The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-06-18
URGE ELIMINATION
OF FIRE HAZARDS
Effective Way 81 Reducing Enormous
National Waste ts outiined.

SAN FRANCISCO. June iT.--co-
operation by local organizations %
citizens 20 eliminate fire hazards In
every municipality was urged az the
only effective way for reducing our
enormous national waste, In an adj
dress by Franklin ~. Wentworth. 81
Boston. az the convention Of the Ma
ti0nai Association OF Credit Men here
today. Taking AS his subject, The
Red Peril" Mr.. Wentworth. who il
secretary % the National Fire Protee-
tion association. said In part:
I'VE have already burned tii2.oeo. .
600 OF created resources IN the first
four months Of this year. This leaves
us but si3s,oo0.ooo for the remaining
eight months to make up our annual
ash heap OF a quarter OF a billion dol
lars. and there IL little doubt that
American oareiessness win accom-
piish this shameful objective.
There are optlmiats In America
who state that we are reducing the
fire waste because this average fig
ure o. $3.50. 900. 600 now represents In
dated values. There IL little comfort
n that academic refiexion. The present
housing situation Il too desperate for
Us TO be 80 compliment over ~.
"The mayor Of n western city o.
"a. 600 people told me recently that II
one Of It's stores should burn the owner
would be done for. There IL not a va
cant shed or shack I'm the city 20 hold
a new stock % goods The shortage ~
dwelling IL equally acute A burned
out family has % leave town. Every
fire In every other city Of the country
IL bringing II % much nearer 20 a sim
liar situation. Every fire IN a dwelling
or apartment house lntenaifles an In
tolerabie congestion or turns people
into the streets.
Every fire today r. a crime against
the whole people; a crime for which
We should not withhold punishment
Every community today for ita own
preservation should bring swift Legal
reprlsais against the person who has a
preventab,e fire.
Tn Europe a man who has a fire f.
looked upon as a public offender. IN
America ne r. looked upon az an un-
fortunate People stili imagine that the
underwriters pay tho loss: that they
pay $3.50. o0o. 900 n year out % their sur
plus and capital stock-and remain
solvent. The fire waste touches the
pocket of every man. woman and
child In the nation. Every stock ~
goods b Insured: the insurance e. adj
ed 20 the cost Of the goods. when we
buy n hat or q shoe. or a coat. We pay
this Insurance concealed IN the price OF
the goods.
The attorneys general % half do
gen states have given u a. their off,
ciai opinion that under the American
common law a man whose negligence
causes a fire IL liable for fire damage
70 his neiwhbor's house: bat nobody
thinks % bringing suit. The habit 81
mind that the insurance companys pay
the loss L. too strong. But IN the per-
onai liability idea Of the French re-
sides a companion thought that r. per-
meating the American brain-idea 81
imposing a charge for the use of the
fire department upon the man who
disregards a fire prevention order
Fire departments are not main
talned TO protect a man from the re-
suits Of his negligence. and when he
calls upon the city In any such case
he should be made TO pay for the ser
vice.
ANnA4NNNAUN AhN AHtNtA *AW InfNtAAft~ q
ogy an amazing success has been
achieved in the last few years IN gain
ing the recognition OF this principle. /
Already Il has been written into the /
charter ~ the city Of Greater New /
York. the state law 81 Pennsyivanio /
and the city ordinances Of Cleveland /
and Cincinnati. o: Portland, ore. /
Billings. Montana: Austin. Texas: and
Newark. ~. J.
But with all this progress on record .
the fire losses In America In 1890 were
sasf 600 0oo-eighi million more than
for the average year.
There are men and women IN every /
city willing to assist IN this object 10 /
someone win take the initiative and I
tell them how thy can help.
The down town. high value portions /
OF all cities can gradually be made /
proof against conflagration by quiet. 1
effective work"