The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-15
WILL TAKE UP
FIRE DRILLS
BEFORE VACATION PASSES.
CITY HAS NOT DROPPED MATTER,
BY ANY MEANS.

Alderman oliver, Chairman of Fire
Committee of Council, Says Chief
Mcguire of Fire Department., Has
Convinced Him There should he
an Ordinance Requiring Fire
Drills in SchoOIs-Matter Has Been
Allowed to Rest. Because 1t Does
Not Matter During Vacation.
The proposed ordinance, requiring
fire drills in the schools here, has not
been abandoned, as might be suppos-
ed from the fact that nothing has
been said about it for some time.
1t is simply being allowed to rest
during the summer vacation, because
it does not matter during vacation
days. whether such an ordinance is in
force or not. Such is the statement
of Alderman F. NJ. oliver, chairman
Of the Fire Committee of Council,
which took the matter up recently.
The matter will be presented to the
Committee of the Whole of Council
before another session of the schools is
started. Mr. Oliver says, and it will
remain entirely with Council as to
whether such an ordinance is placed
on the city books or not. For his part
he believes the fire drills should be
made compulsory and he will advocate
this before the Committee of the
Whole. AS to whether or not an or
dinance is drawn and passed will de-
pend entirely on that body, he says.
Ordinance Badly Needed.
1.-THE superintendent of the fire de-
partment has submitted facts and fig
ures to us, which show unquestionably
that all progressive cities are adopting
fire drill regulations" said Alderman
Oliver, in speaking of the matter.
There is no doubt in my mind that
we ought to have such regulations here.
The matter will depend entirely upon
the Committee of the Whole. however.
The Fire Committee has done nothing
about it, because the schools are out
now and it does not matter.
But before the schools open again,
we will bring the matter to the atten-
ton of the Committee of the Whole,
and il will depend upon the aldermen,
whether we have fire drill ordinance
or not. For my part, l believe there
should be such regulation. Whether
or not Savannah will adopt one. how
ever remains with the entire Board of
Aldermen"
Mcguire Convinced Chairman.
Fire Chief Mcguire, who has labored
for years advocating such an ordi-
nance, has thoroughly convinced the
chairman of his committee that reg
ulation of the kind is absolutely neces-
sary for the proper protection of the
school children of the city.
The general sentiment among the al
dermen, since Fire Chief Mcguire has
become so insistent upon the matter, is
in favor of the fire drills. When the
matter was last brought prominently
before the attention of the public, there
was considerable criticism from promi-
nent members of the Board of Educa-
ton. This criticism, however, has not
dampened the ardOr of the fire fighter
at all.
Fire Chief Determined.
1--WE must expect criticism every
time anything is proposed for the good
of the city" he said.
There is no reason why the children
of Savannah should be exposed to the
constant peril of fire and panic be-
cause of old fogy criticism.
Il have fought for some time to get
such an ordinance passed, and 1 in
tend to keep at it until 1 get it
through. l have recommended it re-
peatedly in my annual reports, and, if
necessary, l will recommend it again"