The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-13
DON'T WANT AN INSPECTOR.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS THINK
PRESENT SYSTEM BETTER.


mating Co. Before 1t Makes n Con-
nection-The COmpany's Inspector,
Mr. SnndifOrd, Is Regarded ms
Thoroughly Capable and Efficient
Man-Present system satisfactory
to Southeastern Tariff Association.
The demand for an electrical inspector
or other officer in Zine with the recent
suggestion of Superintendent Mcguire, of
the fire department is not Endorsed by the
people engaged with electrical business.
on the contrary many of those interested
in the business are In favor of the Teten-
ton of the system now in vogue, and be-
lieve that it better answers the purpose
than the proposed substitution of city
Official to do the work.
Mr.. Lester w. Walker, of the firm of L.
W. Walker & Co., electrical contractors
and constructors, is strongly convinced
that there is no need for a change, and
that any that is made would result in a
worse instead of a better, condition of af-
fairs, than prevails at present. No posi-
bic system of inspection would, in his opin-
ion guarantee absolute perfection, for the
very sufficient reason that the inspector
must be a man.
IAN work is now inspected" said Mr.
Walker, by Mr.. T. p. Sandiford, inspec-
tor for the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company and it is invariably well and
carefully done. Mr. Sandiford is a thor
oughly competent electrician and he does
his work with equal fairness and ability
He must pass on the work before the
power company will make connections, and
he invariably insists that every safeguard
Is observed and every rule founded in rea-
son and leading to freedom from danger Is
compiled with and followed in detail. In
the course of my experience, l have had
frequent occasion to come in business con-
tact with Mr.. Sandiford, and while our
relations have always been pleasant, there
has certainly never been any lack of rigor
in his inspections. He has always requir-
cd that my work should be up to the mark
and | know that he follows the same rule
In regard to other contractors"
The reason for this it is not necessary
to go far to seek. No one is more in
terested than the electric company in see
ing to it that fires do not result from de-
fective connections and wiring If it
should become known as a fact that fires
were likely to result from the use of
electricity as a light or power, it would
soon happen that individuals would select
some other means of lighting their prem
ises or running their machinery Nobody
wants 10 have a force about that is likely
to cause on almost any occasion the de-
struction of his building and stock. and
nobody would. Electricity, certainly, is
safe enough when properly handled, and
becomes dangerous when it is improperly
introduced or applied. When consumers.
therefore, began TO believe that they could
not have electric lights or run electric
fans or use electric motors with safety it
4 not ~. l.
to some other power"
This Is the interest the power com
pany has in providing for a rigorous sys-
TEN OF inspection. Its officers understand
that the greater the immunity from fire
and danger that their patrons enjoy, the
greater VIII be the amount of their busi-
ness. IL is pain business proposition
and they are plain business men, who can
DC safely relied upon to look after their
Own interests. They do II every dav.
the present system Of inspection ami
the present inspector Mr. Sandiford are
both thoroughly satisfactory to the South
eastern Tariff Association Surely if the
electric light people and the representa-
tives of the insurance companies in these
matters are content and believe the pres
cut system the best, it ought 10 be equal
ly satisfactory to others. The power COM
pany and the insurance companies have a
greater and closer interest in seeing TO If
is supervised by a skilled inspector than
anyone else'
Now" said Mr. Walker, regard for
moment the other side of the picture. Sun.
pose that the city does elect an inspector
and that he is thoroughly capable and
efficient man. Such an one cannot be had
for less than $1,000 year. There is Just
that much added to the expenses of the
city, that must in any event and under INV
system that is devised be paid by the tax
payers. To say that the expenses of the
inspector would not have to be defraved bv
the city. but that they would fall upon
those who have electrical work done is an
evasion of the question. The taxpayer paws
the bin just the same, whether he pays D.
| in the form of taxes or in that of fees for
inspection makes very little difference
Secondly, the position would be political
and would be filed by the various councils
as reward for political services. The
| incumbent might be a perfectly honest as
well as a perfectly capable, man, but
| nevertheless, he would find himself leaning
| towards the members of The faction that
| was responsible for his election and favor
| ing them in the work of inspection. And
if the position is to be political, it is GER
! tainly within the possibilities that the in
\ cumbent may not be capable. History and
even local municipal history is not without
| cases OF like character"
| Then would come the scramble for the
position and the rush of applications. As
| i'm the case of the plumbing inspector, the
| electrical inspector would be accused of
| favoring his political allies and imposing
| onerous and impossible conditions upon
| those with whom he had no political afa-
| iation. There would be a petty scandal
every few months and unpleasantuess of
one kind or another every few days The
| inspection would not be better done than
IL is to-day"
Don't understand that am opposed to
IL
electrician. My desie is that the system
that works best should be 70 bowed and
| have no ether. IL is to my advantage that
the work should be done we'll and that
immunity from danger from electrical cur
| rents should be enjoyed by every one who
uses electricity. Wherefore, | do my tit
tie best TO see to it that this is the case.
l am only DESTROYS that the city should
not incur additional expense. without re-
! ceiving corresponding benefit"
| This STA torment Of The ga 60 6ts Tho ;do.