Evening journal., 1910-11-01
MAKE CHARGES
AGAINST KANE
Plumbers Say Inspector is
Responsible for Some
Regulation Violations
OFFICIAL TELLS BOARD
PLUMBERS ARE AFTER HIM

Charges against Plumbing Inspect
or Il. T.. Kane are made by the Master
Plumbers Association in a letter read
at the meeting of the Board of Street
and Sewer Directors this morning. The
association charges that Mr.. Kane has
been unfair to plumbers by failing to
notify them of the adoption of new
plumbing regulations; that he has ig-
nored suggestions as to improvements
i'm the present regulations, and that he
is responsible for violations of the
plumbing regulations in Nos. POOP,
2O06. 2OOS Van Buren street; No. POLL
Boulevard. and in the property at the
southeast corner of Twenty-sixth and
Jefferson streets.
The directors heard the charges
without comment, and referred the let
ter to City Engineer Taylor and street
Commissioner Pierson for immedi-
ate investigation.
The letter follows:
Board of Directors Of the Street and
Sewer Department.
Gentlemen: In reply to your let
ter of October 26th, we beg to inform
you that the violations we charged ex-
ist In the following properties: No.
owned by MIR. Preston Walker. The soil
pipe and fittings in this property un-
der ground are light weight. The law
REQUIRES extra heavy. This house was
inspected and passed by the plumb
ing inspector, Mr.. Il. +. Kane, before
the pipe was covered. This we know TO
he a positive fact. The same violations
exist in the properties No zoos and
ar aTnnfnn
Mr.. Preston Walker.
In the property, No. 201l Boulevard
erected by Mr.. Charles Forwood for
Mrs HendrixsOn, the violations exist
ed in the gas fitting, the piping seine
two sizes smaller than required by the
ordinance on gas inspection. The
soil pipe under the ground in the
property, at the southeast corner OF
Twenty-sixth and Jefferson streets, Is
light pipe, where extra heavy is re-
quired by the law. We beg 70 IN
form YOU that we notified the plumb
ing inspector four weeks ago OF
violation of the law in the property
of Mr.. Conwell, No. III West Thirtietf
street. In this property the hoppel
Is set an a 4-inch cast iron pipe viii
putty ioint The law requires
4-inch brass ferrule lead pipe and
wiped solder Joint, brass floor plat
and rubber ring bolted to the hop
per.
1--WE know that our communication
to the plumbing inspector was dis
regarded up to the 18th day of Octo
her. and stand ready to prove al
statements in this letter We CLAIM
the present plumbing inspector is EN-
tirely the yiolator.
I'VE would also like TO know wher
the plumbing inspector is authorizes
to direct any person whom he choose
to make inspection of plumbing. A
we understand the law, It permits M
person other than a practical plumbe
OF five years experience to make in
spections.
1--WE also charge that the plumbin
inspector has been very unfair TO IN
plumbers of Wilmington inasmuch a
changes are made in the plumbIn
laws and the plumbers are never ad
vised or have knowledge that th
changes have been made until they ar
notified that certain laws are violated
We have from time to time suggeste
proposed amendments, which have tn
approval of the best plumbers of ou
city. but Mr.. Kane has seen ht thu
far to practically ignore them. Trusl
ing that you will treat this as tn
law requires, and awaiting you
further commands, we are,
Z" Very Truly Yours,
Master Plumbers Association,
Robert w. Kramer, Secretary
AIR Kane laer explained TO III
fifectors that he had been given
Understand that the light piping {
which the Plumbers Association con
planned was to have been place
above ground instead of under.
was impossible, he said, to requil
plumbers to leave all bitches open
that the inspector could inspect Il
piping. The best he could do,
said, was to give specifications an
catch violators when he could. I
knew that the members of the Plum
ers' Association we're prejudice
against him, he said, and he hf
learned they had threatened -
get him"