The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-14


of the water.
OFFICE OF FIRE MARsHAL,-THE SPIRIT OF
CENTnAILzAUON.-Chief Engineer Carson is a
man who has won his way to an honorable re-
putaton by the uprightness and energy of his
character. No public officer could have dis
played more entire devotion to his duties, or
greater intelligence in their general admins
tration, than he has done. Notwithstanding
this, Mr.. Carson, like the rest of the world some
times makes mistakes, and that too, in matters
which come within the scope of his own person
al experience. His last annual report for in
stance, to the Mayor and Common Council,
contains a recommendation which is so gla-
rngly Objectionable that we are surprised at
its emanating from man of Mr.. Carsons good
sense and acknowledged zeal for the public
service. In this document the Chief Engineer
Says
Mr. Alfred E. Baker, employed by the insurance com
panies to investigate the origin Of res reports that
during the year ending May 81 one hundred and fifty
nine fires have been purposely set This ccncusyely
the work Of design He also reports that twenty
four persons arrested all Of whom discharged
that the
authority to act except by in each procuring war
rants, &C., from the city magistrates The number OF
fires for the past year much less than for any OF the
several preceding This may be safely attributed to
the fact probable investigation. As the year ad
they at its beginning Being satisfied that the in
vesigaons officer duly authorized to proceed forth
with would be attended with still more beneficial results,
would again urgently recommend an early application
to the Legislature, for the appointment OF Fire -
shall, with power TO proceed magistrate, whose
duty it shall be to thoroughly investigate the cause OF
every fire that occurs.
Before we proceed to state our main objec-
ton to Mr.. Carson's proposition, let us correct
one or two errors of fact into which he has fall
en-. In the first place, he states that the Fire
Marshal is employed by the insurance offices.
Now this is only SO far true that his salary and
expenses are betrayed by them, but he receives
his appointment direct from the Police JUS
tees. In the next, he alleges that the Fire Mar
shall is not armed with sufficient authority to
render his Office as effective as it might be.
Were he invested with magisterial powers it
seems to us that he would not be as efficient as
he now is. His time would be almost entirely
occupied in judicial inquiries, and he would be
unable to devote any portion oft to that most
important branch Of his duties-personal in
vestigatiOn upon the spot into the origin of
fires A delegate Of the Police Justices, he may
be said to exercise oil the authority that is ne
cessary, for he brings offences under their
notice. prepares the evidence for them, and
sees that proper vigilance is exercised
by the police subordinates in regard to
the parties eliminated. Were he to be
clothed with magisterial powers, he could do
nothing more. He could not control the ac-
ton of juries or take any more active steps
than he does at present to secure the ends of
justice. He would simply have power Of
committal like the Police Justices but there
would be this objection to it in his case--that
he would be exercising at once both the func.
tions of Judge and public prosecutor.
There is still stronger argument, however
to be urged against the carrying out of Mr.. Car
sons recommendation. From the admission
which he himself makes in the extract above
quoted, it is clear that the institution of the
Office Of Fire Marshal has been attended with
great public benefit. The loss Of life and pro
perty has been relatively less during the past
year than it was ever before known to be- not
withstanding the rapid increase in the number
of dwellings and of population. This result is
SO satisfactory that if no other reasons existed
for opposing it we should be adverse to any
change in the constitution of the Office. As the
Fire Marshal is at present appointed, he
has every motive to urge him to the
strict and conscientious discharge of his duties
Paid by the insurance Offices, and acting under
INN loft yiotn Of hn ~ T,,o
tees, he knows that any neglect or absence of
vigilance on his part will be visited with CEN
sure, and, if repeated, with removal We have
seen how admirably this system works. Mr..
Baker, who created the Office, and who brought
to it long experience in the police department,
has shown how well served the public may be
by men whose appointments render them indie
pendent of political influences Carry out Mr..
Carson's recommendation of vesting the no
mination in the State, and what will be the re-
suit? The Office will become what almost every
other public appointment in this country now
virtually is-thc prize of political partizan-
ship. Its duties will become sinecure, and
its works will be nil. For heavens sake, do
not let us carry this spirit of Capitalization
into everything. Its fruits have not been so
satisfactory as to render us cnamorcd of the
principle. When we find the Independent ac-
ton of private associations eflccting what
Legislation has failed to do let ms not remove
out of their hands the power of protecting
their own interests. We look upon Mr. Car
sons proposition as q most ill.judged and mis-
chicyous one. II could only have been sug-
ges'cd to him by some of the tribe of craving
ofliceseekers who seek to render our worthy
Chief Engineer the unconscious instrument of
their cuOidity