Evening star., 1902-01-18
TO PREVENT FALSE ALARMS
CHIEF DuTTox wsANTR Law ENACT
ED TO CHECK THIS EVIL.
submits Report aad Draft of Law to
the Comnafssf6ners-Sta
US us -1s E8-ssss
Given.

/ - -
tention of the DISTRICT Commissioners to
the large number obifalse alarms of fire
turned in from the tgarious boxes in this
city There is at present, p,a police regula-
tion pros iding fine OF $50 for turning In
a false alarm of firesqand yesterday a con-
viction was secured in the Police Court
under that regulation. Mr.. Dutton believes
that there should be more stringent law
on the subject, aud has forwarded the draft
of such regulation, which he requests
shall be transmitted to Congress. In for
warding the proposed law Mr.. Dutton says:
In my annual report 1 had the honor to
invite your attention to the great number
of false alarms of fire sent in during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1901 and to
suggest that more severe penalty be pro-
yided for those found guilty of willfully
and knowingly sending In false alarms of
fire. During the fiscal year ended June 80
1891, there were ferty-three false alarms
and during the present fiscal year there
have been twenty eight of them being
turned in this month.
Expense Incurred.
''As has been heretofore stated, the de-
partment is put toa an expense of not less
than $50 every time box alarm is sounded
even when company is not called into
service. The horses drawing the apparatus
must be driven practically the entire jour-
ney at full speed, during which the break
ing of an axle or partr-of the harness the
fall of q horse or a collision means If not
death, serious injury to the men or horses
or more or less damage to the apparatus
Then, again. while companies are on the
way to or are returning from false alarm
fire may occur in which lives or much.
valuable property may be lost
From this it will be seen that a person
who Wiilfully and knowingly sends in a
false alarm of fire not or!y endangers the
nrODertV of the p1uDfciDa1ity hut oil in
no less degree the lives and property of the
community. This being so,aand it being ap-
parent that the sending in of false alarms
from boxes is on the increa Sc 1t is believed
that much more severe penalty should be
provided in such cases. l therefore have
the honor to recommend that Congress be
asked to enact the inciosed BILL which pro-
poses Imprisonment for not more than
twelve months in Jail and fine of not less
than $50 nor more than $780, or BOTH III
the discretion of the court, the penalty for
a second offense being made imprisonment
in the penlt tentfary at hard labor for not
less than two nor more than five years
AT the request Of the major and super
intendent of police clause has been in
corporated in the proposed law providing
the same penalties for making report to a
police officer of a crime having been COM
mitted or attempted where the person max
ing such report knows the same to be
false ,
Draft of Proposed Law.
Ihe dra1t OF the proposed law Is as fol-
lows:
An act to punish persons using in the
District of Columbian, fres2aiarm boxes or
fire alarm wires to sehd in false alarms of
fire and for other PURPOSES.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives oftthe United States of
America in Congress- assembled. That every
person, who, in the District of Columbia,
shall wilifully and Knowingly use any fire
alarm box or. fire alaRm wire in said Dis
trict for the purposes ef sending in a false
alarm of. fire, or any person who in the
District of Columbia Seshall make report TO
any police officer of q. crisne having been
committed or attemptedss anowing the same
to be false and untrAes shall be punished
by Imprisonment, in the .jaBref said District
for not more than twelve .sHsG1iths or by
fine of not Less thaas si,aqnor more than
5000, OF. by both impsiso Rasent and fine. in
the discretion; Of the court, and for the
second offense- --hyssimprisonment at hard
labor f9r q period of Sa9t, ,lsss thar stwo NOR
Section >. That any officer or ether per-
son securing the conviction Sf any violato-'
of any Of the provisions of this act in the
Police Court or other court. of the District
of, Columbia shall receive one-half of any
fine which may be imposed and paid for
such Violation, and prosecution shall be
brought in the name of the District of
Columbia" s5-. re'..' 80 .sa.-- =