The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-22
Ordinance for Plumbing Exam
liner to BE Considered.
Board to Quiz All Plumbers
Also Contemplated.
TO AFFECT NEW WORK.
Contractors Will Be Assessed
Fees on All Work.
City Engineer McCabe NFavors
Creation of the Office.

An important ordinance that is being
drafted is that providing for the creation
OF a board of plumbers examiners and
the appointment of a plumbing inspec-
TOR Tor the city of Topeka. For the
board of plumbers examiners the chair
man OF the board of health is to be ex-
off1cio chairman and two plumbers are
TO be appointed to act with him in max
ing examinations. Permits to do plumb
ing are 10 be issued to master plum berS
who Will be required to maintain regu-
lar plumbing shops and to put UP a
bond OF 1000 as guarantee for proper
work. The qualifications of a proficient
plumber will be set forth and it will be
the duty of the board of examiners to
ascertain that the applicant possesses
these qualifications before he is granted
a permit.
The city plumbing inspector is to ex-
anime all plumbing done in the city. He
VIII be allowed salary of $40 per
month to be paid from fees assessed for
his services. A plumber performing a
job to cost under so will pay a fee of
80 cents for its inspection. Work cost
ing between $50 and 900 will be taxed
81 While for jobs costing over 800 a fee
of 81 viii be assessed. It is anticipated
that the revenue from this inspection
viii considerab bly, more than pay for the
services of the plumbing inspector. The
ordinance will require also that the
plumbing inspector shall perform the
spector except in the event that the
work becomes too heavy when an as
sistant inspector shall be employed at
$50 per month.
City Engineer McCabe said this morn
ing:
1T is not contemplated under the
ordinance that the plumbing inspector
shall investigate and inspect the
plumbing that shall have already been
done before the ordinance is passed.
1saY oil 1a
principal cities and have been found to
be valuable. OF course its efficiency in
securing good work done will depend
upon the honesty and thOroughness of
the inspector. This is true of the value
of any office. AS to the additional ex-
pense to the property owner / do not
think that is important. 1t win make
little if any difference in the prices of
work; plumbers figure against each
other for work and will keep prices as
low as they can.
when person has plans for a new
house he can without expense submit
them to the plumbing inspector before
they are finally adopted in order to see
that the provision for plumbing IS
properly made. 1t depends upon the
honesty of the man selected for the
office of plumbing inspector as to
whether he is Influenced by local
plumbers in the discharge of his duties
The office will have to be filled by the
will be of great benefit to the city"
Assistant City Attorney w. c. Rails
ton has been at work drafting an ordi-
nance covering the matter of street ex~
cavations and will have it ready for
presentation to the council at the next
meeting. The ordinance is merely the
old one reVamped, but it is recon-
structed in such a manner as to make
it effective where the old one was not
City Engineer McCabe has been largely
instrumental in having the new ordi-
nance prepared.
The trouble with the old ordinance
was principally that it did not cover
the majority of street excavations but
regulated almost exclusively those
made by plumbers. 1t laid a fine or
$50 for the improper protection of the
public when excavations were being
made. But it said nothing about the
excavations made by PAYERS and for
telephone poles. The ordinance was an
old one and in other ways needed
bringing I'D to date.