The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-29
EXAMINE ENGINEERS
MOVEMENT ON TO PASS ON eTA-
 TIoNARy ENGINEERS.
Reselution by Aidermnn Jsnses s. Fer' rfsh Has Attracted Niide Notice --stafionsry Engineer
 Supports It.

A resolution introduced at recent meeting of the City Council by Aider- man James S. Parrish, of Ward l, mas been the subject of much discussion among the stationary engineers or the city. The ordinance introduced pro- vides for commission Of three com petent commissioners who are them selves experts in stationary engines. who shall examine and pass upon the capability of all operators of stationary engines and boilers within the city limits.
 The commission is not to be sala- ried one. Nor is the license to be iss sued by the Chief Clerk, as provided TOT | in the ordinance, to be more than nominal fee of a dollar or so.
 The ordinance does not in the least affect automobiles or traction engines of any description. If Is simply reg ulation of the employment of persons having the responsibility of the safe running of boilers and stationary en- | zines.
 In an interview prominent sta tionary engineer yesterdsy said: l There Is now pending before the City Council a measure of public sate- | ty that Is of most vital importance 70 l every citizen of Montgomery. This IS an ordinance introduced In the Coun- cil sometime ago, and which has been referred to the Judiciary Committee The purpose of this ordinance IS 70 regulate the employment of persons having in charge of or responsibility l for the safe running of boilers and I stationary engines within the city liin- it's. The measure In no way limits or l affects the compensation of such per- sons It does. however, require them to have such qualifications and to be or such sober habits as will minimize ths danger to life and property due to pos sible boiler explosions.
 1 .The city. or the State, requires that I physicians should be qualified before being allowed to practice. It requires pharmacists to be properly qualified before they are allowed to compound | prescriptions containtng drugs and pol sons. It requires plumbers to proper Iy understand their trade before being allowed to make plumbing connections that, by possible escape of noxious I gases, might jeopardize health and | life. But at present 1t permits hlgh pressure boilers that may. by possible explosion, endanger hundreds of lives to be run within the very heart of the | city by any person, be they qualified for the work or not.
 Statistics show that over 20 per cent.
 pf the explosions of boilers in ofhee
 buildings, hotels and factories. many of which caused considerable loss of
 life. were dste to such boilers being handled by ignorant, unqualified labor- CTS. If the persons employing such unqualified labor, were risking only their own lives and property. if would not be so open to criticism or re-
 straint but boiler under pressure Is,
 if not properly handled. menace to lives and property over a large area.
 The proposed ordinance in no way
 affects the smaller industries. tbat
 fortunately are on the increase in our
 city. It does. however. provide that
 in case unslxiiled labor Is employed
 around boilers in such plants. there
 should be- some one person in cons
 nection with the plant. be 1t owner l or employe. who knows how to man
 age the boiler. who is responsible for
 its safety, and who has been licensed
 to assume the responsibility. II Furthermore the proposed measure
 does not apply to steam heating plants
 using low pressure boilers, nor does 1t
 apply to fremen of stationary boilers. Il It's sole aim and purpose 1t to protect Il human life and property. by requiring
 that some one. properly qualified per
 son shall be responsible for the safe
 running of any stationary boiler of
 over a certain pressure.
 The reputable stationary engineers
 of the city favor the measure. They I recognize It's importance ana nSeuf II
 the measure becomes a law each of
 these engineers will have to stand ex- 1 animation as to their qualifications.
 and will have to pay for necessary 1 license the same as all others 1t will l affect
 | Montgomery Is growing. While it l may have been excused for not pro-
 tecting It's people against boiler ex-
 plosions when it was small city and
 there were few boilers within ts lim- it's, now that 1t Is growing In inpor- l tance and the threatened danger rom l boiler explosion Is necessarily increas. | ing, it should certaBfly throw around such danger eenters the same restric- | tions that other progressive up-to- | date cities hfA.e found necessary ] Nearly If not quite all, cities of tm- portance now have such laws Mobile 1 has a similar orinance in force, ana l knows its benefits; Atlanta also. Shau | Montgomery. as A city, fall in tnis
 most vital question affecting its very | life and property?
 It is thought the matter Is not prop- | erly understood by those who through l selfish motives, are opposing this pro zressive step. It is thought the pupllc
 should be informed on the subject.
 The fear of higher wages having 10
 he maid to licensed engineers IS l groundless. This may apply to a limited extent, but I think that the | lives of many citizens should receive l more consideration.