The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-30
AN ACT.
To Provide Inquiry Into Origin OF
Fires.

Section !. Inspector of Buildings ~
Inquire Into All Fires-Duty OF Inst
rance CommlssiOner-P0wers OF In
spector-InspectOr TX OfficiO.-Be It
enacted by the General Assembly OF
the State of South Carolina, That the
Inspector of Buildings OF every III
corporated city or town in this State
shall hold an inquiry into the orlgla
Of every FIRE occurring within the
limits of said city or town, and the
Insurance Commissioner, either per-
sonally or by a deputy, when in the
opinion of the Insurance Commission
er, it is desirable, shall make inquiry
into the origin of fires occurring out
side the limits of incorporated cities
and towns to which his attention may
be called. The said Inspector or
Buildings shall have power to seno
for persons and papers, subpoena
witnesses and to compel attendance
as are possessed by Magistrate OF
the State. The Mayor, Chief Of Fire
Department or other municipal ON
Ger. may be ex ofieio Inspector OF
Buildings aAS
2. Report to the Insurance Com
| missioner-Thata after making a COM
plete inquiry upon such fire, the SAID
! Inspector of Buildings shall make re-
port in writing to the Insurance Com
missioner of the State upon blanks
to be furnished by the Insurance
| Commissioner, showing how, IN his
| opinion, the said fire originated.
8, T ee for Inquiry-From Hhon'
| Derived ed-ProTiso.-That the lnspec-
tor Of Buildings shall be entitled 10
q fee Of three ($3.OO} dollars for max
ing said inquiry, the said fee to be
taxed against the person owning the
property burned, if fire was caused
by faulty construction or negligence
| Of owner, but in case the inspector
shall conclude that the fire was due
to lack of proper care On the part OF
the occupant Of the house In "hlcn
! the fire occurred, the fee shall be PAID
bv the occupant, except that upon
affidavit made that the occupant Is III
INDECENT circumstances, and Is unable
TO nav the fee, it shall be paid by the
municipality within whose limits the
fire occurred, or if 1t be without the
limits of the municipality. the fee
shall be paid by the Insurance COM
| missioner, out Of funds available for
this purpose: Provided, That When
the fire originated from accidental
| causes. the fee shall be paid by the
! Insurance Commissioner out OF funds
available for this purpose.
4. Procedure and Penalty IN cases
of Criminal Carelessness-If the ON
Ger shall consider that the ire DC
due to criminal carelessness, the per-
| son responsible for the same shall Do
indicted before q Magistrate for
misdemeanor, and upon conviction OF
| the same. may be fined in sum not
exceeding fifty ($50.00) dollars or
imDrisonment for not more than ten
days.
s. Proeed &c aere Municipality
Fails TO AppS,a. Inspector-That N
case the governing body OF any mum
cipal;ty shall fail or refuse to appoint
an officer to make the Investigator
required, the Insurance Commission
or shall make such appointment.
G. Penalty for Failure to Execute
Aet-Jusurance Commissioner Chafs-
ed With Euforcement-An officer 30
appointed, after accepting such ap-
nointment falling to carry out the
provisions of this Act, shall be liable
to a penalty Of TWENTY-FIVE (s25.oo)
dollars recoverable before a Mag1s-
trate, and to dismissal from Office.
Il shall be the duty of the Insurance
Commissioner to enforce the proY's-
ions Of this Act.
2. Inconsistent Acts Repealed
All Acts or parts of Acts IN connlct
with the provisions of this Act are
| hereby repealed
8. Immediately Kfeetiye-This
Act shall take effect upon approval
by the Governor.
| Approved February goth. 1917.