Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-08
No. 70, AL Published June 49, 1907.
CHAPTER 228. LAWS OF 1907.

1880, 1946p and 1946q. statutes of
1898 establishing the office of state fire
marshal.
The people of the State of Wisconsin, rep
resented in Senate and Assembly, do
enact as follows:
Section ]. There are added to the stat
gtes of 1898 eleven new sections, to read
authorized and empowered to appoint
within thirty days after this act shall
take effect, and every six years there
after, between the fifteenth day of Janu-
airy and the first day of February, by
and with the advice and consent Of the
senate and also within thirty days after
the occurrence Of vacancy In the office,
suitable person who shall be citizen
of this state, as state fire marshal, who
shall hold the Office until his successor
is appointed and qualified the title Of
which office shall be state fire marshal.
Such officer shall keep his Office In the
capitol, in the city OF Madison, aud may
be removed for cause at any time by the
governor.
Section 1946h The state fire marshal is
hereby empowered and required to appoint
one chief assistant fire marshal, and two
deputy fire marsLals to be designated as
first and second deputies, and the first
deputy fire marshal shall be an attorney
at law. The duties of said chief assistant
and deputies shall be to assist the state
fire marshal. In the event of vacancy
in the office of state fire marshal, or dur
ing the absence or disability of that Off
Ger, the chief assistant marshal shall per-
form the duties of the Office.
Section 1946i. 1. The state fire marshal
and the chief of the fire department Of
every city or village in which a fire de-
partment is established, and the mayor Of
every incorporated city, and the president
of the village board of every Incorporated
village in which no fire department ex-
lists. and the town clerk Of every organ
lied township without the limits Of any
organized city or village shall investigate
70 ba
origin and circumstances of every fire oc-
curing in such city, village or town by
which property has been destroyed or dam
aged when the damage exceeds twenty-five
dollars. except that all fires of unknown
origin shall be reported and shall espe-
cially make investigation as to whether
such fire was the result of carelessness,
2. Such Investigation shall be begun
within two days of the occurrence Of such
fire, and the state fire marshal shall have
the right TO supervise and direct such In
vestigation whenever he deems 1t expedi-
8. The officer making investigation Of
fires occurring in cities, villages and
towns shall forthwith notify said state
fire marshal and shall within one, week
the said state fire marshal written state
ment of all the facts relating to the cause
and origin of the fire, and such further
information as may be called for by the
shall. The state fire marshal shall keep In
his Office a record Of all fires occurring In
the state, together with all facts, stats
tics and circumstances including the ori-
by the Investigations provided by this act;
such statistics shall be at all times open
to the public inspection.
Section 1946j. The state fire marshal
shall, when in his opinion further inves-
tigatlon is necessary, take or cause to be
taken the testimony on oath Of all per-
sons supposed to be cogniZant Of any facts
or to have any means of knowledge In
relation to the matter as to which an
examination is herein required to be made,
and shall cause the same to be reduced
opinion that there is evidence sufficient to
charge any person with the crime of
arson, he shall cause such person to be
arrested and charged with such offense, and
shall furnish to the proper prosecuting fg
the copy of all names Of witnesses and all
the information obtained by him, includ-
ing a copy Of all pertinent and material
testimony taken in the case; and shall
keep a record Of the proceedings and the
progress made in all such prosecutions
for arson and the result of all cases dnally
disposed Of
Section 1946k /. The state fire marshal,
chief assistant marshal and deputy state ate
power in any county of the state Of Wis
consin, to summon and compel the at
tendance OF witnesses before them or
either Of them, to testify in relation to
any matter which is by the provisions Of
this act, q subject of inquiry and investi-
cation, and may require the production
Of any book, paper OF, document deemed
them. Such witness shall be subpoenaed
In the same manner as witnesses In cir
cult court. They shall receive tns same
compensation, which shall be paid out OF
the fire marshal fund, upon vouchers
signed by the state fire marshal, chief
assistant fire marshal, or deputy fire mar
shall, before whom any. witnesses, shall
have attended, and such officer shall at
the close Of the Investigation wherein such
witness was subpoenaed certify to the
attendance and mileage of such witness,
which certificate shall be filed In the office
Of the state fire marshal. All investiga..
lions held by or under the direction Of
said state fire marshal, or his subordi-
Mates may, in his discretion, be private,
and persons other than those required to
be present by the provisions Of this act,
such Investigation is held, and witnesses
may be kept separate and apart from each
other, and not allowed to communicate
with each other until they have been ex-
Rmined.
2. Said state fire marshal, chief assist
ant fire marshal, and deputy state hre
marshals are each hereby authorized and
empowered to administer Oaths and al
hrmations to any person appearing as
witnesses before them; and false swear
ing in any matter or proceeding afore-
said shall be deemed perjury and shall be
punished as such.
8. Any witness who refuses to be sworn,
or who refuses to testify, or who dis
obeys any lawful order OF said state hre
marshal, chief assistant tire marshal, or
deputy state fire marshals, In relation to
said Investigation, or who falls or refuses
to produce any book, paper or document
touching any matter under examination or
who is guilty Of any contemptuous conduct,
Lefn m haf0ro
them, or either Of them, to give testimony
In relation to any matter or subject under
examination or investigation as aforesaid,
Are marshal, chief assistant fire marshal
or deputy state fire marshals az for con-
tempt by g. fine In sum not exceeding
one hundred dollars or be committed 10
person may be willing to comply with any
reasonable order made by the said state
fire marshal, chief assistant fire marshal,
or deputy state, fire marshals as provioed
in this act, and subject to the provisions
of section 3577 OF the statutes Of 1898.
4. Said state fire marshal and bis sub
ordinates, or either of them, snail nave
the authority at all reasonable hours In
performance of the duties imposed by the
provisions Of this act, to enter upon and
examine any building or premises where
any fire has occurred, and other buildings
or premises adjoining or near the same.
Section 1946l. 1. The state fire marshal,
his chief assistant and deputies, upon com
plant Of any person, or without any com
plaint previously entered shall have
right at all reasonable hours, for the pur-
pose of examination, to enter into and upon
all buildings and premises within their
jurisdiction
2. Whenever any of said officers shall
find any building or other structure, which
for want Of repair: or by reason OF, . age
or dilapidated condition, or for any other
cause is especially liable to fire, and which
is SO situated as to endanger other build
ings and property and whenever any such
officers shall find in any building, or upon
snv nremises. any combustible or explosive
material. or in1ammable conditions, dan
gerous to the safety of said buildings or
PREMISES they shall have power to make
req sonable orders for the repair or removal