Evening star., 1894-01-15
WATER AND GAS MAINS.
A New Regulation Will Allow Oonneo-
tions at Any Time
Much Complaint About the Present
Status-An Opinion BY Attorney
Thomas on the Subject.

A question Of much interest to plumbers
and builders was reported to the Commis-
sioners today by the attorney for the Dis
trict.
Heretofore the Commissioners have limit
ed the opening Of the streets Of the city for
the laying Of water and gas mains to all
months Of the year except those between
November 1 and March /. In making this
regulation, they believed they were acting
In accordance with the provisions Of the act
of May /. 1865. which provides:
'It shall not be lawful for any person or
persons to take up any pavement, or ex-
cavate any avenue. street. alley or sidewalk
for any purpose whatever, between the lst
OF November and the LIST Of March ir each
year, except for necessary repairs to sew
ers, water and gas pipes, nor to make any
excavation In any avenue, street or alley
without first obtaining the permission OF
the mayor In writing TO make the same, for
which permit shall be paid the sum Of 81,
and the sums so received for permits shall
be used exclusively for repairs. Any person
who shall violate any of the provisions of
this act shall be subject to q penalty of not
less than s. nor more than so for each Of
fense to be collected and applied as other
fines"
Much Complaint.
This law was an onerous one in many re-
spects. The District officials recognized its
inSohSASeShSicSs dHo pluLuDerS calleQ IL
hard names. 1t was believed the plumbing
board. authorized by the act Of April q,
1897, to make plumbing regulations, would
remedy this evil, but 1t failed to do SO,
thinking the act Of May I. 1865. was still
in force.
Meanwhile. the engineer department noti-
fed the Board Of Commissioners that the
thirty-third paragraph Of the new plumbing
regulations, which contained the law Of
May i, 1865. prohibiting the opening OF the
her I ma
was very difficuit il not impossible of en-.
forcement. This meant, practically, that
when new house is all ready for occupan-
cy, except connecting II with the sewer
water or gas. 1t is not possible to refuse the
owner permission to connect, and require
him to leave the house unoccupied until
after March /.
Regulation to Be Revoked.
With all Of these conditions staring them
In the face. and the fact that IL this regula-
ton were waived 1t would be the means Of
giving employment to a number Of men, the
Commissioners decided to revoke paragraph
S3 Of the plumbing regulations and authorize
the permit clerk to issue permits for cuts in
the pavement throughout the whole of the
present winter.
for an opinion regarding the status of the
law Of May 1, 1865, when taken In connec-
tion with the law Of April %. 1892.
In his opinion rendered to the Commis-
THE act of Congress comforting upon the
Commissioners power to make. modify and
enforce regulations governing plumbing.
house drainage and the ventilation, preser-
walton and maintenance In good order of
house sewers and public sewers in the Dis
trict of Columbia, is most comprehensive in
Its terms and is broad enough to confer
power upon the Commissioners to prescribe
a time Of year when excavations for sewers
&c, shall not be made. II the sixth section
OF the ordinance was in force on April q,
1892. it was repealed by the act Of Congress
OF that date. 1t follows that the Commits
sioners have the power to make a regula-
ton on the subject"
There is no doubt that the Commissioners
Will avail themselves OF this opportunity AT
an early date and revoke paragraph SO of
the plumbing regulations. and insert there
for the following:
Between November 1 and March 1 no
permit shall be issued to make an excaya-
ton in any street, except for necessary re-
pairs. and for connecting premises with
sewer, water and gas pipes.
In case of such necessity, repairs and
connections, the permit clerk is authorized.
upon presentation of the regular applica.
ton, to issue the necessary permit A fee
of S. will be charged for all permits issued
for making connections between November
1 and March l."