The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-10
WANTS bUILDIv' '0DEhDOP7ED
CHIEF BElIIJ Of CHARLESTON
URGES - PREVENTION
ASURES.
rs Chief - ate Fire Association He
Sends Letters to Forty-Two
Tow N State Asking Them to
Ia : .cp so That They Can Share
nee Money.
New. and Courier.

New. and Courier.
Fire Chief Louis Behrens, president
of the State Firemen's Association.
VIII send letters to forty-two State or
ganizations this morning informing the
| respective chiefs Of the necessity of
having their cities and towns adopt
building and inspection code before
February IA, 1916, so that the depart
inent may share in the benefit of the 1
per cent tax on foreign insurance
gross premiums.
The law requiring the building code
was passed in 1914, and each organ
lied department in the State is requir-
ed to have building and inspection
code passed within two years from the
passage of the Act. The Charleston
City Council has already adopted such
q code.
The State Fireman's Association is
composed of forty-seven departments,
having total membership of more
than 5000 persons. Approximately
$4,000 is apportioned to these depart
ments annually, the proceeds of the
per cent tax.
Following is copy of Chief Beh-
ren's letter, which will be sent to the
forty-two chiefs this morning:
Charleston, S. c., Nov. 4, 1915.
Mr.. -----, Chief Fire Depart
ment.-Dear Sir. 1 have been advised
by insurance Commissioner McMaster
that some OF the cities and towns have
not complied with the Amended Fire
mans Fund Act. / would therefore
urge upon you how important it is
that you have your city, or town, pass
an ordinance before February IA,
1915, providing for the Building Code
and Inspection of Buildings. By the
terms of the Amended Act, in order
that your department may participate
'iin theSbencfit af stsae oae ger cents )
tax on foreign Insurance gross prem
1ums, written on fire within the limits
of such corporate cities or towns, al
low me to remind you that unless
your city or town adopts a Building
and Inspection Code to be approved by
insurance Commissioner McMaster,
for the proper erection and inspection
of all buildings in the said respective
cities or towns, so as to eliminate rs
far as possible the danger of fires aris-
ing from defective construction of the
presence and existence of inf1amable
material and conditions, your depart
ment will not be able to participate in
the benefits of the Firemen's Aid Act
thereafter. as the time expires Febru-
ary ii, 1916.
Let me urge upon you 10 take this
matter up at once with your mayor
and members of you" council and i'm
press upon them the urgent necessity
OF the adoption of proper Building
and inspection Code. Much good will
surely result therefrom in reducing
the fire losses and reduction in fire in
surance rates, thereby saving thous-
ands of dollars to our citizens by re-
duced rates of insurance.
Il desire also to draw to vour
especial attention the suggested Build
ing Code, a copy of which I under
stand, has been sent you sometime ago
by Insurance Inspector McMaster. 1t
is as simple code as can be adopted
with safety and 1 further believe ev-
cry town in the State could adopt Il.
or the main portion of it, and apply
1t. Furthermore, allow mo to remind
you that the insurance companies
have had absolutely nothing to 10 with
the enactment of the law recurring
this building code; that the same was
done by the members of the South
Carolina State Firemen's Association.
pressing for the enactment Of this
law, so as to decrease the fire losses
OF South Carolina, thereby giving our
citizens better fire insurance rates up-
on their property.
trusting your city council will see
he wisdom of taking steps to adopt
| building code for approval of Insur
ance Commissioner McMastcr, and
that YOU VIII give this matter YOUR
immediate attention. l wish also to
assure you, if you desire any further
information | will be glad to fully
answer any inquiries you may make.
"Fraternally yours,
Louis Behrens,"
PRESIDENT South Carolina State Fire
mems Association"