Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-12-18
FOR FIRE PROTECTION.
State Ins. Com. Havey Makes vaIu-
able SUGGESTIONS.

able Suggestions.
The matter OF inspection of premises by
fire departments and proposed city ordi-
nances is taken up by State Insurance
Commissioner Andrew P. Hayey in the
October bulletin OF his department. In
regard to these matters the commissioner
says:
No country In the world can point with
more satisfaction to its departments than
the United States. They are undoubtedly as
well equipped, equally as efficient, as ready to
perform their duties, as any in the world.
We people in Maine in this particular are
fortunate too. The FIRE chiefs are wide-a =ake
officials their efficiency is unquestioned,
time and again their ability to cope with try
ing and difficult situations has been demon
stfated. In turn the people OF Maine have
manifested willingness at all times to pro-
vide such machinery as may make our de-
partments more efficient and better able to
combat the fire when once started. Our
people with great expense have exerted them
selves to provide the best.
Now doesn'tit seem strange tn mt people
will go to the very limit in providing expen-
sive FIRE departments to safeguard their in
greater expense to themselves, sit idly by,
apparently unconcerned with the conse-
quences, And refuse or neglect to provide
regulations to prevent FIRE. II the people Of
Maine did not have the power in their own
hands to provide for this distressing situa-
ton we will venture the assertion they
would, without any hesitancy, demand it
through their representatives in the legisla-
I n
on this one point? We are alive to the re-
quirements and needs OF other trying condi-
tions. When in the judgment of those
qualified TO Judge, 1t became necessary to
provide for medical inspection in the schools
the people responded. When the adoption of
| other reforms seemed advisable, they re-
sponded. Now why, to use the vernacular.
don't they wake up'' to the needs of pre-
venting fire, thereby relieving themselves
from an annual tax OF 90 for each member of
the family.
should collector appear once every year
and demand of every man in the State of
Maine 80 for each member Of his family to
take care of our annual loss by fire in Maine,
would he look at the situation with COM
placency and resignation We will simply
| suggest that he would no.; for taxes, al
though necessary, are not ioOkeu On ny bue
average man with any great amount Of favor
and satisfaction. This is precisely what he is
| doing now. They have the power to combat
this evil. They have the power through ordi-
naDces to regulate conditions concerning
their health, life and property. They have
the power to regulate and control construc-
ton and maintenance of buildings1so as to
minimize the danger from fire. will you
people OF Maine exercise that power?
There is a growing demandlfor.the inspection
of premises by FIRE departments all. over the
I country. The proposition has been faithfully
tried in several OF the middle western states
and their experience is so satisfactory that
| fire prevention associations of many states
| have already approved the idea. AS the result
of considerable thought being given to the
/ subject by the National Board of Fire Under
/ writer's and the National Fire Protection as.
| ISOLATION, an ordinance has been adopted and
recommended by them.
The insurance department of Maine has
stated in several previous bulletins that we
believe the adoption of an ordinance along
the above mentioned lines is not only ad
visable but necessary if Maine is to take it,
| place with other states in doing something t.
diminish our tremendous annual economic
! loss by fire.