Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-21
DEALERS qI A HEARING
Delegation Heard pliostion for Change
in Plum 6e regulations.
Those who self sspve. and Range.
Want Privgqss of Making
s~e%.." INJECTIONS.

The District ConAnais4 oners today gave
hearing on a petiten 1ecently presented to
them by local range and stove dealers, the
petitioners praying that the plumbing regu-
lations be so modified as to permit them to
connect ranges with boilers and do SINH
lar work. On behalf of the petitioners
Messrs. Henry Hammond, A. s. Johnson
James Mathey, F. 9. Hodgson and w. S.
jerks addressed the Commissioners. while
Mr.. Robert B. Caverly, president of the
Master Plumbers. Association. and Messrs
T. V. Noonan and William Cook replied on
behalf of the plumbers.
Both sides were largely represented at
today's hearing, and the matter was taken
under advisement by the Commissioners
with the promise of an early disposition of
it by them.
The Petition.
Mr.. Hammond. the first speaker. read the
petition, which was as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned stove dealers of
Washington. request modification of the
regulation providing for plumbers only to
connect ranges with boilers. This work is
properly a branch of hot water heating. n
business engaged in by several of those
whose names are appended to this paper
Plumbers, as a rule, do not deal in ranges
and waterbacks, and parties purchasing
n
pense in their endeavors to locate the re-
sponsibility for any defects which NAV de-
velop iii waterbacks after ranges are con-
nected with boilers. Stove dealers cannot
oplain promptly the services Of a plumber,
except by having him accompany the range
TO the house of the purchaser and wait for
hours until the work of the stove dealer is
completed. This procedure adds to the cost
OF the stoves. and gives pecuniary advan-
tase to the few stoYe dealers who have a
plumbers license over the dealers who have
no license. In justice to all concerned we
earnestly solicit favorable action on this
petition"
In explanation of the petition, Mr., Ham
mona SAID that to restrain stove and range
dealers from making such connections
would De placing them under a great dis
advantage, for. he stated. such dealers are
Just as competent il not more so, to per
FORM Such work as plumbers. He denied
that the performance Of the work requires
any great amount of scientific knowIe dpe
or skill, asserting that it can be well done
by a good, practical mechanic
Description of the Work.
He explained that the petitioners do not
demand that the plumbers be excluded from
DONG the work, merely asking that the
dealers be given an equal chance in the
matter He then entered into a technical
description of the work, saying that they
do not desire to do plumbing work. but
that they do ask to be allowed to continue
what they have reason to believe is their
own legitimate business
MesStS Johnson Hodgson and jerks cor
federated what Mr. Hammond said, and
MI CaVerly. on behalf of the plumbers,
stated that they have no objection to the
stove and range dealers merely replacing a
water back with another but when the
dealers attempted to so beyond that, he
thought they should be restrained and that
= yIn r,I,, Il ,Z.1,, -.
by plumbers. He also contended that if
the dealers in stoves and ranges desire to
do plumbing work they should be com
pelled by the Commissioners to meet in
every respect all the requirements and
conditions imposed by the regulations upon
plumbers.
The other plumbers agreed with Mr. Cav
erly, and the hearing adjourned with an
Willingness on each side to have
the Commissioners restrict by regulations
the performance by each of its own legiti-
mate business.
Inspectors Position.
The position of the District inspector of
plumbing in the matter of cold supply pipe
lines and connections is defined by the fol-
lowing report made by him to the Com
mssioners:
First. They are properly plumbing work
and even if performed properly and skill
fully by the employees of the more intelli-
gent stove dealers. would not be likely to be
50 properly and skillfully run by the en-
ployes Of certain small firms. not as if
run by plumbers.
Second If the Commissioners directly
exempt such connections from the opera
ton of the plum bing regulations and The
restrictions of the act of June *. 1888. as
work which may be performed by others
than registered plumbers. IL will practically
be Impossible to limit work SO done TO that
portion which is specifically authorized If
stove dealers I'M e-oi St. nh hnr