Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-11
BY ISABELLE SHELTON

BY ISABELLE SHELTON
Plumbers got a rough go
ing over yesterday from
women attending the Con-
gress on Better Living at the
Hotel Shoreham.
A few Of the 100 housewife
delegates from as States had
kind words for the men who
flx their pipes and sinks.
But the vast majority were
highly critical.
MY plumber costs more
than my doctor" why
won't they ever tell you when
they are coming?" why
don't they ever bring along
parts they need? They al
ways have to run six places
TO- find the part. and they
charge me for the time they
spend looking" My tele-
vision man is upset If he
can't fix my set the same
night. My plumber doesn't
seem to care" . IT don't
think there is a plumber who
knows what he is doing.
They come into the house
and say I think this is the
problem" Feed EN- TO
the lions, They are dirty, in
competent. expensive" were
among the comments.
Most of the women said
they had learned to do
simple plumbing jobs them
selves. like changing washers.
Il can even open the trap
at the base of the sink" one
said proudly"
Il can take the toilet
apart" said another.
Yesterday was the day that
industry representatives were
on hand at the conference
sponsored by McCall's maya
zine to answer any questions
the women might have, and
plum bling representatives
spent a busy morning trying
TO answer the complaints.
Gist of their advice was to
+ be sure and find a reliable.
| fully-qualifled plumber.
/ Hit High Interest Rates
High interest rates and
SHARP practices" of some
builders also drew the wom-
ems wrath. Builders were
denounced for flaws that
show UP in a new house
usually between the second
and third years" several
women agreed. They thought
all builders should give q
three-year guarantee on new
construction or renovation.
Painting their own houses.
both inside and out. proved
TO be very popular with al
most all the women.
There was a somewhat
more modified enthusiasm for
do-it-yourSelf wallpapering.
some claiming the results
were "frightful."
My husband and I did our
whole house, and we're still
speaking to each other" said
one.
Do-it-yollrself kits. of all
kinds. generally we're rated as
quite satisfactory by the
women.
The problem is not the
kits. but the do-it-yourself
husband" one table Of ten
agreed.
My husband always says,
oh. don't call anyone in. I'll
fix it," one delegate said.
Then it sits for months"
A second bathroom topped
the list Of improvements they
would like to make in their
houses. Many echoed q dele
gate who said her single bath
room caused terrible trafic
problems in the morning,
and terrible family fights that
Think We don't get over all
day"
A modernized kitchen and
complete air conditioning
were next on their list Of de-
sired home improvements.
House Wins Over Auto
The majority said they re-
garded their car as purely
for transportation. and that
they would rather have q
$4,000 house and q small
car than q $4,000 house and
a big car.
The majority preferred hot
water heat to hot air tal-
though some thought they
couldn't afford it,, folding
closet doors TO sliding doors.
the living room the front Of
the house rather than the
rear with an informal fam
lily ROOM" If any. facing the
rear; the morning sun COM
ing in the kitchen and din
ing room windows Zone
woman said she wanted AL
four sides Of the house fac
ing southD; paned horizon
tai sliding windows rather
than easement or double
hung. and a single mixing
faucet in the bathroom.
The women were divided
about evenly between split
level and one-story ranch
houses, with few voting for
two story dwellings. They