The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-13
WILL DISCUSS PLUMBING LAW.
MAYOR has CALLED MEETING OF
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.


Gabbett of the Georgia and Ala
bnma, and Mr. Aaron Ferst Know
Something of Benefits the People
Get From the Plumbing Depart
mcnt-They Think IL Mistake TO
Risk Its Usefulness by COnsOIida-
tiOn-A Warm Discussion Expect
ed.
Several matters OF importance will be
considered at meeting of the committee
of the whole Of Council this afternoon.
Probably the most important will be the
plumbing ordinance. The others Will be
the petition of the Savannah, Thunder
bolt and Isle Of Hope Railway for re-
vision Of the tax ordinance. that Of va
rious property owners along the river
asking permission to extend their wharves
to the recently adopted harbor lines, the
proposition 10 write up Savannah in a
special edition of Leslies and the ordi-
nance preventing fowls from roaming in
squares, on grass plats or in cemeteries.
1t would not be surprising if the quaran-
tine matter was incidentally discussed.
though it Is not understood the special
committee has yet prepared the resolution
to be sent to Washington.
There are few who have not expressed
their opinion on the plumbing ordinance.
which the board may pass. Property own
ers rarely ever take the interest in any
matter equal TO that which has been shown
in this ordinance, the object of which is
admitted to be the REIMBURSEMENT of an
important office by the health department,
where it is claimed it properly belongs.
The interest the board of plumb
ing examiners, the health commit
tee of Council. the health officer
and the sanitary board have taken
in the new department has attracted the
attention of taxpayers, many of whom
have had practical demonstrations in their
own homes of it's efficient work Scarcely
a property owner can be found who favors
the change ii is understood Council intends
TO make, Notwithstanding the argument
some of the aldermen offer about the city
saving money, which is the only reason
given for amalgamatng the office with
that of INSPECTOR OF the water department
In view OF the fact that prop
erty owners generally oppose the
move, il becomes difficult for many
to reconcile the, positions of alder
men who advocate economy in this depart
ment when those who pay for it are not
complaining.
When Council calls up the plumbing or
dinance to decide whether it shall be
passed. the aldermen will find the
following among many others on record
protesting against the proposed consolfda-
ton:
Estate Soloman Cohen, w. j. Mlscally,
Jr., c. F. Keilbach, M. ]. Solomons, f. A.
NJ. Schroeder, VIM. Diers Herman Hesse,
J. Cohen, J. II. Hoffman, Cord Asendorf,
T. Fl. Henderson Sons. A. J. Dierks. Wal
thour & Rivers; T. J. Charlton r. ].
Mum, 7. P. Waring, L. A. Fall
Paul Plumbing Co T. j. O'Brien.
T. ]. McEllnn, L. L. Burpee, Jno. T. Col
Inns, L. A. Mccarthy, P. H. Herman,
Byck Bros. Cornwell & Chapman, II. ].
Meyer, o. F. Broderick, Julius Kaufman,
X. f. G. Kramer John Nicholson. W. f.
Chaplin. Fred Vessels. l. NJ Frank. ID.
Hecht, p. J. OFT, J. II. Scherer, r. Row
linsli, Percy sugden e. Byck, A. c. Price.
x Co, II. S. Cohen. r. j. Kulman, NJ s.
q D. A. Byck E. J. Thomas, p. A. War
ing, Geo. Ehlers, Selig Mendel, j. f. Full
ton & Son, and Jas. L. Rankin.
Mr.. Cecil Gabbett, vice president and
general manager of the Georgia and Ala
bama Railway. Is probably among the
strongest advocates of the plumbing de-
partment, which he believes to be among
the most important branches of the city
government. The testimonial Mr. Cab
bett paid the department showed
that he was thoroughly convinced that it
will be a mistake 10 make any change
that will possibly interfere with its use
fulness.
1T seems to me the ordinance creating
department for the inspection of
plumbing" said Mr.. Gabbett is Iecid-
eddy the best any Council has passed in
years. My own experience with bad
plumbing and the quick manner in
which defects were detected and reme-
died, is the reason l have come 20 this
conclusion.
For some time there was sickness at
my home for which l was unable to ac-
count Thinking there might be some
thing about the plumbing which caused
ii, ! notified the inspector, who called and
examined the plumbing work throughout
the house. He found number of defects
and leaks through which sewer gas WAS
escaping. The plumbing was all repaired
and changed in accordance with his rec
concentrations, after which all cause for
complaint was removed. The efficiency
of a department which can be of such
value to citizens should not be impaired
by the City Council. 1t has been abund-
antly demonstrated that the people Of
Savannah need the plumbing depart
ment.'
Mr.. Gabbett appeared before the Joint
committee that heard the plumbers who
are seeking 10 have the Offices consolLdat-
ed. but for some reason he was not heard
Mr.. Gabbetts personal knowledge of The
present workings of the department would
have made his testimony valuable TO the
committee IN deciding whether there is
any need for keeping the offices separate
Mr.. Aaron Ferst of M. Ferst's Sons &
Co. goes further in his recommendations
than others. While his experience is much
the same as that of Mr.. Gabbett. he prob
ably suffered more inconvenience as a re-
suit of escaping gases. His sons had been
the victims of fever several weeks. and
as they did not show signs of Improvement
within a reasonable time, il was decided
TO send them TO another climate. The next
report MIR. Ferst sot after their departure
was that the boys were improving. and as
this continued, IL was NOT long until they
returned After getting a few whiffs of
The same poisonous sewer gases. however
the convalescents were again taken sick.
This caused Mr.. Ferst to suspect there