El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-02

Duties of Such an Office and
How Fires May Be y Pre-
vented by Precautions.
AGITATING SUCH
AN OFFICE HERE

The creation of the office Of fire
marshal for the city is being agitated
considerably in certain circles, business
needed in the city and, inasmuch as the
creation of such an office would save
the business men aeS@S $4,000 year on
insurance or 8 cents on every hundred
dollars valuation of property, they think
now is the time to create the office
The city of Galveston has had an
ordinance drawn TO create such an Of
flee and this ordinance, while IT has
not been adopted there, Is patterned af-
ter similar ordinances in other cities and
fully sets forth the duties of such an
official
Duties OF Marshal.
Among the provisions are the following:
See 2 The fire marshal shall investi-
gate the cause, origin and circum-
stances Of every fire occurring within
the city of FL Paso by which proper
" has been destroyed or damaged, and
shall especially make investigation as
to whether such fire was the result of
carelessness or design. Such investiga-
ton shall be begun within "a hours.
not including Sunday of the occur
renee of such fire. The fire marshal
shall keep in his office a record Of all
fires occurring within the city, together
with all facts. statistics and circum-
stances, including the origin of the
fires and the amount of the loss which
may be determined by the investigation
required by this ordinance Such record
shall at all times be open to public
inspection
Sec. 3. The fire marshal. when in his
opinion further Investigation is neces-
sary, shall take or cause to be taken
the testimony on oath. of all persons
supposed to be cogniZant of any facts
or to have means of knowledge in rela-
ton to the matter as TO which an ex-
animation is herein required to be
made and shall cause the same to be
reduced to writing; and If he shall be
Of the opinion that there is evidence
sufficient TO charge any person with
the crime of arson, or with the attempt
to commit the crime of arson or of con-
spiracy to defraud or criminal conduct
in connection with such fire. he shall
cause such person TO be arrested and
charged with such offense or either Of
them. and shall furnish to the proper
prosecuting attorney all such evidence.
together with the names of witnesses
and all of the information obtained by
him including a copy of all pertinent
and material testimony taken in the
case.
Some of Powers.
Sec 4. The fire marshal shall have the
power to summon and compel the at
tendance of witnesses before him to
testify in relation TO any matter which
is by the provisions of this ordinance
a subject of inquiry and investigation
and may require the production of any
book paper or document deemed perth
nent thereto. The said fire marshal Is
hereby authorized and empowered to
administer oatlls and affirmations to
any persons appearing as witnesses be-
fore him. and false swearing in any
matter or proceeding aforesaid shall
be perjury and shall be punished as
such ANY witness who refuses to be
sworn. or who refuses to testify, or
who disobeys any lawful order of said
fire marshal. or who fails or refuses to
produce any book, paper or document
touching any matter under examination.
or who is guilty Of any contemptuous
conduct after being summoned to give
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