The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-12
BEST THE DEPUTY STATE BOILER
INSPECTOR GETS FROM THE
FLRE BOARD.
NO FEES TO BE PICKED U
FOR INSPECTING THE BOILERS OF
THE ST. PAUL FIRE DE-
PARTMENT.
FUNDS FOR YEAR MAY RUN OUT.
Chief Jackson's Report ON the Fires
of Last Month-No Electrical
Inspector Yet.

Some apprehension was. manifested
at the meeting of the board OF 1re
commissioners last evening over the
possibility that the fire department
would run short Of funds for the cur
rent year. The contingency Of de-
felt arises from recently enacted legis-
lation effecting the collection Of taxes.
The expenditures of the department
up to date do not exceed those for a.
corresponding period for last year, and,
II the resources at the, command of
the department for the present year
continue btoobe the equivalent ,,.of the
past, theyRnisf no danger Of a. shortage.
The folloWjng financial statement was
presented by Secretary Hall:
Balance on. hand from 1896. ........ .$12, 751 u
Amount. credited to department by
comptroller up to date on the cur
Eeho year '.......................... oo'lfo w
sh Total = a.,s 81 s s2s = =
Bills allowed at present meeting. -. 651 IA
Total SIG, 976 40
Balance on hand Observation-Disclosures. $50 e
In explanation Of the report it was
stated that the amount credited the
department by the comptroller was
small as compared with what the total
proceeds from this source would be
during the course Of the year.
1t was understood that Chief Jack
son was to present the name of an as
sistant wire inspector for confirmation
before the board last evening, but q
discussion as to the manner of appoint
Ing the assistant inspector caused the
matter to be laid over until the next
meetfngsssYhere was some doubt eX-
pressed as to whether the action Of the
council in creating the office of as
sistant wire inspector had not conflict
ed with the charter under which the
board of fire commissioners operates,
but this point was not strongly urged
and the position will undoubtedly be
filled at the next meeting. The dis
cussion generally hinged upon the
status Of the proposed wire inspector
In the department., and whether he
should be appointed by the chief or by
the board or whether either power
could make the appointment without
technically making the inspector a
member of the department by regularly
appointing him a member of some
company in the capacity of pipeman,
truckman, or driver, and then assign
ing him to the position of wire in
spector as special duty This course
was pursued in the case Of DR.. Berk-
man, the department veterinary sur
geon last year when the board found
it might have possibly been carrying
him on the pay roll without proper
action, and he was appointed second
pipeman on truck No. 4, afterward be-
ing deputized to care for the depart
ment's stock.
The name Of T. D. Varnam, who
passed the highest examina ton held
to select a wire inspector recently
would have been presented by Chief
Jackson last night had the matter not
been carried over, and will go before
the board for confirmation at the next
meeting.
The departments old discussion with
the state boiler inspectors depart
nent showed itself at the meeting by
the presence of Deputy Boiler Inspec-
tor McCree, who urged the right of
the state to inspect the boilers Of the
department engines This privilege
was at one time allowed the state
boiler inspector. and the attendant fees
promptly paid, but recent opinion by
the corporation attorney Informed the
fire board that 1t was competent to
inspect and care for it's own boilers
caused 1t to refuse to allow an inspec-
ton by representatives Of the state.
Mr.. McCree was given very little
standing that he referred to a "test
suit" and the fact that the opinion
of the corporation was signed by Carl
Taylor and had been dissented from
by Attorney General Childs. The
possibility Of stopping the engine Of
the department at fire because they
had not been properly inspected was
also mentioned by Deputy McCree, but
failed to move the board to more than
an incredulous smile.
The report Of Chief Jackson showed
a total of fifty-four fires for the month
Of April, five of which were Of sup
posed incendiary origin. The total in
surance on buildings was $246040, and
on contents, $20,S64 making the total
amount of insurance involved $266,904.
The loss on buildings was $3,813.97, and
on contents, 1884 5, making the total
loss for the month 81 1882. The
amount of insurance over the losses
was $259, 255.OS. The report further
stated everything pertaining to the
department to be in first-class condi-
ton.
Dr. Berkman reported the treatment
of eleven horses, while the reports of
Superintendent of Alarms Carey and
of Master Mechanic Wheeler testified
to excellent conditions in their respec-
rfp re-