The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
PLUMB Frs ARE EXCITED
They Object to Giving the City An
other Bond.

Trouble is brewing between the
plumbers, in the city and Superintend-
ents Jesse Shaw of the waterworks de-
partrn lent.
The difficulty arises over the at
tempt of the latter to have the
plumbers flea $4,000 surety bond to
insure protection to the department
against anyiadamages which might
accrue from faulty plumbing. The
plumbers have already on file surety
bonds with the city clerk in accord
ance with instructions from the city
engineer to protect the city from dam
streets. The plumbers feel that one
bond ought to serve both purposes.
They believe that the one surety bond
could be altered to cover both items.
c. States, a plumber, said: 81
think it is an outrage to force us to
put UP another bond. They have one
bond from US already. There is en-
tirely too much red tape surrounding
more red tape in, this little town than
there is in New York city. The rules
and regulations governing inspection
are modelled after those used in Chi
Topeka than they are in Chicago. The
people all pay for this red tape. It's
the people that suffer for this, we
don't. We charge it UP to them again.
Since putting in this inspection of
plumbing into the city government as
a department the price of plumbing
has increased from 20 to 25 per cent,
all due to this red tape business You
can't do a thing now without paying a
fee. You can't put in a drain without
| paying a fee. The right way for them
| to do is to recall these surety bonds
which we have given to the city and
change them to include what the
| waterworks' department wants. Two
bonds is too much to ask of u.s.
John Sheehan, who is a member of
the city board of plumbing examiners,
| e. -
| derstand what they mean by asking
! another bond from us. If they expect
| to force me to sign up another bond
I will go out of business. Yes, sir, l
will go out of business before will
do anything like that. They will have
| a time to get me to sign such a thing.
! It is ridiculous. We have given one
bond already to the city to cover eX-
! cavations made in the streets and that
sort of thing and that is enough If
they want anything more they ought
to change the bonds that we have
given SO as to cover this"
The Mood Plumbing company had
no objection to find with the presenta-
ton of a new bond. They thought it
rather high, but expressed themselves
| to the effect that it was probably all
! right. 81 can see where it would do
some good" said one member of the
firm; ait keeps out some of these men
who are not plumbers and who try
I to do plum bling. >,
| Jesse, Shaw explained the position OF
/ the department. when the old Tope-
ka Water company was in existence we
demanded personal bonds from the
plumbers to protect ourselves from
| faulty plumbing and to keep informed
as to what was going on in the way OF
new plumbing. But when the city
bought the plant the trustees though
that the only thing to do would be tt
demand surety bonds and it is in ac
| cordance with those instructions that
| am acting. There are a number of meT
who are not plumbers who try to d.
plumbing and it is against that elias:
of men that we must be protected. Th'
way it is now the, plumber comes to u:
! to get, a permit when he has a job to d.
i which affects our department. WheI
he, is through with his job he return:
! his permit stating when he completed
| his job. This gives US an opportunity
to keep check upon the plumbing tina
is going on. Otherwise we wouldn'
know what was being done. Thes'
bonds which are given now by thu
/ plumbers to the city do not cover on
department and for that reason we ar
| asking a new bond"