The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-07

Bill Before the Legislature APP.
pointing Boards TO Look into the
Origin of Fires I'm Cities and Towns

Origin of Fires I'm Cities and Towns
Following is the bill Introduced by
Representative Willard:
Section 1. The superintendent of in
suranee in the city of Raleigh and the
chief Of the fire department or fire COM
mittee Of the board of aldermen in
other cities and towns are hereby au-
thorized and directed 10 investigate the
cause, origin and circumstances OF
every fire occurring in such cities or
towns in which property has been de-
stroyed or damaged and shall specially
make investigation whether such fire
was the result of carelessness or de-
sign. Such investigation shall be be-
u within three days, not including
the Lords day, Of the occurrence of
such fire, and the superintendent Of in
surance shall have the right to super
wise and direct such investigation
whenever he deems it expedient or ne
cessary. The board making investi-
cation of fires occurring in cities and
towns, other than the city of Raleigh
may forthwith notify said superintend-
ent Of insurance, and shall within one
week of the occurrence of the fire fur
nish to the said superintendent of in
surance a written statement of all the
facts relating to the cause and origin
Of the fire, the kind, value and owner
ship of the property destroyed and
such other information as may be
called for by the blanks provided by
the said superintendent of insurance.
l Tho nnorinrondnn of inCrranaa cha11
keep in his office a record of all fires
occurring in the state, together with
all facts, statistics and circumstances,
including the origin of the fires, which
may be determined by the investiga-
lions provided for by this act; such
record shall at all times be open to
public inspection.
; Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of said
superintendent of insurance to exan-
Inc or cause examination to be made
into the cause, circumstances and ORR
gin of all fires occurring within the
state, to which his attention has been
called, in accordance with the provis-
ions of section of this act, by which
property is accidentally or unlawfully
burned, destroyed or damaged, and to
specially examine and decide whether
the fire was the result of carelessness
or the act Of an incendiary. The super
lntendent of insurance shall, when in
his opinion, said proceedings are ne
cessary, take or cause to be taken the
testimony on oath of all persons sup
posed to be cognizant of any facts or
to have means of knowledge in rela-
ton to the matters as to which an ex-
animation is herein required to be
made, and shall cause the same to be
reduced to writing; and if he shall be
Of opinion hat there is evidence sufi-
cient to charge any person with the
crime of arson he shall cause such per-
son to be arrested and charged with
such ofense, and shall furnish to the
proper district attorney all such evil
dence, together with the anne of wit
nesses and all information obtained by
him, including a copy of all pertinent
and material testimony taken in the
case.
Sec. 3. The superintendent of in
surance shall have the powers of a
trial justice for the purpose Of sum-
moning and compelling the attendance
OF witnesses, to testify in. relation to
any matter which is by the provisions
OF this act a subject of inquiry and in
vestigation. Said superintendent of
insurance my also administer oaths
and affirmations to persons appearing
as witnesses before him, and false
swearing in any matter or proceeding
aforesaid shall be deemed perjury
and shall be punished as such. Said
superintendent of insurance shall have
authority, at all times Of the day or
night, in the performance of the du-
ties imposed by the provisions of this
act, to enter upon and examine any
building or premises where any fire
has occurred, and other buildings and
premises adjoining or near the same.
All Investigations held by or under
the direction of the superintendent of
insurance may, in his discretion, be
private, and persons other than those
required 20 be present by the provis-
ions of this act may be excluded from
the place where such investigation is
held, and witnesses may be kept sepa-
rate and apart from each other and not
allowed to communicate with each
other until they have been exam
ined.
Sec. 4. The superintendent of insur-
ance or the chief of the fire depart
ment or fire committee of the board of
aldermen shall have the right at all
reasonable hours, for the purposes of
examination, to enter into and upon
| all buildings and premises within their
Jurisdiction. Whenever any of said
officers shall find in any building or
| upon any premises combustible mate
| rial or inlammable conditions danger
, Gus to the safety of such building or
| premises, they shall order the same to
be removed or remedied, and such or
der shall be forthwith complied with
by the owner or occupant Of said
building or premises: Provided, how
! ever, that if the said wner or occupant
shall deem himself aggrieved by such
order, he may, within twenty-four
hours, appeal to the superintendent of
insurance, and the cause of the COM
plant shall be at once investigated by
/ the direction of the latter, and unless
by his authority the order of the fire
chief mr. fro comoittoo above nomod