The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-30
NOT G BY MAYOR
HE HAS MANY OBJECTIONS TO
PLUMBING ORDINANCE.
He, Therefore, Returns 1t to the
Council UnsiGned-Nayor's Cab
inet-MunicipaI Affairs.

Mayor Taggart yesterday announced that
he would return the plumbing ordinance to
the City Council without his signature.
The action Of the mayor probably means
the death of the ordinance, as it will now
require a two-thirds vote of the Council to
pass the measure over his objection. The
ordinance was passed at a meeting of the
Council on May 5, by a vote of II to 3, but
it is thought the Democrats who voted for
the measure then will now desert the
Republicans and stand by Mayor Tagsart.
The ordinance was made a caucus meas
ure by the Republicans. and it was thought
the Democrats would oppose its passage,
but a committee Of the whole so amended
the ordnance that most OF its Objectionable
features were eliminated. with the result
that a majority of the Democrats supported
the Republicans in passing it.
MAYORS OBJECTIONS.
In returning the ordinance to the Council
the mayor mentions the following obJec-
tons:
visions of the ordinance, is appointed by. the
Board Of Health and Charities. Any appeal from
any decision Of the insPbe pee 4sde af to fhe Bosrd of
Public Works. IL would seem 10 me tnat me
plumbing inspector O %n9 oS Pnb,ic Health and
Charities. that any appeal from his decision IN
regard TO plumbing matters should De mdue 10
SECTION 8 provides that in case Of a firm or
combination of persons. other than a corporation;
every member Of such firm or combination OK
persons shall pass such examination ana DE
licensed as herein provided. This is an unjust
Discrimination between a corporation and a firm.
Section Is provides that every dwelling mouse
hotel, apartment house, tenement house, factory
store or other building II which PLUMBING ar
with the city sewer, when such sewer, rs pro-
vided. and when such sewer is not provided with
i 4 gesStPSoi Of %piumbing. AS no distance for a
sewer connection is named from a Dullolng IL Is
indefinite and uncertain in this section.
THE meaning of tenement house and apart
ment should be defined. Ordinarily a tenement
house Is a building arranged for three or more
families doing cooking independently. Accord
ing 10 Section II every building IN whlch a nre
and independent plumbing. Many double houses
are now being constructed. with a fire wall sepa-
cost of plumbing in these buildings a line of soil
pipe Is run in this IRE wall Tor the purpose or
sansa aT 1hs TWO wpts s'G nii of the R peosaans; a aPPur9e-
nances. According TO the provisions or TINS sec
independent drains. and separate and independ-
ent soil and vent pipes rms Is Durdenlns me
property owners with considerable extra expense.
BURDENSOME PROVISION.
In Section % another burdensome provision
exists. recurring every refrigerator or waste pipe
TO discharge into a drip tray. and thence into an
open sink. This provision would be proper in
hotels, tenement houses and apartment houses,
but I think il entirely unnecessary in private
dwellings, as the owner of the dwelling would
be required 10 put in. In addition 10 the drip
tray. a sink. This sink must be provided with
a flap. with a vent pipe. all OF which would add
greatly to the cost OF the plumbing.
Section go is in conflict with Section 26 as to
the size OF vent pipes.
Section IL provides for grease traps under
every sink in hotels, restaurants. eating house or
boarding house. or other public cooking estab-
lishments. This provision should be made OPP
tional with the Inspector to require only such
grease traps where a waste pipe would be liable
TO be clogged up by grease from the kitchen sink
in the kind Of buildings described.
The provisions Of this ordinance requiring in
all cases extra heavy cast iron or wrought iron
soil. vent and waste pipes, providing for vent
pipes for all traps, requiring Independent soil
and vent pipes for all buildings or parts Of build
ings separted by fire walls. requiring a test of all
plumbing and drainage system. will add greatly
to the present cost of plumbing. A plumbing
ordinance, in my Judgment. should be passed re-
curing at the beginning only such provisions as
are necessary 10 secure proper sanitary condi-
tions. 1t is also apparent that one plumbing in
spector cannot look after and do the work salts
factorily provided for in this ordinance. The re-
suit will be that the inspection of plumbing in
many houses will be delayed, causing additional
expense to the property owners"