Evening journal., 1916-07-14


chief if anyone was injured In his
property by a fire.
Mrs. Jennie S. Dealcyne. of No 6n5
Shipley street. is another taxpayer
who has refused to pay the fee. After
viewing her property, Chief Golden
said he would return later.
According to one Market street mer-
chant who paid the fee, Chief Golden
said the stairway in the property was
a fire escape and therefore came
under the inspection law. This mer-
chant said he also questioned Chief
Golden in the presence of witnesses
as to what good the certificate would
be and according 20 the merchant.
Chief Golden explained that with it, he
the fire chief. would stand between
the holder and the court In all law
suits arising from damages due TO in
juries received by fire on the prem
ises. In speaking of the incident to-
day, this merchant said: our firm
decided to pay the fee, rather than
have any trouble"
Although Chief Golden stated that
the law allows him to collect a fee
Of 81 for such inspections. one mer-
chant who is a tenant in a property
near Sixth and Shipley streets. said
that the chief wanted TO charge him 50
for an inspection. This property had
no fre-escape and only one stairway
The tenant told the chief to see the
owner about collecting the fee
Collection of a fee for inspectine
1re-escapes is not entirely new in this
city, former fire chiefs having collect
ed such fees. William ]. Fisher. the
real estate agent. today said that
Patrick Magill, former chief. had col.
lected from him for two inspections
on two properties that were equipped
with fire-escapes.
On July S Chief Golden inspectef
the property of the Wilmington. BooI
! Bindery. No. 615 Shipley street. III,
upper floors of which are used by al
organization. Following the inspec
tion. he requested Miss Belle I
Stuart. bookkeeper at the plant Z,
pay him a dollar. saving, accord'nl
: to Miss Stuart that William S. Hilles
the attorney had sent him to max
! the inspection Chief Golden inforne,
- Miss Stuart in the presence OF wit
- nesses that the holding of the certif
/ icate which he issued on payment O
I the fee safeguarded the company 4
r the courts from any damage fror
fires.
When Chief Magill was spoken :
4 about the matter today. he said tha
3, he was merely doing his duty an
e that he had the opinion Of prominen
= attorneys that he had authority I
r make the inspections and collect tn
II fees The chief showed the certif
cate book which he uses This col
IL tanned a number of receipts mad
4 out. which he said had not as ye
i been paid for and we're yet to be d
n livered. Among these was one fc
< the NJ. Megary & Son Co., firnitur
a dealers. Sixth and Tatnall streets
= The stub was marked with lead pc
~ Gil. mo escapes while the certi
q cate signed by Chief Golden S,
forth that the fire escapes on II
building were satisfactory.
At one Market street store whic
: was inspected. the proprietors inforr
I ed Chief Golden that they had I
y fire escapes on the building and a
. cording to those present at the tim
, Chief Golden declared the insiC
stairway was a fire escape.
q Just what action Council will tai
e in the matter next Thursday night
c not known but It is expected tn
q taxpayers and merchants will ser
n letters to Council protesting again
e the collection Of the fee.