Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-12-19
OFFICIAL WRECKER'
FINDS MUCH TO Do
Condemns Unsafe and DiIap-
idated Structures.
HAS MANY BUILDINGS RAzED
Monthly Bulletin of the State Fire
Marshal Shows That the Oc-
tober Fire Loss for Ohio
Was s532, 900.
D. A. DONOVAN,
Special Columbus Correspondent.


Columbus, Ohio.
-HE official wrecker" of the state
q fire marshaPs Office, a recent
acquisition, is finding much to
do. 1t is his duty to travel
throughout the state and locate and
condemn buildings which are dilapi-
dated and unsafe. The department
then orders them razed. Since the
creation of this position, some three
months ago, more than 20 unsafe
structures have been torn down. The
monthly bulletin of the state fire mar
shall shows that the October fire loss
for the state was s532 1000, which was
practically equalled by the loss occa-
stoned by the big Akron fire, which
probably the biggest fire of the year,
excepting the fire in the business dis
triet of Dayton during the flood last
spring.
Charges Excessive Rates.
In report which will be filed with
Gov. Cox by the legislative committee
which has been Investigating fire in
surance rates in Ohio, the insurance
companies are charged with mulcting
| the people of the state out of enor
nous sums annually through excessive
| and exorbitant rates. 1t is charged
! other states are recouped by the
higher rates imposed in this state
Gov. Cox, it is expected, will present
| the report to the special session ot
the legislature in January with the
| recommendation that immediate dras
tic remedial legislation be enacted
The committee which was named b!
the last legislature found during it
investigation that advisory insuranc,
rates for Ohio are fixed under tn,
Dean schedule" by bureaus at Cleve
land, Columbus and Cincinnati. Thi
has not resulted in an increase of rate
for highly protected properties, but
critics. Practically all companies en-
ploy the same agents to fix advisor.
rates, and nearly always charge tn
rates SO fixed, it is alleged. The ev
dence clearly indicated a combination
to fix and maintain rates to exist be
tween the agents in certain localities
particularly in Cleveland and Cincir
natl, according to the report
Want Question Settled.
Representatives of the law depar
ments of Cincinnati and Columbu
met with members of the attorne
generals force and the state civ
service commission Tuesday afternoo
to discuss the question of whether q
not the assistants in the city solicitor
Office are under civil service. If the
are held to be subject to this regul;
tion, then the new solicitors who tax
Office in January will be deprived {
the privilege of choosing their assis
ants. Those in Office, appointed b
their predecessors, will hold on. Tt
attorney generals department has M
reached any decision on the questio
and will not likely do SO for a wee
or more yet.
Do Not Understand Law.
State officials view with increasir
surprise the public misapprehensio
that exists regarding the new stat
wide civil service law Probably ha
: the inquiries that flow into the capit
indicate either very vague notion
what the law means or else a vel
distorted one of it's provisions. tt
misconception of the law is variegate
Some persons believe that there is g
iron-clad and absolute protection a
forded practically all appointive sta
officials and employees in the new la
Others believe that present employ,
are wholly protected in their presel
positions, while still others belieN
nobody in the public service will |
safe from competitors who may wal
their "jobs." None of these conce
tions of the new law is correct.
! the first place the operation of the la
does not afford to anybody the prote
tion from dismissal which is afforde
and will continue to be afforded |
the police and fire civil service. tt
new statewide civil service law mer
ly makes it little harder for who
departments to be shaken up poll
ically. But it does not secure any Ell
ploye his place. In other words, Il
appointing power may dismiss any Ell
ploye he desires to dismiss The r
! striction is that he must certify IL
cause of the dismissal in writing. b
, when the order of dismissal, with IL
, certifcation of the cause, is given, IL
one affected has no authority to whi(
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