The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-08
Representatives of the South eastern Tariff Association
 Are in the CiJ
ANOTHER MEETING ID BE
 HELD THIS AFTERNOON
1t Looks As if a Settlement of the Rate Question Would Result if the City Complies With
 Demands.

A conference was held yesterday after noon in the Board of Trade rooms be- tween the special committee of three from the Southeastern Iarlff association and the Board of Trade regarding the neces- sary Improvements in fire fighting equip ment before the city can be restored to first class rating
 The matter was discussed for an hour or more, and the conference adjourned to meet again this afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. The committee of the tariff association consists of B. II. Abrams, Guy Carpenter and F. O. Hawkins. c. c. Fleming, secre- tary, and T. F McFadden, assistant sec retary, accompanied the committee to render any assistance possible. The City Council committee on fire and water was asked to be present at the conference this afternoon.
 The result of the conference yesterday afternoon is that the committee of the Tariff association will submit it's proposi- ton and agreement in writing at the meeting today at which time the situa- ton will be carefully gone over and some agreement will be reached if possible. The committee will report back to the Tariff association and the Board of Trade will endeavor to get the City Council to grant the requests of the Tariff asso- ciation.
 In brief the tariff committee wants the Board of Trade to find out what Is wrong in the fire department, so that the matter may be remedled It asks a careful inves-
 
 ed through lack of equipment, lack of sufficient drilling on the part of the fire men, politics in the department or in- efficiency due to any other cause. The committee does not state that any Of these things exist, but they want the board to discover what inefficiency does exist and to remedy it.
 The committee, speaking for the asso- ciation, said that it was imperative that new building laws be passed by the city and that they be enforced. A telegram was sent to Atlanta and one to Savannah last night asking that copies of the build- ing laws of both these cities be mailed to Birmingham at once in order that they might be used in the conference this af- ternoon The best of these laws, and those which will be of most benefit to Birming- ham, will be embodied in the report that this conference will make, the committee reporting to the association, and the Board of Trade to tho city.
 Laws Beneficial.
 The committee of the tariff association showed that the passage of these laws was as beneficial to the city as to the insurance companies, as it would insure protection to a large extent to adjoining property. The passage of these building laws, it was stated. would also insure against so many fires and such rapid spread of a fire when once started.
 The insurance committee will insist on the Improvements contained In the nine teen specifications in the letter of Deceni- Der 2, 1904 addressed to Mayor Drennen, which promised first-elass rating to the business section of the city The nineteen specifications are as follows: Frst-Class Basis. l. To adopt a satisfactory ordinance regulating the safe construction of all classes of buildings, and covering all fea- lures of construction and equipment which shall be both adequate Tor the present and future needs of the city, and to rightly enforce such ordinances after adoption.
 ?. That the proper authorities shall ap- point and maintain a competent building inspector whose duties shall consist sole ly of enforcing all ordinances or laws regulating the construction of all build ings.
 g. That each fire hydrant within the city limits shall be inspected and flushed at least once each and every month, by competent mechanic, who shall be em powered and required to secure immedi- ate repairs to. any and every fire hydrant within the city limits that may need such repairs. The inspector to render monthly reports of conditions of hydrants to the ] chief of the fire department. City Electrician. f. The appointment and maintenance