The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-23
MIGHT LICENSE THEM.
Electricians May BE Put on the same
Basis as Plumbers.


Alderman Haas ordinance creating the
Office Of city electrician and providing fol
the discharge o. the duties by the super
intendent Of the fire department has at
tracted general interest. Recent reports
as 20 the number Of fires caused 5y defec-
tive electric wiring have led properly own
ers TO believe that something OF the kind
- necessary. and that The sooner the want
is provided the better
In this connection the question arises.
why should not electricians be licensed the
same as plumbers or other persons per
forming work affecting life and property
This question was under discussion at the
recent meeting Of the National Association
Of Municipal Electricians. and aroused
considerable interest. 1t was he'd that the
duties Of an electrician are fully as import
ant as those of plumber. Bad plumbing
is chiefly injurious to he health, while bad
electrical work Is dangerous both 10 prop
erty and life. The city Of Denver requires
that all persons engaged in electrical work.
ard all firms and corporations not having
a special franchise from the city for such
work. must be licensed. the parties beng
required 10 stand an examination before
license il granted. Doubtless other wide
awake cities have similar requirements.
The subject was mentioned Yesterday to
several members of Council. among them
Aldermen Haas ard Dixon. The propos
ton was "a new one 40 the aldermen. but
on consideration they al agreed t1at the
idea seemed to be on the right line and
thar "a Is reasonable 20 require that an
electrician enguIiG N arrt.r e
and take OUJ d license before being al
lowed 70 engage in such important work.
The idea - not bad one. said Alder
man Dixon. al sorts of persons engage
ID Electrical work and some OF them have
very little knowledge Of what they are
doing. il IS something that is bound 10
come in the future. Just ar present cleo
trical science is only in lis infancy. and it
would be difficult 10 fix an intelligent ex-
animation. IL would be difficult 10 gel a
board of competent electricians as exam
iEers in Savannah, fer the reason that
every electrician of any ability is engaged
in carrying on work Of his own or for
some corporation. ard ali would nave
private interests involved. The aldermen
are hardly capable of saying VINO is COM
penteut 20 do electrical work and VINO Is
not As we get more Light on the sub
jet we shall doubtless come 70 some hing
OF This kiad."
said Alderman Haas. "At the same time
1 hardly think the conditions are such As
10 warrant the move here just now. The
ordinance introduced by me at the last
meeting Of Council IS intended 10 remedy
the evils which have been complained Of
by providing for a thorough inspection Of
ali electrical work. ] have no doubt but
that tine ordinance viii pass. though some
amendments may be made 20 il. IL is
modelled upon the ordinance now in force
IN Detroit and other cities Of about the
same size as Savannah. The main
thin is the adoption Of the
National Code Of Rules for Electric
wiring The rules have been officially in
dorsed by electrical builders and insur-
ance associations generally, and adopted
by the National Uuderwr. ters' Associa-
ton. They are 50 thorough and complete
as 10 leave nothing in doubt and even
novice could be guided by them"
Alderman Haas said he does not think
the fire superintendent will have any diff
ficulty in performing the duties of cleo
trical inspector II is his business, under
the ordinance, TO see that the inspections
are made, and he can have the inspections
made BY the electrician of the FIRE depart
ment or other competent men in his en-
piov. OF ne may do the work himself.
"wilh the national code as a guide the
superintendent would have little difficulty
in supervising the inspect ons," said Al
derman Haas. He would only have to
see that the requirements Of the code are
observed"
Alderman Haas said that since the intro
ductlon OF the ordinance several persons
have called upon him end personally given
T. their endorsement. Some have had per
soual experience with defective electric
wiring which cOuVlnces them of the need
Of such inspection. Several instances
where danger from defective wiring has
been narrowly escaped has been brought
to Alderman Haas attention, and he is
thoroughly convinced that his ordinance
is a much needed addition to the city's
building regulations.