Evening star., 1902-08-18

pointment TO the department, 1856 being
passed as physically fit and 1893 rejected
There were thirty-eight persons on the
pension roll of the department July l. 1901,
the monthly payment to them aggregati:lg
Sl,24o During the past year three mem
bers OF the department were placed on the
retired list on an allowance of $50 per
month each. two at $40 month and one
at S24 In one case the monthly allowance
was Increased from $50 to $50, in two from
$50 to $40, in two from SO to $50 and one
pensioner at 800 per month died, making
the aggregate monthly payment July l.
l902, N.59, an increase of S314 per month
The deceased pensioner was William Kirk
patrick, who died April 26, 1902. He en-
tered the department as a private Novem-
Der %, 1873, being retired March 1. 1899,
after nearly twenty-six years service, ris
ing during his service to the rank of fore
man. His record was an excellent one.
Additional Men and Discipline
July l, 1901, the membership of the de-
partment was increased by the appoint
ment of a third assistant chief engineer,
one foreman, two drivers, eight prvates,
sixteen watchmen and a laborer, twenty
nine in all. Ten members resigned during
the past year. eleven were removed and six
We're retired, and there were in all fifty
six appointments made. Men entering the
department were appointed as watchmen
and promoted to be privateS as vacancies
to fire duty Immediately upon entering the
department, and In that way secured
training of six or more months before be
coming priVates. In about every case or
dismissal the man was removed because OF
intoxicatiOn, and some of those who re
signed did so rather than face charges.
The great ma jority of these cases occurred
in the earlier part of the year, since which
time such offenses have become few and
far between, the men having seen that in
toXication while on duty means, in the alb
ENf titS~- n
dismissal.
THE policy inaugurated during the latter
part of the fiscal year of 1901 OF deprlVing
men guilty OF misconduct or neglect OF
duty of their DAYS off or reducing their
annual leave instead of requiring them TO
pay fines has proved to be most enecllVe'
the punishment falling where it should, on
the guilty parties, and not as was the
case where fines were imposed, upon the
innocent, those dependent upon the Oh
tenders for support.
Causes of Fires.
s.There We're but eleven fires during the
year known to have been caused by de-
rective wiring, a decrease of fifteen as
compared with the record of 1901. This
good showing may be attributed TO the
close supervision by the municipal authori-
ties and enforcement of regulations govern
ing such matters.
''In 1901 there were ninety-three fires
gasoline or like fluids, and during the past
year ninety-five. Of which eighteen We're
due to explosion of gasoline stoves Eigh-
teen persons We're more or less seriously
burned In the fires, and two fatally. Too
many precautions cannot be thrown about
the storage and use of gasoline, because
Of Its very treacherous and highly eXplo-
sive nature, and the department renews Its
recommendation that dealers In 1t be re-
quired to furnish every purchaser of gaso-
line stoves with printed instructions as to
their care and USE
Weakness of the Department.
"Attention is respectfully invited to the
annual report of the senior assistant chief
engineer of the department, In which he
refers to the weakness Of the fire-fghttng
force. AS he well says, it would be prac-
tically impossible for the department to
successfully fight two large fires at one time
The fact, therefore, that the loss during
the past year was the smallest In twelve
years was due not alone to the strength
of the department or its unquestioned eff
ciencv but more TO good fortune, for 1t
cannot be denied that there are many
buildings here the destruction of which it
would be practically impossible to prevent
should a fire in them get well started be-
fore being discovered or should the f1re oc-
cur during the prevalence OF high wind
The senior assistant chief engineers recon-
mendation that the tire-flghting force be
of the department
Inspection of Buildings.
"The last six months Of the past fiscal
year We're devoted by the senior assistant
chief engineer and the fire marshal to an
examination of hotels, theaters, apartment
houses, schools, asylums and like institu-
tions for the purpose Of ascertaining
whether or not the laws and regulations
for the protection of life and property were
being observed. In but one case, IL is re-
ported did these officers find that In every
particular these laws and regulations had
been respected. The reports and the rec
concentrations made for the better protec-
tion of the buildings and their inmates were
forwarded to the inspector of buildings,
and he has assured the department that In
most cases those in charge of or owning
the buildings have complied with the IN
structions given them for the betterment
of the conditions found to exist.
Fire Escapes.
1.-THE department renews its recommen-
dation of last year that the character OF
materials used In the construction Of a
building and the purpose for which it is
used, rather than its height, should deter
mine the question of whether or not 1t
should be equipped with fire escapes, the
contention of the department being that
fire escapes should be attached to all build
ings in which human beings are housed, or
wherein they congregate, where such build
ings are more than two ordinary stories In
height. In this connection attention Is re-
spectfully invited to the absence. Of fire
escapes on most of the public school build
ings, and also to the fact that 1t would be
simply impossible for women and children
to descend many of the escapes now In
school building of more than ordinary
height should not only, in the opinion of