Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
ARRAYED I'M OPPOSITION
Substance of Protest Filed by Joumeymen
Plumbers and Gasftters.
Alleged Unfair Competition Upon Part
Of District EmplOycs-Superfnten
ent Fitzgerald's Response.

| Local Union No. 5 of the Associated Jour-
regimen Plumbers and Gasfitters Organiza-
ton has protested to the District Commits
| sioners against the continuance of the work
of connecting water meters by employees
of the District government. The protest is
| in the shape of a letter from William H.
Marsh. the local secretary. who states that
action is taken only after due elaboration
by the entire membership of the local
branch of the union.
! 1t is claimed by the secretary that the
work of setting water meters properly be-
longs to employees of bona fide master
plumbers and gasftters and not to men
employed by the District government for
specific purposes. which duties do not in
clude setting water meters.
when the United States Congress-" con-
tinues the communication, deems it in
| cumbent and mandatory (dnd so legislates)
that the consumer of Potomac water must
install in his premises device appliance
for the registration of the quantity of
| water used. and when Congress delegates
to you the sole control of this register and
you are thereby held responsible for it's ac-
! curateness 1t may vest you with the au-
| thority to have only District employees con-
| meet the same. Until this plenary privilege
Is vested in you, We protest, and vehement
ly SO, against others than employees of reg
| istered plumbers doing this work.
I'VE desire to call your attention to the
! wrong that is being perpetrated in this mat
| ter Whether you cognizant of the in
jury that has been aud is being practiced
| III TINS matter We do not know. But We
| are aware that you responsible for the
creation, PRONUNCIATION and enforcement of
| regulations or rules that govern the du
! ties OF employees of the District government.
| Regarded Injustice.
1.-The unjust and Illegal practice we refer
to is this:
THE soliciting of work by the District
! IL, tI,o
ing contractor by entering into the COM
| petitive system against men listed in the
| District office as registered and bonded
| plumbers. Such a condition of affairs in
| the administrative department of our mu-
nlclpailty does exist and is deplorable.
ms manner of competing with parties who
are compelled to respect certain regulations
il they are the successful bidders that you
90 not If you receive the contract, is es-
Sent1ally incompatible with the high duties
| OF your positions and the required respect
OF all coming within jurisdiction of our
laws and regulations.
I'VE have been informed by those who
Supef1ntend the connection of water meters
| that the District government is a COMPETE
tor for such work. Such knowledge,
though, was nothing new. We possessed it
long before. We have made some investi-
cation concerning the knowledge and skill
required of those Cor practiced by those)
| employed by the District government on
such work. The result of our investigation
| was that water meters connected by men
! in the employ of the District government
are SO connected unskillfully, and in diff
ferent manner from what is exacted from
| our employers. Whether this is due to
their the District employeso mocha uical
and mental ignorance, or inadvertence or
their roremans $, we cannot say. But the
fact remains there is different class of
work required from them and from our en-
ployers.'
The plumbers next state a number of
technicaities in the work of connecting
mat H. riy
certain things and neglect others that
would not be countenanced We're the work
done by regular plumbers. 1t is stated in
conclusion:
I'VE discovered in one school building a
water meter with a three-quarter-inch
opening for the supply of water to pass
through and found an inch and a quarter
water supply from the street reduced to
fit this three-quarter opening on meter
thereby reducing by contact and friction
the water supply.
I'VE can verify any assertion made here
In ana we trust gentlemen. you will agree
with US when we say that such giaring in
constituencies. in conjunction with the en-
efoacnment upon our trade and calling
should be abolished and eliminated We
trust, further. that your sense of right and
justice will prevail"
Foreman FitzgeraId's Reply.
When the protest received it was
referred to Mr.. John Fitzgerald, foreman
OF the water department. who made a
report and forwarded the same TO Captain
Craighiil, acting engineer commissioners
Mr.. Fitzgerald says:
THE water department does not solicit
work of setting meters in private residences
| or business houses, nor is il the intention
OF the department to compete with regis
tered plumbers in such work On the con-
trary, the department would much prefer
that meters for private parties be fur
| nShed and set by plumbers. When, how
ever, application is made to the depart-
ment for an estimate Of the cost of set
ting a meter, the applicant is furnished
such an estimate, including the actual cost
of material and labor. A deposit of the
estimated cost is required before work is
| commenced.
Relative to the unskillful manner in
| which meters have been set by this de-
| partment, the workmanship of said en-
ployes is of the best. By-passes are con-
nected to all meters set by this depart
ment. except in charitable Institutions and
| churches
Meters We're placed on service pipes to
| school buildings for the purpose of pre-
venting the unnecessary waste of Potomac
water. These meters were placed without
| by-passes and the size was reduced by or
der of the superintendent of the water de-
partment. A piece of pipe is put in in
lieu of by pass for the purpose of connect
ing the service pipe should the meter get
| out of order"
Captain Craighill has recommended that
| the plumbers be advised that the water
| department of the District only sets meters
! for private parties or corporations when
| requested to do SO, and that it does not
desire to engage in this business to any
| greater extent than can be avoided.
| Commissioner Ross has approved this
| suggestion and communication to that
| effect will be forwarded at once to the
plumbers.
NEW ENGLAND WOMEN WITHDRAW
Trouble Among Delegates to COlOred
Women's Convention.
At the very end of the convention of the
National Association of Colored Women of
| America in Chicago yesterday a serious