Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-05-15
Plumbers May Raises Prices Instead
VI Lowering Them in State; Oregon
Plumbing Code Endorsed in Session

Deetaring that plumbing and heat
ing costs throughout the United States
will not be reduced. although costs
in other lines of business may revert
to normal. William ]. woolley, of the
trade extension bureau of the Nation
al association OF Master Plumbers. in
an all morning address before the
18th annual convention here TODAY of
the Oregon State Masters Plumbers
association. advocated even greater
charges for plumbing and heating
work in this state. Comparatively
Mr. Woolley declared. costs here are
far below those in the east. "and the
master plumbers of this section of the
country are not getting what they
are entitled to-"
The second and last day of the
convention opened here at 10 O'Clock
Ladies who accompanied the plumb
Iers to Salem were driven on county
trips during the morning while the
plumbers met in convention.
AANAsAOAAS SUAC HaNDfeU
Among numerous resolutions adopt.
ed the master plumbers went on rec
ord as favoring the state plumbing
code "as the only effective manner
by which the rights and safety of the
general public may be safeguarded.
The delegates also recommended The
appointment of permanent commit
tee to take up the matter with the
state board Of control of segregating
all plumbing and heating contracts
on all public buildings.
Attention Of authorities in all cit
les in the state is called, in another
resolution adopted, to the necessity
of erecting more comfort stations to
accommodate the increase in auto aud
tourist travel.
Business Held Essential
Asserting that 80 percent OF tAe
plumbers in the United States lack
proper business training and have
only a general knowledge of facts con
corning the business, MIR. Woolley
centered his talk around a strong
plea for the induction of more bust
ness5prlnciples in the plumbing pro-
fession. He declared that "you would
be surprised at the few plumbers who
understand the fundamentals of bus
iness" ana cited that as the main rea-
son for the failure of SO many fol-
lowing that pursuit.
Plumbers in the west and middle
west, and in Oregon" Mr.. Woolley
told the delegates ''who do business
of less than $4,000 year lose. 1t is
up to this convention to take steps
to reetiry this matter" he said, "by
devlsing some means to raise prices
for services that will be more equit-
able generally"
Fifty percent of the plumbing and
heating business In the United States
today Mr.. Woolley said, is being done
on the cost plus plan. He pointed )
this fact indicating the great change
in methods when, several years ago,
this plan was never used.
The sessions during the day were
presided over by Charles Pullman of
Portland, president Of the state asso-
citation. The members of the resolu-
tions committee were: o. G.. Hughson,
Geo. G. Root, F. W. Bishop and Fl. G.
Laws.
Picture Is Taken
At 1880 p. m. the master plumbers
and their wives gathered in front tf
the state capitol where a group pic
ture was taken. Following this anoth-
er business session was held in the
auditorium of the Commercial club
when Harry L. Hansen, Frank J..
Klimm, Jerry ]. Ward, A. L. Fraser,
o. G. Hughson and Mrs. +. S. Sigler
spoke.
The convention will close Saturday
evening with banquet at six o'clock
in the Elks Temple.
Some of the resolutions passed by
the convention are:
''That the president appoint COM
mittee of three--two at large and one
from Salem-to take up the matter
of segregating plumbing and heating