Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-24
PLUMBERS
SAY WORKS BOARD
ACTS UNFAIRLY
F~av0ritism Is Shown Vacation
lists, Is Charge Made by
Employers.

Members of the Master Plumbers As
ISOLATION are somewhat perturbed over
an alleged interference with their bus1-
ness by the Board of Works, which
causes them an annua loss in trade of
several hundred dollars through having
lone at public expense what they de-
clare should be paid for privately. The
matter complained of is a rule of the
board which provides for the turning
off and on at the curb-line, without
charge, of the water service of con-
sumers VINO close their homes for the
season while absent at the seashore or
other summer resorts. Heretofore
-houseowners had this work done at
their own expense by local plumbers.
The latter made an inspection of the
fixtures, cleaned out traps, left the
same filled with crude oil, to minimize
the propagation of mosquitoes, and
SAW that all fixtures were in proper
shape before the water was turned on
again. Now the Board of Works has
let the public know that 1t will render
the service, so far as turning on and
off the service at the curb-line is con-
cerned, without cost. All the vaca-
ZIONIST has to do is telephone the water
department and the city stands the
rest of the expense. Incidentally, there
is no charge for water during the
period it is turned off, not even the
minimum of $6,25 per year or $1.57 "a
quarter, which is charged on meter
service, whether any water is used or
not.
This gratuity is intended for and
doled out only to those who can afford
to pay. but don't have TO, and who
close their homes during he heated
period. Those who find it difficult to
pay their bills promptly are treated
somewhat differently. When in arrears
they are notified that unless the quar-
terly bill is paid on a certain date
their water supply will be discontinued,
and the threat is promptly executed.
One Of the seven men employed for
this purpose at a salary of SIS a week
is sent to the house, demands immedi-
ate and failing to receive IL
turns oil the water at the curD-line.
This forces the delinquent to come
to time even if the money has to be
borrowed. When the bill is paid the
delinquent, unlike the yacationist, must
pay a fee of one dollar to have the
water turned on, and he Is allowed no
rebate for the time the service was
discontinued.
Superintendent John Virtue, who is
in charge of the turn off, force, says
the system works like a charm. I'VE
don't have to shut off to force payment
in Individual cases more than once in
ten years. Just as soon as they find
they have to pay or do without water
they find the money somewhere. 1t
teaches them a lesson and h added
penalty of 81 is only fair and makes
the delinquent ones more careful"
Asked about the %gratuitous service
performed for the vacationlsts at pub
lie expense, Mr.. Virtue remarked that
he considered that "only fair also.
I'VE ought to do something for the
taxpayers he said, and this is a
small amount anyway" He admitted
that the general public had to foot the
cost of $6,552 annually, most of which
was saved under the old system.
The Master Plumbers Association
took the proposition under considera-
ton last night, but deferred final action
until Harry b. O'Connell and Ira Budd,
members of their own association, and
also members of the Board of Works,
are heard from.