The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-07
TO AVERT
SCHOOL HORROR
HERE PROMISED
Education and Fire Boards Will
Confer with View to Pre-
venting Disaster.
FIREMEN MAY BE PUT
ON DUTY IN BUILDINGS
Thousands of Lives JeOpardized
Where the Conditions
Are Faulty.

That at least eight public schools in
this city are not properly protected
from fire, and a repetition of the public
school holocaust in Collinwood. near
Cleveland, O., is proven by a further
careful and conservative investigation
by EVENING STAR reporters.
Newark public school teachers realis-
ing the danger to their charges have
| freely discussed the immediate neces-
| sity of rigorous action to effect an inn
mediate remedy of existing conditions,
The necessity of having bremen in
the school buildings of the city was
recognized at last nights meeting of
the Common Council.
Fire Commissioner It. E. Burke said
today that he was heartily in favor of
posting the firemen, as suggested at
last nights Commoun Council meeting,
II taxpayers were willing to stand the
expense.
II believe. We should do all we can to
protect the children and render their
parents minds easy on their account, !"
he said. IF it were thought necessary
I would advocate placing two men in
each school building. OF course, I am
speaking only for myself, but I can
almost guarantee that the other COM
missioners will agree with me.
What Plan Would Cost.
Roughly estimating the cost of prop
erly carrying out. such a project, it
would seem that it would reach at
least 800, 900 the first year. added
Commissioner Burke, with graded in
~creases the Following three years. Sixty
mon would not suffice when you take
into consideration the shifting of de-
tails. days off, meal tricks n other
features. Then the necessity of ac-
curing sleeping quarters, beds, bedding
and other equipment, for the added
force could not be overlooked.
"No doubt the aldermen, who viii be
called upon for funds, will feel like
going further and provide protection
for the children of parochial. Hebrew
and the various private schools. 1t is
an expensive proposition at first glance
hat with the aldermen supplying the
money and the taxpayers willingly pro
NiulllS IT, LiCtG Cdn OV iOllllilG lOA 9
fire commission to do but carry out tht
plan. However, the commissioners viii
await further advice from Common
Council, when, with a better under
standing of the situation. a clearer
statement can be made"
Mr.. Burke also said that while tn
resolution adopted by the Common
Council last night provided only TO
the protection of public schools the Ar
commissioners might think it advisable
/ to go further and place the sam
, guards ove the parochial and Hebrey
schools. where the children are, il
some cases. even younger than thos
: received in the kindergarten depart
ments of. the city. schools. This woul'
add from twelve to fifteen men to tn
number necessary for the detail work.
; Alderman Eugene c. Meyer, Mint
/, Ward Republican minority leader, in
troduced a resolution to have a fire
man in each of the sixty schools i
the city, at the meeting of the Commo
Council last night.
This resolution, which was adopted
was in the form of a recommendation
Ito the Board of Education to confe
withAthe Fire Board with a view {
having firemen detailed for the worl
. Alderman Meyer. who offered the reese
luton. amended it to read police {
), nremen. but Alderman John r.. Sir
v mott, Democratic floor leader, declare
y that children were often afraid of
$ policeman. and the original resolutic
o was carried.
s Alderman Holzner declared that /
was greatly in favor of the schem
but did not see how sixty frenen coul