Public Document No. 114

~, I

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

STATE EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICIANS

FOR TilE

YEAR ENDING JOVEMBER 30, 1930

, , '

PUBLICATION OF TBIS DOCOlof}.NT ApPROVED BY THE COIlMISSION 0)1 AOloII:-IISTRATlON AllIin FINANCE

200. 3-'32. Order 4944. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICIANS.

To THE HONORABLE S OF EPRESEJt.JTATIVES: In accordance with seclion 2, chapter 141, and section 32, chapter 30, of the General Laws, the State Examiners of Electricians submit herewith their annual report for the year ending , 1930. From the first day of December, 1929, to the thirtieth day of November, 1930, applicants were examined, and were passed or rejected as shown in the following table:

Result of Examinations held from December 1, 1929, to November 30, 1930

Examinations Examined Passed Failed

1929 Boston. D ecember 2 88 28 60 New Bedford, December 5 ew Bedford, D ecember 6 r 32 6 26 1930 Boston, January 6 88 27 61 Lowell, January 9 17 3 14 Boston, February 3 . 68 25 43 Worcester, February 6 35 4 3 1 Boston, March 3 83 24 59 Fall River, March 51 Fall River, March 6 35 12 23 BORton, April 7 . 126 42 84 Springfield, April 10 51 10 44 Boston, May 12 90 21 69 Worcester, May 15 51 11 40 Boston, June 231 Boston, June 24 151 42 109 Boston, September 22 90 35 55 'Worcester, September 25 59 28 31 Boston, October 6 50 5 45 Lowell, October 9 . 28 10 18 Spri~field , 39 12 27 Pitts eld, 38 14 24 Total for fiscal year 1222 359 863

EXAMINATIONS, 1931 Examinations will be held at following points and on following dates:

Boston MondaY,January 5 Boston Monday, June 22 Lowell Thursday, January 8 Boston Tuesday, June 23 Boston Monday, February 2 Boston Monday, September 21 Worcester Thursday, February 5 Worcester Thursday, Septemher 24 Boston Monday, March 2 Boston Monday, October 19 Fall River Thursday, March 5 Lowell . Thursday, October 22 Fall River Friday, March 6 Springfield. Friday, Boston . Monday, April 6 Pittsfield Saturday, Springfield . Thursday, April 9 Boston . Monday, December 7 Boston . Monday, May 4 New Bedford Thursday, December 10 Worcester . Thursday, Y1ay 7 New Bedford Friday, December 11

CERTIFICATES .... '.' , ' .. ," . "::':: .' ...... Certificates issued ·p,flnQA ~~~.al:¥:~.: : -: : : .... ?9~. 1928 1929 1930 Masters (Class A) : .';. • ••••••••• 117 85 97 104 Journeymen (Class B) . "::",...... 272 153 277 269 Certificates renewed during fiscal years :', .. 1927 1928 1929 1930 l\1aslers (C lass Al...... ' .. ' .... :,'.. .:. ".:' : .to()t : 1,056 1,073 1,105 J (Cl· - t:HI.. • ., ... - •• .. .. -i)';i8lt ourneymen a.SJ3-....,: -: .::'.:_ ::.:. :"".: ... :.,: .••• : 9,545 9,488 9,561 Cerlified Statemt!tiLs bf Ftcgi.slratio~ is;ue'd ' . during fiscal years 1927 1928 1929 1930 Journeymen (Class B ) . . 54 53 39 29 Duplicate Certificates (Class A) 1 1 1 RECEIPTS The following table shows the receipts of the State Examiners of Electricians for the fiscal years 1927, 1928, 1929 and for the fiscal year commencing December 1, 1929, and ending November 30, 1930:

Masters 1927 1928 1929 1930 Application fees S 3,420.00 S 2,895.00 $ 3,170.00 $ 2,830.00 Renewal fees . 15,015.00 15,810.00 16,110.00 16,575.00 Duplicate certificates ----5.00 5.00 5.00 Total fees from Masters $18,440.00 $18.710.00 $19,280.00 $19,410.00

J ourneYlTlen Application fees S 3,003.00 $ 2,611.00 :$ 2,658.00 S 2,458.00 Renewal fees . 9,581.00 9,546.00 9,488.00 9,561.00 Certified statements ------54.00 41 .00 39.00 29.00 Total fees from Journeymen $12,638.00 $12,198.00 $12,185.00 $12,048.00 Fees subject to examination 94.00 118.00 153.00 21.00 Total paid to Treasurer of Commonwealth $31,172.00 S31,026.00 $31,613.00 S31,479.00

EXPENDITURES

Salaries ...... $9,721.92 Additional clerical, stenographic and examination assistance 239.64 Prjnting. . 960.81 Office supplies, etc. 664.77 Postage...... 562.64 Expenses in connection with examinations 255.40 Travel 3,000.00 Tolal $15,405.18

RECOMMENDATIONS The law providing for the licensing of electricians has now been in existence, without any substantial change, since 1915. Investigation and analysis of com­ plaints received by the Examiners over a period of several years make it apparent that numerous changes are necessary in order to remedy certain defects and omis­ sions in the law which have placed a severe handicap on the proper enforcement thereof. The Examiners believe that a clearer definition should be made of the work which may be done by certain classes of licensees. The present law, through a technical­ ity, permits unlicensed and unqualified persons to do work on their own premises or on the premises of another, provided it is not done for hire, and this should be changed. At present the Examiners have no power to summons or place witnesses under oath. This places the Examiners under a great handicap, since it is difficult under such conditions to get the testimony of unprejudiced witnesses. The Examiners recommend, therefor, a general revision of chapter 141 of the General Laws, as contained in the accompanying bill, in order to bring it into con­ formity with present-day practice, and in order that the results may be secured which were intended by the original legislation.

ENFORCEMENT During the past year the Examiners of Electricians have given a great deal of attention to the enforcement of chapter 141 of the General Laws, which provides for the licensing and supervision of electricians, resulting in the conviction of 45 persons and total fines of S625.00, and hearings of the Board resulting in the sus­ pension and revocation of 8 licenses. Approximately 150 licensed men have been compelled to comply with the rules and requirements of the local wire inspectors, about 2000 jobs were investigated, and the reaction to this policy has been most favorable, but due to lack of enforce­ ment of the law in the past there is still a great deal of electrical work being done by unlicensed and incompetent men, resulting in faulty work and potential fire hazard. In view of this fact, the Examiners urge the passage of the amendment to chapter 141 of the General Laws as recommended in their annual report, Public Document No. 114. . HEARINGS During the past fiscal year the Examiners have granted hearings to eight persons. as a result of which six licenses were revoked and two were suspended.

Respectfully submitted,

STATE EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICIANS, ELLlOT H. GOODWIN, Chairman. Commissioner of Civil Service. PAYSON SMITH, Commissioner of Education. JOHN W. RETH, State Fire Marshal.

January 5, 1931. ELLIS L. DENNIS, Executive Secretary, Room 180, State House, Boston, Mass.