St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-04
WHY THE UNDERWRITERS WANT
THE CITY TO APPOINT A WIRE
INSPECTOR.
WHO WILL. PAY HIS SALARY?
QUESTION UNDER THE ORDINANCE
WHICH THE ALDERMEN HAVE
ALREADY PASSED.
In Other Cities, but ST. Paul Ordi-
nance Makes 1t Building In
spectiOn Scheme.


passed an ordinance providing for the in
spection of the wiring of buildings, with view
to guarding against and lessening the danger
of fire. When the ordinance reached the as
sembly that body at once referred it to the
committee on streets, where it has been re-
posing for at least full month, much to the
dissatisfaction of those who are eagerly
awaiting some action to be taken that will
contribute materially to the prevention of
fires.
The ordinance now pending may not eff
fectually serve the desired end, even IL 1t
should become a law. In substance it imposes
upon the building inspector or his department
the duty of inspecting all electric wires in or
on any building within the city. 1t does not
nor cannot, because of the prohibition Of the
charter, create any additional Office nor does it
empower the building inspector to hire an as
sistant to act as inspector Of electric wires.
| 1t simply enlarges the duty of that depart
ment without providing for any extra help
or compensation.
Aid. Markham introduced the original ordin-
ance touching this subject. That ordinance
df1ered from the one now pending In that 1t
imposed the duty of wire inspection upon the
lied to appoint deputy or assistant inspector
OF wiring The latter was to perform the
Work. Aid. Markhams ordinance also pro-
vided for a system of fees for such inspection,
graded according to the number of lamps,
electric machines, dynamos etc. The ordin-
ance was amended, however, inasmuch as the
provision authorizing the appointment of an
assistant electric wire inspector was deemed
contrary to the section of the charter which
forbids the creation of any new office The
amendment consisted in making it the duty of
the building inspectors department to in
spect the wires, as already stated.
Building Inspector Kingsley, when ques-
toned concerning the matter, said:
IF the ordinance becomes effective it will
simply increase the duties of my office with
out providing for any additional assistance
or compensation. The council reduced the
appropriation for this department for the
present year from 600 to Sc, 900. Deduct
ing my salary of $500, which was fixed
by law leaves only s4,10O with which to pay
my assistants. The force now consists of two
deputy building inspectors, who already have
all, if not more than they can attend to.
plumbing inspector, elevator and fire
escape inspector and clerk. Therefore
would be obliged to look after the wiring Of
buildings myself. If the ordinance goes into
effect, l will do the best I can, though my
time Is already fully occupied with the work
Of the office. The result will be a lack Of
thoroughness in work in one line or another,
proper amount of time and attention. The
appropriation, as any one can see, will not
permit Of the hiring Of an expert electrical
inspector which would be required In order
to do the work In satisfactory manner.
AS for adopting a fee system, under which
all wire inspection would be paid for In
fees, that would not solve the question, in
asmuch as all fees received by this depart
ment must be paid into the city treasury, and
placed in the general fund"
Notwithstanding the fact that the council
FOR - info Of
the building inspectors department for the
year 1896, the corporation attorney is Of the
opinion that under the charter, the depart
ment is entitled to expend S11, 900 year.
Among the special laws of 1891 is section
which specifically states that the building in
spector's department is authorized to eXpend
in any one year an amount not to exceed SILL
900. The mere fact that the common council
chose to provide in the tax estimate for 1896
the sum of S., 300 for the building inspectors
department does not, in the opinion of the
corporation attorney prohibit the building in
spector from mourning on behalf Of his de-
partment an expense of 81, 600 in any one
year. But the building inspector prefers to
carry out the wishes of the council, and has
therefore decided not to take the responsible
fly of hiring additional men, who would be
obliged to sue the city in order to secure
their pay.
The underwriters of st. Paul are, to say
the least, dissatisfied with the condition OF
things. They say that the wiring of st. Paul
buildings is sadly in need Of inspection, as
much Of it is in a bad and dangerous condi-
ton. They cannot understand why this city
does not adopt the systems in vogue in Chi
cago Kansas City, Cincinnati and other cities.
In Chicago the inspection is under the control
of the superintendent of fire alarm telegraph.
who has supervision over ten deputy wire In
speetors. In Kansas City, where the fee sys-
TEN is in vogue, the ordinance regulates it by
providing follows:
''The electrical inspector shall be entitled
to retain 81 coo per annum of the money col
lected for inspection fees as part payment
for his services as electrical inspector, and
such further compensation as may be volun-
tarily paid by the Kansas City board Of under
writers; but after the sum of $1,000 per an
mum shall have been collected in fees as above
mentioned, then all excess of such fees shall
be paid into the city treasury by the cleo
trical inspector as soon as collected by him.
and in no case or event shall the city be held
liable for such salary or compensation, or
any part thereof"