Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-07


heretofore. approved estimates for an In
crease OF compensation Of the officers and
men of the department, and 1t Is earnestly
hoped Congress will grant the increase rec
commended
During the past year the Commissioners
directed that applicants for appointment In
the fire department should, as Is required
of applicants for appointment in the police
department, be required to attain per-
centage Of 70 In a mental examination. The
United States Civil Service Commission
kindly consenting to hold these mental ex-
amfnations. four were conducted. 90 appli-
cants being examined, Of whom 81. or about
81 per cent. were successful. The Commits
sioners are satisfied that the excellent re-
suits obtained through such examinations
In the police department will appear In the
fire department. especially as fighting fire
more and more every year requires men of
intelligence, well as strength.
The Commissioners approve the fire de-
partment's suggestion that larger Wa Ter
mains and more fire hydrants be supplied,
and they also approve the suggestion Of
high-pressure water system in the city OF
Washington for f1re-fighting purposes be-
lievlng, with the department. that such
system would mean greater economy in
the maintenance Of the f1re-fghting force
and greatly increased security against fire.
While the Commissioners were unable to
include in their estimates for the fiscal
year 1905 the fire departments recommend
alton of fire boat. they realize the neces-
The department invites attention to the
increasing duties Of the fire marshal, and.
remarking that 1t Is practically impossible
for that officer to give that attention to the
inspection of oils and premises in which 1t
Is stored or sold which should be given and
at the same time properly attend to his
many other no less important duties, rec
ommends that an inspector of oils be pro-
Vided. and that such officer - empowered
and directed to collect a fee for every in
Spectlon made by him. It is true as stated
by the department, that such an officer is
PROVIDED In many other places. and no
uouDt the imposition Of such fees here
would, as the department believes, not only
provide for the compensation Of the in
spector and his expenses but also add ma
terlaily to the revenues of the District
Attention is invited to the poor condition
OF several of the houses occupied by the
companies of the fire department. and while
the commissioners were unable to include
In their estimates for the next fiscal year
an item for replacing these houses by the
modern structures recommended by the de-
partment, yet they fully agree that such
improvements should be made.
1t Is gratifying to note that no member
OF the fire department died during the past
year and that not one was permanently in
jured. while the health of the men showed
quite an improvement. Three members Of
the department were placed during the
past year on the retired list. having been
found by the surgeons unfit for further
active duty. In this connection attention IS
called by the department to the fact that
but one officer of 1t. the chief engineer, Is
entitled to be retired. under the law, in the
discretion of the Commissioners. at
monthly allowance from the relief fund
exceeding $50. whereas In the police de-
partment there is no such rule. This is no
doubt an unintentional discrimination, and
the Commissioners agree that 1t should be
remedled. They also believe that provision
should be made for dependent mothers Of
deceased firemen.
Discipline Of Department.
The discipline of the department con-
tinued good. the Commissioners approving
the action of the department in discourag-
ing the filing Of charges against men &C.
cused Of trivial offenses, and also approved
it's action in rewardng men for performing
exceptional services by promotion or by
granting them extra time off. The Com
missioners deeply regret that 1t is not al
ways possible, because of the lack of legal
authority. to promote men for exceptional
bravery or services. The Commissioners
took pleasure in approving Chief buttons
recommendation that, beginning July l,
1903 the members Of the fire department
be granted one day off duty in every five.
and trust with him that that action is a
step toward the establishment of what Is
known as the "twelve-hour shift"
The department continued It's detail Of ex-
perienced men at the local places Of public
amusement during every performance with
excellent results several incipient fires in
the places being extinguished during the
past season by these men unknown to the
audiences The department also detailed
men for duty at Convention Hall and other
places occupied by the members Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic during its
convention here October, 1902, equipping
the places with fire-fghting appliances and
otherwise affording protection against fire.
Like protection was also given in a num-
Der of other instances.
Hotels, apartment houses places of public
amusement, schools and other buildings
were most carefully inspected during the
past year by the officers of the fire depart
ment, assisted by representatives of the
office Of the inspector of buildings and of the
electrical department, and compliance with
the laws and regulations providing for the
protection of life and property enforced.
1t Is the purpose of the Commissioners to
nave this inspection continued and, If pos
sible, have every section of the city and
District covered by regularly repeated visits
of inspection. The Commissioners also pro-
pose giving effect to the departments rec
concentration that the sale and use Of gaso-
line and other highly infiammable oils he an
regulated as to insure greater safety to
those using them
Department Of Insurance.
The law creating this department which
every insurance company, assessment asso-
citation, and fraternal beneficial association
to submit qualifying documents anew. each
and every one of which documents had to
be carefully examined or reviewed by the
superintendent himself, for the purpose of
ascertafnfng whether the companies SUBJ
mltting them Swere entitled to licenses or
not. This required great amount of work
and caused much delay in the issuance OF
preliminary and annual licenses for each
of the years 1902 and 1903
Licenses Issued.
For the calendar year ending December
81 1902. 21O licenses to companies and as
sessment associations We're issued. and to
principal agents, solicitors and brokers
2,457 were issued, the fees upon which az
gregated 10. which was S11, sO7. 80
more than was collected from the same
source the year before under the old law.
Two hundred and one company and as
sessment association licenses were renewed
for the license year ending April 30, 1904
the combined assets of which aggreea ted
81 1872 023. 1888; liabilities. 50 O4I 9S7, 81:
surplus, $3.50, O36, 413O1.
Forty-three companies and assessment
associations were licensed in 1902 to do
business for the first time in the District
and 80 companies and associations were re.