The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-02
THE ORDINANCE HELD UP
SOME OF THE hAsfER PLUMBERS
OF THE CITY DISAPPOINTED.
Councilman B~ilIingstey Has the Ordi-
nance Sent Back to the Commit
tee-MunicipaI Affairs.

The plumbing ordinance caused consider
able wrangling in the Council meeting last
night. and after much discussion it was
sent back to the committee on public safe
ty and comfort for further consideration.
A large number of plumbers. both master
and journeymen, were present 20 lobby in
favor Of the ordinance, but some of the in
dependent plumbers and others who were
not present had made their wishes known
TO certain councilmen, and it was desired
that these wishes should be considered be-
fore final action was taken on the ordi-
nance.
At the last meeting of the Council the
ordinance was reported back TO the Council
by the committee. with a recommendation
that il be amended in many sections. A {
tina time ii was made a special order of
business for the meeting last night, and
| Councilman Evans, chairman of the COM
mittee, called the ordinance up for a sec
ond reading. 1t was read, and then the
amendments of the committee were adopt
ed. Councilman Perrott offered a verbal
amendment to increase the bond of the
plumbing inspector from $1,000 to 5000. and
then Councilman Billingsles' moved to send
the ordinance back to the for
u lltI COISlutI MI. 4Nt6ACg a a
motion to table Mr.. Billingsley's motion,
and it was lost. II was then voted TO send
the ordinance back 10 the committee.
PLUMBERS TALK.
The plumbers present waited until after
the Council adjourned, and expressed their
Indignation because the ordinance failed to
| pass, as they said they were in favor of 1T,
believing that the ordinance came nearer
meeting the views of all plumbers than
any other that had been submitted to the
Council.
After the meeting adjourned Councilman
Billingsley explained his reasons for NOV
ing TO send the ordinance back to the COM
mittee. Two of the most prominent mas
ter plumber in Indianapolis came to me
the other day" said Mr.. Bfllingsley, and
told me that the ordinance as now pre-
pared vested entirely too much power In
the plumbing inspector. They said that I'm
der the ordinance the inspector could prac-
tically drive a man out OF business If ne
had a personal grievance against MIN. and
that the ordinance should provide for the
arbitration OF questions that might arise
1t was my purpose TO have these ideas con-
sidered before the ordinance is finally
passed"
A reporter ompan Mr.. Billingsley
from the Council chamber, and at the cor
Ter of Washington and Pennsylvania
streets Mr.. Billingsley was stopped by a
delegation of Independent plumbers. who
desired TO nave the ordinance dIne1ueQ 50
il will not be necessary for the plumbers to
be registered and pass an examination.
THE INDEPENDENT PLUMBERS.
One of them said: There are practical
plumbers In this city who can do as good
work as anybody, but if they were taken
before an examining board there would be
questions asked them that they could not
answer, and such questions would be of no
practical Importance. Since this ordinance
has been before the Council some of the
most prominent master plumbers in the
city have taken into partnership men who
were better able 10 do their work and who
could be registered, yet, should the ordi-
nance pass as IL now stands ii might freeze
some of us out of work who are capable of
doing good work but yet may not be able
to answer a few technical questions"
The ordinance is now In the hands Of
the and 1t may be referred back
to the Council again at the next meeting
with further amendments. 1t Is also posi-
bic TO bring the ordinance up and have ii
engrossed, read the third time and placed
upon its passage as ii now reads.
City Controller Johnson sent a commune
cation to the Council recommending the
passage of an ordinance appropriating
$1,000 for the legal department to pay
claims. compromises and costs of suits
against the city. The ordinance was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
The Board Of Works sent a contract to
the Council granting the Bemis Bag Com
pany permission TO lay a switch across
Barth avenue. 1t was referred TO the rail-
road committee.
A resolution was adopted granting the
Gentry dog show permission to show in the
city either at Illinois and Pratt streets or
Capitol avenue and Sixteenth street.