Ex Parte Grey

The petitioner is imprisoned under a complaint charging him with unlawfully practicing the trade of plumbing in the city of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara, without first having obtained a certificate from the board of plumbing examiners authorizing him so to do, he being a journeyman plumber, contrary to the provisions of an ordinance of said city in relation to plumbing and drainage, a copy of which ordinance is set forth in the petition. ■

It is claimed that the ordinance, in so far as it provides for the appointment of a board of plumbing examiners, and the issuance of a certificate by them, and the fixing of a penalty for the violation of its terms in this regard, is in conflict with the general laws of the state, and therefore void. This is the only question in the case which we deem it necessary to decide.

The ordinance provides as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any master plumber or journeyman plumber to practice his trade in the city of San Jose without first obtaining a certificate from the Board of Plumbing Examiners. To obtain such certificate it shall be necessary for each plumber to pass a satisfactory examination before the said Board of Plumbing…