The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-09-03

I6a
q time make further investigations, as
to the origin or circumstances of any
ire occurring in this state, by the an.
pointment OF special assistants or the
employment of other means necessa.
ry in his discretion. The fire proven.
ton commissioner, his deputies and
assistants, shall have the power to
summon witnesses and to compel
them to attend before them, or either
OF them, and to testify under oath in
relation to any matter, which is by
the provisions of this act, a subject
OF inquiry and investigation, and may
require the production of any book,
paper, document or other matter what.
soever deemed pertient or necessa.
ry to such inquiry,
The fire prevention commissioner
and his deputies and assistants, shall
have power to administer oaths and
aft1rmations to any person appearing
as witness before them, and false
swearing in any matter aforesaid
. shall be deemed perjury, and shall be
, punishable as such. If, after examina-
ton OF witnesses or any investigation
the fire prevention commissioner, or
any of his deputies or assistants is of
the opinion that the facts in relation
to such fire indicate that crime has
been committed, he shall present the
, testimony taken on such examination.
together with any other data within
his possession to the attorney general
of the county or district wherein such
crime has been committed, and 1t
shall be the duty of the attorney gen.
, eral to call especially to the attention
of the grand jury such testimony, and
IN case the facts warrant an indict-
ment, no prosecution shall be requir-
ed. The fire prevention commission
er, his deputies or any of his assist
ants, may at al hours, enter any build
ing or premises within his jurisdic-
ton for the purpose of making an in
spection or investigation which un-
der the provisions of this act, he or
they may deem necessary, to be made
Every person summoned and testify
. ing before the fire prevention COM
missioner, his deputies or assistants,
shall receive from the funds for the
!. maintenance Of this department as
hereinafter provided for, on the GER
tificate of the fire prevention commits
sioner, for witness fees and mileage
such sum or sums, as provided for the
witnesses testifying in the circuit
, courts of the state, and officers serv-
ing subpoenas and rendering other
services to the fire prevention COM
missioner, shall be paid in like man
ner for like services in said colrts
Section 8. Be It further enacted,
|. That the fire prevention commission
er shall keep in his office, a record of
all fires occurring in this state and
| of all tile facts concerning same in
| Guiding statistics as to the extent of
} such fires and the damage caused
: thereby, and whether such losses
were covered by insurance, and, if so,
in what amount. Such records shall
: be made daily from the reports made
} to him by his assistants under the
provisions of this article All such
| records shall be public, except any
r testimony taken in an investigation
under the provisions of this act,
which the fire prevention commission
: er in his discretion, may withhold
: from the public.
Section TO- Be it further enacted,
That the fire prevention commission
er SHALL annually on, or before, the
fifteenth day of February transmit to
the governor full report Of his pro-
ceedings under this act and such sta
tistics as he may wish to include
therin, for the year previous. He shall
also recommend any amendments to
!. the law which in his judgment shall
be deemed advisable, provided, said
report of said state fire prevention
commissioner shall include full and
complete report of all collections
made and all expenditures and for
what purposes the same were made
and to whom paid.
) Section IL. Be it further enacted,
: That any witness who refuses to obey
t summons Of the fire prevention
commissioner, his deputies or assist
| ants, or who refuses to be sworn or
testify, or who disobeys and lawful
| order of the fire prevention commits
: sioner, his deputies or assistants, in
relation to any investigation institut-
ed by him or them. or who fails or
, refuses to produce any book, paper or
! document or other matter touching
. any matter under investigation or ex-