The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-18
SAFETY BOARD
CANNOT FORCE
PAYMENTDEBTS
CITY ATTORNEY GIVES OPINION
THAT FAILURE OF POLICEMEN
OR FIREMEN TO PAY BILLS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE GROUND
FOR CHARGES.

According to the opinion Of the city
attorney read at the meeting OF the
board Of public safety last night, the
board of safety has not the right to
force members of the police and fire
departments to pay debts contracted
while in the employ of the city. The
opinion was given in response to the
request of the board at the last regular
meeting, when the matter was brought
up for discussion. The opinion stated
that in case it was plainly shown that
member of either of these depart
ments had deliberately planned to de-
fraud a person, thereby proving him
unfit for the service on account Of
lacking honesty and integrity, the
board might take action, but that the
board had no legal right to act in the
capacity Of a collecting agency. For
number Of years, the board of safety
has been requiring the payment of
debts by members of the police and
fire departments and has made the
failure to pay them grounds for filing
charges against them, but this opinion
will, very probably, Put an end to the
custom.
Another Opinion.
In reference to the matter of re-
quiring the moving picture shows and
theatres to make certain changes in
the buildings occupied by them for the
public safety. which was also referred
vised that the matter came under the
Jurisdiction of the building inspector
and the board of public works and
that all the board of safety could do
in the matter would be to make recon-
mendations to the hoard of public
works.
Fireman Discharged.
Charges were filed against Fireman
Geo. Jones, it being claimed that he
has left the city for parts unknown
without getting leave of absence from
either the chief of the fire department
or the board Of public safety and, on
motion of Joseph L Johnson, he was
dismissed from the service, the vote
being unanimous.
Storing Dynamite.
The committee appointed to provide
rules governing the storing of dyna-
mite in the city reported that they
recommended the adoption of the plan
used in birmingham, Ala, which Is
that no dynamite shall be stored within
the city limits under any conditions or
circumstances and that any contra ctOr
wishing to use any dynamite must haul
same from the depository outside of
the city limits and must use the same
on the same day 1t is brought into the
city, or else take 1t back to the deposit
tory before night. The recommenda-
ton of the committee was adopted.
The committee was composed of Joseph
I. Johnson, Chief of Police Frank D.
Sanders and Chief of the Fire Depart
ment w. r. Bicker.
To Inspect Uniforms.
1t was announced that the new
uniforms for the policemen and fire
men had arrived and the board as a
whole will inspect them on Thursday
at p. m. The uniforms will be in
spected as to the quality of the goods
and as to fit. The police uniforms will
be inspected at the police station and
the firemen's will be inspected at the
Garden street truck house.
Officers Exempted.
On motion of Joseph I. Johnson, sec
onded by P. J. Williams. it was decided
that, in view of their long service.
being the two oldest men in point of
service on the police force, Officers Co
burger and Barter should be exempted
from standing the examination which
the other members of the department