The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-02

OF all men in the world who have
no Kick coming, to use an expressive,
IL not extremely elegant phrase, 1t is
the plumbers. Yet they are kicking.
That is, the master plumbers are; and
If all stories are true they are not
kicking without warrant.
Their kick is on Building Inspector
John Nelson, and 1t was registered with
the board of health at it's regular meet
ing last night. Henry Gunster, as a
committee of the Master Plumbers as
sociation, came before the board and
informed the members that their much
wanted plumbing code was not worth
three, or, at the most, four straws.
1t is far from being as efiicacious as
the board supposes, Mr.. Gunster said
1t was intended to regulate all plumb
ing done in this city, and make 1t
uniformly sanitary, but it fails mis-
erably to do any thing of the kind. 1t
is a good law and in itself is entirely
satisfactory to the representative plum
bers comprising the membership Of the
Master Plumbers association, but, Mr..
Gunster, speaking for the association,
says 1t is Intellectual because 1t Is
evaded. He also says that the building
inspector is responsible in great
measure for its non-enforcement and
the board should do something to Mr..
Nelson or the plumbing code to right
this wrong.
According to the code all plumbers
are required to submit plans of their
proposed work and have the same ap-
proved before going on with their Job.
The inspector duly inspects such plans,
and where such inspections take place
everything is satisfactory. Some plum
bers, however do not submit plans or
pay any other heed to the code.
LAW DISREGARDED.
With an utter disregard of all law
and authority, plumbers, he said pro-
ceed to do plumbing in any old man.
ner their consciences will allow. The
plumbers who observe the every stipu-
lation of the law cannot compete with
those whose only check is their con-
sciences and hence the objection.
Mr.. Gunster thought the only remedy
would be the appointment of plum
Ing inspector and the enforcement of
this branch of the construction busi-
ness from the building inspectors office.
Mr.. Nelson, he said meant we'll enough,
but his manifold duties would not per-
NIT him to give the matter of plumb
ing the attention it deserves and as a
consequence the aw-abiding plumbers
and the public health suffer.
After an informal discussion it was
decided to hold a special meeting two
weeks from last night to give the mat
ter due consideration. Building In
spector Nelson will be summoned to be
present and the Plumbers association
VIII be invited to send representatives
The board heard complaints from
Health officer Allen concerning the un-
sanitary conditions of various portions
OF the city and the crying need Of sew
ers in these places. Second, Third and
Emmet streets, Brick avenue and Oak
streets, Connor court, between Broad
way and River, and the historic pool
of scum recovered water west of Brick
avenue were among the localities men,
toned. In the matter of the swamp
east of Washington avenue, between
New York and Marion streets, he re-
ported that he and Sanitary officer
Burke visited the councils of Dunmore
and after stating the nature of the case
received assurance that the borough
would abate the nuisance.
Secretary Murray's report for the
month showed a total of 1877 deaths,
fifty births, twenty-five marriages and
forty-seven cases Of contagious dis
eases, with seven deaths resulting
therefrom.
Food Inspector Cullen reported hav-
ing made 563 inspections of meat and
fish and PIP milk inspections. He con-
fiscated 667 pounds of fish, 120 pounds
of beef, so chickens, 33 barrels of vege-
tables, So baskets of tomatoes and 80
baskets Of peaches. Three instances
of impure milk were reported.