Evening journal., 1921-02-24
JAIL FOR FALSE
ALARM CALLERS
Amend Ordinance to Put
End TO Tapping of Fire
Boxes
RELIANCE co. BILL
AGAIN GOES OVER

Severe penalties will be imposed
on persons sending in false fire
alarms under provisions Ct an ordl-
nance now being drafted for presen-
tation 10 City Council. 1t is Broros-
ed to double the present fine of $40
and costs and add an imprisonment
clause.
The measure is a result OF the
number OF false alarms rung by ir-
responsible persons Jurins the past
fcv- weeks
Wilmington firemen had another
monkey run" this morning, the
alarm OF fire from box Is, Sixth and
Spruce streets. at $50 o'clock. prov
ing a false alarm.
according to Alexander G. Abra-
hams, chairman Of the City Council
fire committee, It is proposed TO in
crease the present fine of s25 and
costs and possibly add imprison-
ment.
The memorandum OF the ordi-
nance is now in the hands OF City
Solicitor Huxley and may be pre-
sented 10 Council soon.
The need of such an ordinance. IL
is pointed out, has been urged prac-
tically every month by Chief Engi-
neer William J. Lutz in his reports
to City Council. The chief has point
ed out again and again the loss to
the fire department not only in
waste of time, but in actual expense
for gasoline, oil, wear and tear on
apparatus and the like. In addition,
he points out the danger there is in
responding to fire alarms to the ap-
paratus and to the men themselves.
The chief pointed out also that
I by curious coincidence nearly
every accident that has occurred to
the apparatus or men has taken
place when the companies we're re-
spending to a false alarm. Tha death
of Second Assistant Chief Engineer
Frank Kendall, little more than a
year ago, in a collision at Fourth
and Franklin streets, occurred when
the apparatus was being taken to
supposed fire in response to a false
alarm.
Another serious matter mentioned
| by Chief Lutz is the failure OF some
automobile drivers to draw in to the
street curb when they near fire ap-
/ paratus approaching. and waiting
for the companies to pass.
In place OF doing this. he says.
they often speed up and attempt TO
race with the apparatus. Some times
they fall in after the fire companies
and follow them to the place OF the
alarm box. They do this equally
with regular and false alarms. Chief
Lutz added:
THE false fire alarms apparently
come in punches, for during certain
j periods there seem to be more OF
them. Around the first OF January
there were six false fire alarms with
in the period OF a week. Scarcely a
week passed in January but there
were several false alarms. In Feb
ruary there have been a number.
There were two false fire alarms
Tuesday night"
Mr.. Abrahams supported the state
ments of Mr.. Lutz and pointed ont
that there was danger OF trouble
with the fire apparatus or accidents
so long as people were not prevent
ed from striking false fire alarms.
II il is necessary to have more Sc
we're punishment for it, this should
be provided for
Because of the absence from Coun-
ell last night OF Mr. Anrahams,
chairman Of the fire committe. ac-
ton on the request OF the Reliance
Company for $500 toward defraying
the expenses of repairing its appara-
tus was deferred until next Wednes-
day might. The Reliance apparatus
was damaged in collision with an
automobile taking Assistant Fire
J Chief John NJ. Townsend to a fire.
The citys liability for a private
car when pressed into public SER
vice is the issue in dispute. The col
lision occurred at Seventh and Pop
lar streets. Mr.. Townsend's car was
out of commission and the car which
damaged the Reliance apparatus
was one loaned him temporarily.