The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-23
MASTERP[UMbERS
ARE CHARGED WITH
COLLISION ON BIDS
City Attorney Instructed to
Draft Ordinance to Allow
Plumbers to Do In
dividual Work

The city commission decided at CON
ference held yesterday morning, in the
office of Commissioner Ward, that some
relief would be granted those citizens
who have hitherto been affected by prices
for plumbing, characterized by those
present rs being "exorbitant, unreasona-
BILE and the result of collision between
the master plumbers of this CITY,"
City Attorney M. M. Ullman was in
structed to draw up an ordinance, to ba
submitted next Tuesday, allowing an
nation to be exempted from paying for a
permit to do work with his own hands.
This action was taken after delega-
ton of citizens from Central Park, headed
by j. o. Chancey. protested against the
prices charged by plumbers for their
work.
II received two bids on work to be
done on my premises" said Mr.. Chan
cey," each competitor was within so cents
of the others bid. The price the work
would have cost me had l given the job
to either of the bidders was prohibitive.
We people of Central Park are of the type
that is poor, but always try to do what
they can to obey the law. The sanitary
sewer has been extended to our property
and in order to comply with the city SAN
itation laws we wish to connect with this
sewer.
1--WE cannot do this on account of the
collision of the plumbing concerns of this
city. I have been told and have every
reason to believe it, that the shops will
charge a man SO per day for work done
by one plumber, while the actual laborer
or plumber who is employed by the shop
only receives $3.50 or S.. I ask this COM
mission to take the fee for a permit off
any journeyman plumber who is qualified
to do plumbing work, provided he does
the work with his own hands and is paid
by the owner of the premises upon which
he is doing the work.
TRUSS STATEMENT
Mr. Chancey's remarks brought forth
much comment on the part of Commits
sioner Truss, who told the commissioners
that he did not think the people should
have to submit to these high prices. 1T
looks to me like everything in Birming-
ha< Is higher than other Cities" he said.
1T doesn't matter what you want, it
seems that 1t costs more here. 1 do not
think the citizens of Birmingham should
have to submit to these eXorbitant prices.
1--WE can easily charge an inspection
fee for work done by the plumber himself
improvements. If this fee was placed at
IS it would not burden the property
holder. but save him vast amount of
money according to what we have heard
this morning. I do not believe in these
combines to make the people pay pro-
hibitive prices" Mr. Truss said that he
thought the same thing applied to the
roofing people. 1.-THE passing of an ordi-
nance barring the shingles only let the
door open for roofing people to come in
here with any prices and sell. in many
instances, an inferior material. I think
this matter of the rates of the under
writer's are not just They raised our
rates before, despite the fact we had an
excellent motor equipped fire department.
1t looks to me like Birmingham has moth
ing but enemies and no friends. I am
for stopping this exorbitant price BUSH
ness on all things"
The matter will be gone into fully next
Tuesday.