Evening journal., 1910-11-07
HEAR CHARGES
AGAINST KANE
City Plumbers Say Inspector
Has Permitted Violations Of
The Regulations
HEAR MORE OF
CASE ON FRIDAY

ward +. Kane, city plumbing inspec-
tor. The charges against Kane, which
were filed with the department last
week, we're that he had permitted
light piping to be installed on work
that required extra heavy pipe. and
that gas pipe had been installed on
other jobs contrary to the department
regulations. Complaint was also
made that hoppers had been installed
which did not comply with the regula-
tions.
Chief Engineer Taylor and Street
Commissioner Pierson, informed the
board that they had made an inspec-
tion of some of the work complained
of by the Master Plumbers Associa-
tion and found that some OF the stand
ard pipes had been taken out and re-
placed with extra heavy pipe.
The Association to-day filed addi-
tional charges These new charges
they said had been preferred for the
preservation of health. One Of the OIL
legations was that Mr.. Kane had out
lived his usefulness as the plumbing
inspector. IL was further charged
that he knew he was violating the
law in allowing plumbers TO do work
contrary to the regulations. The
masters said they had no redress i'm
competing under such circumstances.
IN a former complaint they said they
had asked for Mr. Kane's resignation,
but as he did not present It the as
sociation requested the board TO ask
Mr.. Kane for his resignation. Should
he refuse to present IL the association
requested that he be dismissed and
new inspector be appointed.
The charges to-day filed alleged
violation of the plumbing regulations
on French street, Jefferson street,
Klund street, East Fourth street,
West Sixth street and other pieces.
Mr.. Kane said he knew the law and
know the plumbing business. He said
he had found that mistakes are likely
to occur He did not think II fair to
pile extra charges ON him at present.
He said he has asked for information
concerning plumbing work on build
ings from time to time, but had been
unable to get it. The property No.
2002 Van Buron street, he said. is one
of the houses where he had had trou-
! BILE
He told the board he had examined
the house from cellar up and believed
the plumbing work complied with the
| regulations. He saw the pipe i'm the
ditch and thought It was extra heavy.
He put on the air test and found leaks.
Two days later he said he examined
three houses on the other side Of the
street The pipes were tested again
and one of the master plumbers wal
there. He believed all the pipes there
! were extra heavy and not standard
. pipe. Regarding the charge that he
had passed three-quarter inch gas
pipe, where the regulations called FOL
inch pipe, he said he believed that the
pipe was sufficient for the number oi
lights used.
William d. Shellady. Of Thomas j.
Biscoe and Company, plumbers, ad-
J dressed the directors I'm reference to
the charges. He said he did not know
why IL was that the inspector allows
some plumbers 20 use pipe I'm VIOLA
ton of the law. which other plumbers
are prohibited from using Mr.. Shell
lady said he thought II the duty of the
inspector TO see that the law is obey
ed. Mr. Shellady said the master
plumbers do not charge that there was
collusion between Mr.. Kane and
plumbers, who had done the work
complained Of
President Sparks said he could not
understand why no other plumber was
charged with violation OF the rules.
Mr.. Shellady replied that while the
masters were dealing with only the
oIe plumber others could be found,
Who violate the regulations. "All we
want is justice" said Mr.. Shellady.
Director Gray asked Mr.. Kane If he
had requested that charges not be
preferred against him. Mr.. Kane
said he had requested the plumbers
not to start a newspaper campaign
against him. He said the Masters had
asked him III he would support bill
in the Legislature to have a Board OF
Examiners appointed TO look after
the plumbing business. Mr.. Kane
said the Masters formed a plap that
the Master Plumbers examine all
plumbers i'm the city AT this point
Mr. Gray remarked that innuendoes
have been presented that point to a
collusion. mo man who would dare
to do such a thing could hold po-
sition here under me for q moment,
said Mr.. Gray.
Bring out the evidence. II any
exists. The board Is entitled TO hear
the charges.
President Sparks said the board
would attend to the charges so faI
and the Master Plumbers Associa.
tlon innuendees should be cleared
away or proved against Mr.. Kane
His reputation is at stake.
MIR. Kane said he would give a gooc
aum to find some one responsible
and he would make these innuendoe'
be proven on withdrawn. He woulC
attend to the personal end and le
! the board attend to the public END
OF the affair, he said.
Letters were read from A. l.. Sharpl
, and Dorsey and Company, statipe tina
I they mad always found Mr.. Kane fai
in all his dealings. Dorsey and Com
pany said they had done work on 40l
! houses and had found the association
! unfair TO them and had made threats
: The members of the board decided &
adjourn the hearing until Frida,
evening. The board also appoints
Chief Engineer Taylor, COMMISSIONS
Pierson and Mr.. Shellady to inspec
the houses named In the complain
filed to-day.
!, Mr.. Reinhardt. who represented tn
masters, said that by Friday night tn
charges will be ready to be filed c
.. innuendoes shall be withdrawn. TIL
4 hearing will take place at 7.30 o'cloc
J. Friday evening.
- OpCupCTRt CONcppT TO NTrur