The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1895, 1895-05-21

such serious matter as the
protection of the property OF
Honolulu residents from fire,
which is our greatest donger
owing to the frequent failures in
the water supply ought to be In the
hands of the most skilled and
interested persons in the com
munity. Elsewhere the insurance
companies organize fire patrols,
the taxpayers of the NUM-
cipality elect the men who
control the fire department and
everywhere precedence is given
to men whose long ex-
perience, practical knowledge
or property interest forces them to
take the wisest steps necessary for
protection against the always i'm
minent. danger. Here we have a
city mostly Of lnfammable build
ings, but without any direct voice
in its own protection. That was
one safety valve which the old
volunteer system provided. Even
the Chinese merchants under its
provisions organized, equipped
and maintained company whose
services we're always acknowledge
ed to be of the most valuable IN
attaining the common objects of
protection to life and property.
1t is in order, therefore, to sug-
, gest to the Government that con =
siderations Of this nature should
govern them in the selection of
the members of the Board. If it
is necessary to limit the number
of members to three, let 1t always
: be constituted as follows: One
) member chosen for his close re.
> lations to the Board of Fire I'm
derwriters, or even nominated by
them; one for his business acumen
and ability, and one who shall
= have by his past experience
! shown his practical ability to deal
with and handle the conditions
arising from the outbreaks of fire
AS to the first condition we may
say that the Board of Fire I'm
derwriters are amongst the
! best known men in business
: in the town, and any man
of their nomination would
command universal respect. AS
to the second the reason fol
having a good business man on
the Board is too obvious for argu-
ment. AS to the third, it would
, not only remove all suspicious
] commissions from being at the
of political favoritism OF business
root of changes, but would practi
, cally give that confidence in the
$ absolute efficiency of the Boari
to deal with the questions per-
tanning to it which, it is unneces-
snry to state, is now lacking. o.
course it is in order for some tC
say that there is no material ol
that political opinions would
stand in the road, but read the
! following list Of practical men
: picked at haphazard from memory
" and see if either objection woulG
Q hold good: Messrs w L Allen
a @ e Williams, julius Asch, {
o B Wilson, Jno. Mott, F Hustace,
] + Morgan, James Dodd anG
@ others, who have all served eff
+ ciently in the Fire Department
4 have practical experience and the
K oonfidencs and respect of thu
e property-owners and the entire
} community. The fire department
under the present system has moi
been called upon yet to show
what it can do in serious
emergency, but We doubt that il
= possesses the confidence of the
7 property owners. Should Il big
. fire break out--and who can tel
when that may not happen the
: fire departm ent of the city shoult
s be found in as excellent ant
l competent condition as possible
1t will be too late to change thu
present system after damage has
been done and the present man
t agement perhaps found lacking.