The morning call., 1891-01-28
DUBIOUS COZ .RACTS.
SeannelI 0utWitted by the New
Fire Law.

The Fire Department Committee Of the
Board Of Supervisors tinds itself now face
to face with an entirely new situation, and
it is a little at loss how to meet it.
Shorty before the retiremento of the former
board new fire limits we're established, tax
ing in a large portion Of the city not hereto
fore disturbed by the rigid fire law restric-
tions. Dozens of protests shOwered in from
all directions, all setting forth that they had
lust entered into contracts to have fine
wooden structures built, and now their
plans would all be worthless if the law was
passed.
The wisdom of extending the limits could
hardly be questioned, and the Fire Depart
ment was unanimous on the point just
what to do the Supervisors could not decide
in a breath, and il looked like heaping a
hardship on the citizen of moderate means
TO make him throw away his plans and ar
range for q brick structure or build not at
all.
Finally the committee lodged the dilemma
by inserting a provision in the law, that all
within the proposed limits who had already
contracted to build should not be subject TO
the restrictions of the law, provided work
was commenced within six months. Thus
arranged the new law appeared 10 give
general satisfaction.
Now came the amusing phases. The
Chief OF the Fire Department is called upon
daily almost to inspect the foundations of
two, three ard four story wooden structures
about to be built inside the limits. In most
cases he had never heard of them before,
and it always surprises him. In every
single instance thus lar he has found upon
inquiry that the contracts were all made
prior to the date OF the passage OF the new
law.
When Chief Scannen described his ex-
perience to the Fire Committee yesterda y
he looked serious ana puzzled. He said that
in all his previous experience he had never
known of so many extensive contracts
dated so far back, and all apparently about
the same time. "Of course" said he, when
a man shows me his contract, and find it
looks suspicious. l don't like to look him in
the face and tell him he lies. And yet Gm
morally certain he is lying. / think in all
such cases this committee should require the
man 70 make sworn statement to test the
genuiueness of his contract"
Ihe committee did not decide on any
course in particular, but the matter is before
1t, and If the Chiefs complaints continue
some recognition VIII have to be taken of
them.
The resolution fixing the bond to be re-
qured of the Superintendent Of the Fire
alarm and Police Telegraph at $1,000 will be
recommended. This is what it is now
The bids for raising and altering Engine
= house No. Gone by John T. Hayes for
$3.50, and the other by j. II. Mckay for
S5l95-were considered too high and re-
jected..
Another petition was read from Thomas
G. Riley TO be released from his contract to
supply forage to the various city instItu-
lions. The members of the committee did
not feel like fighting over again a matter
fully investigated and disposed OF by the
late board, but to make proper dispositio n
Of the petition decided to call joint COM
mittee meeting one week from next Mon
day of all the committees properly inter-
ested in the matter. The report on the case
states in substance that Riley was trying to
shirk his contract because the price of sup
plies has gone I'D so much that he was
losing about $500 month. They express
sympathy for him, but argue that If the case
Vas Just the reverse be would only be too
@iaQ 10 bold IL