The herald., 1897-10-21
Fire Engines and Engineers
to Stand Examination
NO EXCEPTION TO BE MADE
EXAMINING ENGINEERS WILL
PUSH THE MATTER
The Ordinances on the Subject-Views
of Boiler Inspector, Mayor and
Chairman Eademacher

board Of examining engineers Boiler in
spector c. j. Dahl and the board of fire
commissioners, as reported in another
column, promises to blossom out into
blood-letting feud of an appalling char
acter.
When Inspector Dahl was seen last
evening at o'clock he stated that the
board and himself had, merely conform
ed with ordinances No. 1902, new series,
adopted by the city council October 4th,
1897, the section on which they base their
demands being numbered. 5, and reading
as follows:
"All owners or users of any boilers or
steam generating apparatus, except
those otherwise provided for, under
pressure, shall have the same inspected
and tested as herein provided. before
being used, and once every three months
thereafter, except mangles and steam
kettles, which shall be inspected annual
ly; ard for every neglect or refusal to
have such inspections and test, such own
er or user shall be deemed guilty of
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined in a sum not less
than $40 nor more than 5000 or be i'm
prisoned in the city Jail for term not
exceeding 100 days, or may suffer both
such fine and Imprisonment"
The exceptions referred. to is as follows:
Section 15-All engineers, engines and
boilers of locomotives used on railroads
are exempt from the provisions Of this
ordinance"
Section 10, which was also quoted by
the inspector, runs:
"Any person who shall run or operate
any steam boiler, steam generating ap-
paratus, mansgle or steam kettle in the
city of Los Angeles without having OBJ
tanned license as herein provided, shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined in
a sum not exceeding 5000, or be imprs
oned in the city Jail for term not ex-
eeeding six months, or may suffer both
such fine and. imprisonment"
INSPECTOR DAHL TALKS
There is nothing that can be much
palmer than this said Mr.. Dahl; 1--WE
are distinctly told that all owners or
users Of any boiler or boilers shall have
their apparatus examined, and neither
the board nor the mayor have any NOR e
right than a private citizen to object to
the enforcement Of an ordinance which
has been adopted by the city council and
is in full force an I effect. At this stage
Of the proceedings I cannot say much
about the steps the board will take, as
I have received no official communica-
ton as to the disposal of our letters. AS
matter of fact, notified Chief Moore
some days ago that we were going to
have the inspection made, but he ignored
my letter, and I took this means Of
bringing the thing in forcible manner
before the higher authorities. I shall
only say that shall insist on the ordi-
nance being obeyed, and shall use my
official position to have the law COM
piled with. The inspection of the boil
ers would not cost the city one cent, as
any fees charged would merely go irto
the treasury agairs which would be nom
sense and. an unnecessary piece of red
tape. The board Of engineers will prob
ably discuss the matter at their meet
ing tonight, and I am satisfied, that they
will all be in favor of enforcing the ordl-
nance"
THE MAYORS IDEAS
Mayor Snyder was next seem and he
was emphatic in his statements that the
ordinance didnt refer to the fire depart
ment and il it did, it didn't cut any
figure.
II want 1t understood right here" said
Mr.. Snyder, "that NO board of engineers
or boiler inspectors shall ever compel
our engineers to take out licenses or
make inspections of our boilers. If the
board of fire commissioners hasn't got
enough gumption to appoint mer' who
know their business to run the engines
of the department there might be some
sort of a kick coming, but don't think
that anyone can question the efficiency
Of our men, who are being drafted In.
under the civil service regulations, and
who are tTaisled to handle fire engine
from the time they erter the depart
ment. AS for that boiler inspector, !
doubt If he knows anything about fire
engine, and anyway we know enough
to run things without gettirlg tangled
up on a small engine boiler proposition.
Besides, I don't see why that board
should come in and want to make
dollar apiece out of our engineers, who
have years of practical experience to
back up their knowledge of engineer
ing. 1 simply say that the board of
engineers and the boiler inspector will
never put their fingers in the fire depart
ment."
City Attorney Dunn refused to give
any opinion as to the merits of either
party, stating that it was difference
between two official boards anCi it would
not be his place to say anything, or1e
way or another, until he was approached
in an official manner.
THE ENGINEERS MEET
The board of engineers, composed of
Messrs. Frank Rademacher, G. w. Juo-
kins and F. j. Fischer, held their reg
ular meeting last night at 1880 in the
city hall, at which the action. of the fire
commissioners was commented on with
some degree of surprise. When asked
as to what action they would take,
Chairman Rademacher stated that
there was the ordinance clearly embrac-
ing the fire department, which came
ur.der the description of "owners of
boilers" and that only one course was
open for them to follow. Oxa being asked
what would be done should they refuse
to comply, he said that the ordinance
designated the penalty for breach of the
same, and he did not know why the
board Of fire commissioners and the
mayor should be allowed to violate ar
ordinance any more than any other
company or individual In the same po-