The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-30
BOILER INSPECTOR
KICKS Up FUSS BY
RIGID RULES
ENGINEERS WHO LOSE PAPERS
COMPLAIN TO COUNCIL, BUT
MccAsE SAYS THAT HE'S PRO-
TEcTINe LIFE AND PROPERTY.

Boiler Inspector John c. McCabe Is
meeting with considerable opposition
To the strict methods Instituted by him
In his Office. Two petitions appealing
from his decisions were presented 10
the council Tuesday evening, ana the
council committee is asked To over
rule McCabe In these cases.
VIM. Fl. Hayes. No. 20 Rivard-st''
says that he Is an engineer OF 80
years experience IN large plants and
on big steamboats,. He held nrst
class license and sent down his fee 10
have 1t renewed. McCabe refused the
request, demanding that Hayes under
go another examination. Hayes re-
fused and following this, Hayes re-
cites. McCabe had him discharged
from his place with the Detroit Bath
Tub and Brass Manufacturing Co.
Such a procedure Hayes calls
great wrong to men who have spent
the best part OF their lives in arduous
labor and who are not mere book
worms and theoretical engineers.
Hayes adds that such an arbitrary
use of power can only be for the pur-
pose OF forcing out good men so that
younger men who may be favorites
can get their jobs.
Joseph Kaiser, one of the owners OF
the Champion brewery. appeals TO the
council from the verdict OF McCabe.
taking away his papers as a first-class
engineer and those Of his son. Freder-
lex, as a secon-class engineer. He
states that this action was taken for
the purpose Of forcing him to hire
other engineers.
McCabe puts up a strong defense of
his action. He says that the law
makes IL his duty to be sure that ev.
cry engineer is competent to run an
engine ana boilers. He did not know
Hayes, and. therefore, insisted that the
latter come in and answer such ques-
tons as would demonstrate his fitness.
Kaiser is said 10 have been away
from his boilers. leaving them In care
OF the son and the boiler inspectors
assistants report that the son also left
them to busy himself washing beer
barrels McCabe has ruled that boil
ers must be always under the super
vision OF the engineer In charge, there
fore he took away the papers. He ex.
amined Kaiser, and decided that the
brewer was not fitted to run an en-.
CINE and boilers.
Owners of apartments are Directing
to the ruling of McCabe by which they
are requiSed to have men with papers
to run Sheir heating boilers. These
need not necessarily be professional
engineers but must be men who can
pass thfrd-ciass examination. This
may mean great number of jobs for
engineers. as many janitors are likely
to be unable to pass examination.
The suggestion that this action was
taken to favor unions is warmly de-
MED by McCabe.
don't give - for the unions, ("
he says. More union men get the
hooks from this ONCE than any other
class. / am here to safeguard the lives
and property Of the people of the city
and / am going to do my duty as I
see IT.
One instance of a Nat building
which is affected by this ruling il the
A. M. Henry apartments. a six-apart-
ment structure. The boiler inspec-
tors assistants found the. boiler old
and dangerously corroded and it's safe
ty valve located so that there was
small chance Of its operating In case
Of dangerous pressure. The boiler has
been condemned