Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

broad enough powers TO require prop
crty owners 10 correct dangerous CON
ditions.
1T is recommended that law be
enacted creating ire-prevention com
mission with broad powers. The com
mission should consist OF the Mayor.
the ,Snperintendent OF Buildings or
tirc Department and one citizen APP
pointed BY the Mayor TO serve withou;
pay. The Chief of the Fire Department
commission. The commission should
have full power to make rules and reg
uiations, and to issue orders which
should have tho force and effect Of
law. and the commission should have
jurisdiction over buildings Of all kinds.
The need for the inspection and rcgu-
lation of conditions in dwellings is I'm
portant. because in most OF the cities
in the United States the largest num-
Der Of fires occur In dwelling houses.
Among the other recommendations in
the report on the Fire Department, tho
more important are:
That the administrative head be cur
rently advised of all activities Of the
department through a proper reporting
system.
Tina; tho chief be required to fur
nish the administrative heads with a
complete and detailed fire service re-
port within twcnty-four hours after
the fire.
That at such time as the city Is nnan-
cially able new quarters he provided
company two"
That the schedule OF furlough be
revised 30 ms to provide for each mem
That sufficient funds be provided az
promptly az possible for the erection
of fire station at the corner OF kens-
and that this company be furnished
with motor-driven combination chem
ical and hose wagon
That every effort be made 10 effect
n complete motorization of tho APP
paratus of the department as promptly
as possible
Tha, all fire roa alarm i,rh, y, boxes Mn ,s ss
during the night, 80 as 10 indicate the
location of the box.
That all fire alarm boxes located In
be removed and placed 1t points in
need of boxes.
That provision be made for having
two alarm operators on duty during
the night.
That the practice Of allowing alarm
operators discretion in a matter Of
disDatching apparatus In response TO
silent or still alarms be discontinued.
and that all alarms be treated In pre-
cisely the same manenr as box alarms.
That the running card be rcarrangcd
so as to provide for the automatic
Ealing in" of companies in the cent
Of two or more alarms.
Discontinue Ringing Bells.
That the use Of tho tower bells be
discontinued at once. as 1t only tends
TO draw = crowd TO ,ns T nrs,n WI
That there be reserved one trunk
limo at each Of the telephone exchanges
over which fire alarms may be dis-
patched.
from the frehouses.
That "tappcrs" be removed from the
fircmen's homes. since the scneduies
should be so arranged that fireman
on regular leave should not be called
out on every alarm. and the tapper'
only make much extra work Tor the
signal men.
service cause to be installed In con
ncction with the police switchboard al
headquarters exchanges from TRUNK
viii have one telephone number. All
calls being received a, the switch,
board and transmitted 10 inc person
for whom they are ihtcnueai ro
That an ordinance he adopted re-
ouiring The owners OF theaters TO pay
for the services OF hremen detaiieo "
the theatcrs during performances.
Police Bene, oicnt Association.
Az .xamination of many pension and
relief associations in this county,
which has been made by the bureau
of Municipal Research has shown thal
a neglect OF actuarial principles III .ns
establishment and operation OF These
systems is widespread. with the result
tina, costly reorganization Is 'reuuireu
has occurred. The twenty men VINO
compose the trustees OIL the Nichmonu
fund have not the information when
would be required by the board OF ~
rec:ors OF regular insurance company,
and yet they are actually conducllhs
AN insurance business. While the re-
ports of this fund show that ior eacn
Of the five years ending November :,
1916 the fund had received more thah
IL has disbursed for benefits and eX-
penses, no statement has been pre-
pared showing the prospective benefits
which the fund will ultimately DE called
upon TO pay and the prospective assets:
IT is recommended that the board or
trustees Of the fund have an actuarial
investigation made to determine whcth-
err the revenues are sufficient to meet
the anticipated benefits, whether they
are excessive or whether they arc in
sufficient, and that the board then de-
wise means to meet the situation on Il
sound financial basis with full knowl-
edge Of the prospective liabilities and
assets An outline OF the information
necessary to be obtained and the cal
culations to be made is contained In the
text of this report.
Firemen's Mutual Aid Association
The same situation relatively exists
and the same recommendations are
made In the case of tho Firemcn's Mu-
tual Aid Association as In the case of
the Police Benefit Association.
pnI,cE c0IIRT