The evening times., 1896-10-03
PLUMBING LAW VIOLATED
District Officials Discover a
Number of Guilty Firms.
IRON PIPE USED FOR LEAD
Plumbers Alleged to Have Resorted
to Sharp Pr actice In Contract w ork.
The Estimates for the Emergency
Hospital-Strong Plea for More
Money-Minor District Matters

The District authorities have been Tor
some time quietly investigating accuSt-
tions made OF alleged dishonest practices
and violations OF the plumbing regulations
by certain firms in the city. and 1t Is said
that sufficient evidence has been secured
to warrant the prosecution of two OF the
offenders and the revocation Of their IL
censes.
Plumbing Inspector Ball does not care to
disclose the names of the accused, bat says
the public proceedings in the cases VIII
locate the parties at the proper time.
The method OF these plumbers is said 10
have been to contract to do piece of
work for given price with the regulation
lead pipe. After laying the pipe the owner
of the convenience, as well as the in
spector is called to inspect it, and as soon
as the fact is esta ablished that lead has
been used, the pipe is secretly removed
and galvanized iron substituted. The diff
ference In price makes the dishonest plumb
er "A handsome profit, even il his price for
the work is below the regular grade.
REPEATS THE oFFENsE.
The lead pipe, thus paid for, is removed
by the plumber to another place, where
he has secured a second contract, and
the same method is pursued, the superior
material serving the same purpose in
probably half a dozen instances.
An assistant inspector made the dis
covery in one case where the plumbers
were In the act of covering up the pipe
used for a lengthy house connection on
private contract. and upon being charged
with the dishonest substitution the firm
confessed. The guilty parties wer. at
once deprived of the right to carry on
business, and were obliged also to remove
the iron pipe and put in the material con-
tracted Tor. In this instance the connection
had been passed by the inspector and the
substitution made subsequently,, when a
second official visit was not Anticipated
The plumbing inspector says the only Sc
curity to the citizens is to have the work
properly inspected officially, but it seems
there is no protection against dishonest
practices, except the inspector has the time
to stand by until the piping is laid and the
earth covers it. Steps are being taken,
however. to remedy this difficulty.
1t is understood there are but few men
who are engaging i'll this sharp practice.
and the Engineer Commissioner is likely
to have them all on string before many
weeks pass by.
The reputable plumbers, of whom there
are many. are also taking an active interest
in the exposure Of the fraudulent work, and :,
between them and the District officials life
will probably be made a burden to the vio-
lators of the law.
THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.
Fifteen thousand dollars is the amount
asked for by the directors of the Central
Dispensary and Emergency Hospital for
maintenance OF the institution for the en-
suing year, and the suggestion made last
year for liquidating the present Indebted
ness is repeated. The need OF additional
room and facilities is also suggested.
In the annual report just submitted of
the operations or the hospital for the year
just Closed. President W. ]. Boardnan, OF
the board of directors, says:
Il desire here to call attention to a very
important suggestion made last winter by
a member OF the Congressional Committee
on Appropriations, when that committee
had under consideration the making OF the
annual appropriation for the benefit of this
Institution.
Il refer to the wisdom of supplying one
institution with all the surgical skill. an.
pliances and rooms for the proper treatment
of emergency cases. In city of the popu-
lation or Washington. one institution so
equipped would be able to attend to that
class of eases.
Were II possible to supply each of sew
eral hospitals with an experienced aud
skilled surgeon, it could hardly be expected
that either Congress or the general public
would be willing to do the unnecessary thing
of providing all OF them with the expensive
appliances required for success in surgical
operations.
THE SURGEONS.
The Central Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital possesses two OF these necessary
requisites surgical skill and modern sur
gical appliances. This brings me to |
matter of more Importance than any other !
mentioned in these several reports. ant: that |
is The absolute necessity Tor additional |
rooms.
II w.uld that the friends of the hospital |
Gould on certain days of each week see !
Lhe crowd of poor afflicted humanity |
by the hour TO be taken In turn |
nte the very small operating rooms for |
and treatment
President Boardman emphasizes the ar |
gument for additional equipment by cit !