New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-05
FIRE LOSS MULTIPLIED
BY ARSON AND FILMS
Unbrid|ed Display of Pictures
Daily Endangers 100000
People, Says Ahearn.
CRIME BUREAU IS URGED
Detectives to Catch Incendl-
aries and Direct Lighting for
Moral Safety Recommend
ed by the State Marshal.

Albany. Feb 4-"Fires Of incendiary
origin are increasing i'm number through
out the state The 100000 people
throughout the country who daily attend
moving picture exhibitions are exposed
to danger from fires and unbridled dis
plays" SO declares Thomas J. Ahearn.
State Fire Marshal in his. annual re-
port recommending legislation to rem
edy these conditions.
The Fire Marshal suggests that the
establishment of an arson bureau COM
posed of competent men in the nature Of
secret service detectives. qualified in the
work of discovery of crime" would go
far toward decreasing the number Of in
cendiary fires. although he recommends
more rigid and systematic inspection of
property and contents by insurance com
panics and the licensing Of fire adjust
ers by the Insurance Department after
close and searching scrutiny into their
character lie claims that "overinsur-
ance and dishonest adjusters" are pro-
life causes Of arson.
For the further protection of the
crowds attending moving picture the
aires Fire Marshal Ahearn would pre-
scribe a set Of rules 10 govern the cree
ton of such theatres. and would de
mand that the proprietor should be com
PEELED 10 take out n license for the place.
not its manager so that the laws could
not be eyaded by mere transfer from
name to name
Lighting for Moral Safety"
There should be direct lighting for
moral safety he continues, and he also
recommends ordinances to govern the
storage and handling Of films. 1T has
been shown that moving pictures have
frequently been the occasion of pyro-
mania" the Fire Marshal declares.
citing a number of instances where
"pyromaniacs were started on their ca
reer by moving pictures" To remedy
this and other conditions he favors q
censorship OF films.
Fire Marshal Ahearn states that the
large fire waste in this state. which last
year, outside Of greater New York. was
| responsible for loss OF $l2,S50.9b4. is
due TO poor construction. carelessness,
lack of public education in fire proven
ton and attention TO fire fighting rather
than 10 it's prevention. He points out
| that so per cent Of all fires are the re-
suit of "careleSSneSS, negligence or ig-
norance,' and urges the organization OF
! fire prevention and protection clubs in
every community composed of repre-
sentatiVes of all classes, at the month
| " meetings Of which the subject could
| be discussed by competent men
No Living Quarters Above Garages.
Fire Marshal Ahearn pays tribute to
the yalor and self-sacrifice Of volunteer
fremen, but favors the organization Of
paid fire departments wherever possible.
He advises stringent regulations Of gar
ages and methods of supplying gasolene
IN cars. and urges that there be no
living quarters or any business above
garage.
The Fire Marshal suggests amendments
20 the present law imposing fine Oh
Assistants not performing their duty and
reporting within a specified time; making
more stringent the requirements for fire
drills and inspection requiring fire chiefs
to make semi-annual reports TO the de-
| partment showing the condition of the
water supply and service. fire fighting APP
| paratus and fire hazards in their locali-
ties: giving the state Fire Marshal power
| in proper cases to permit smoking in GER
| tain factories: compelling insurance com
panies to cancel policies on buildings
where the orders Of the Fire Marshal 10
| correct violations of law are not complied
with; giving the Fire Marshal power to
search ruins after a fire and making the
cost a lien on the property whenever there
| is reason to believe that "A human life
was sacrificed and requiring incorporated
villages in the state to provide for an
adequate fire department and for a special
building code