud the board of plumbing examiners
claim that the present law contains
scarcely an Objectionable feature.
While it appears rigid, they say it is
not too much so for the general good,
and plumbing law is necessity. 1t is
necessary to prevent the sacrifice OF
human life to prevent financial losses
consequent upon long continued sick
ness and death, and to protect the pub
lie from quacks and incompetent per-
sons.
Mr.. Edward Bargoin, member OF the
board OF plumbing examiners, gave a
HERALD reporter the plumbers side OF
the question yesterday. He said:
Now, to explain some of the causes of
recent articles in reference to the So
called plumbers combine. as has been
hoated to the breeze. 1t is simply So
ciety for the advancement of sanitary
science. They also have in connection
with their organization commercial
agency, the same as Bradstreet's or
Dunn's, for listing professional beats, OF
which Los Angeles has its share. This
and the walls OF picayunish household
ers, moonlight contractors and cranks
have had tendency to raise quite
hubbub in the city council.
''Some time ago thi5 commercial body
passed resolutions and notified the
architects of the city that in the future
they would be original contractors, that
they might enjoy the benefits OF the lien
law, and not be at the mercy of unscru-
pulous contractors who fit around from
town to town, pro-rating nine-tenths OF
the Jobs they contract for. This action
met with the unanimous approval of all
responsible contractors, as they were
glad to be relieved OF the responsibility
and annoyance of the same. The archi-
tects were highly pleased, as it placed
the responsibility where it belonged.
Then another prominent kicker in
this movement was landlord who had
been building fire trap in district No.
2. He had the fire ordinance repealed.
He ia now attempting to nave the plumb
ing ordinance repealed, go that he may
build death trap as we'll.
Some of these writers and kickers are
abusing the wholesale houses simply be-
cause they are not retail merchants.
The most essential portion OF the san.
, itary law to save expense by the CITY is
the examination board. Were it not for
this board the city would have to supply
probably 20 inspectors, as it would be
necessary to have this number to see
that the incompetent work was thrown
out. By reference to any state having
sanitary law, such es New York, Ohio,
Massachusetts, or any other eastern
state, it would be easily discovered at
once that such al examination board is
q necessity.
The following is the opinion of Gov
ernor Peck of Wisconsin:
"If 1 were to believe the newspapers
l should have come here with shade
over my eyes to keep from being dogged
bv the diamonds that plumbers are sup
posed to wear. But being good natured,
you can take those little slings and ar
row of outrageous fortune without
bluehing.
81 presume, in my experience as a
Newspaper man, / have had as much
fun with plumbers by lying about them