New Britain herald., 1928-01-07
W. H. DAY DEFENDS
 INSURANCE SCHEME
(Continued from First Page)

stallatlon or sprlnklers in this city, The Commercial Go. was given the opportunity of conducting an inves- tigation and to bring in a similar report which would be acted upon at the same time.
 In a statement to the Herald to- day MT. Day declared that it was not his contention that the city should cancel insurance on all school build ings, but that only the re-resistive buildings be excluded.
 Answers Critics
 He has heard considerable discus- sion relative to the fact that since school in this city was visited by a fire. his fight for cancellation Of in- surance is hopeless one. He argues that he was not anxious to put the city in any danger. but he believes it unnecessary to place insurance on building which are fireproof. Ac- cording to Mir. Day the Israel Put nam school is not among the build inGs which he believed to be of fire resistive structure.
 His statement follows:
 There has been some adverse comment on the street and in the papers relative to the effect the burning of the Israel Putnam school would have on my efforts to save money for the taxpayers by reducing the amount pand for insurance pre- miums.
 T would like 10 take this oppor- tunity to make my position clear.
 Two Plans Explained
 Two suggestions were made to the school committee which are now being considered by the special sub- committee to whom the matter was referred. The first was to cancel the policies on fire-resistive structures, and continuing to carry insurance on combustible buildings. By putting the money thus saved into a sinking fund. within 15 years there would be sufficient money on deposit to provide income to pay the premiums on tho insurance on the combustible A supplementary sugges- ton was that as the fund was grad ually built up some of the policies might be cancelled and by the ad- saving the fund would be accumulated more quickly. None of the insurance on the combustible buildings was to be cancelled, how ever. before the fund was sufficient " tn nc largest building which we have in our school system. At no time have l ever advocated having the city take he risk on buildings which were not Ire rcsistive, and certainly the Os- good Hill school did not come in hat class.
 "The second suggestion was to nave sprinkler equipment installed | n all buildings in accordance with 1 he requirements of the underwrit- | ,rs' specifications relative to this i tind of protection. In consideration 'f this part of the suggestion, sur 7ey has been made by a representa- | i've of the Mutual Fire Insurance | 70. and proposition submitted.
 If the city should accept the pro- 'osal, the equipment would be paid or within six years by the saving 'n insurance premiums. In addition o this the children would be safe ,uarded against d serious fire or the hanger of panic.
 Claims Delay Costly
 Tt is interesting to note that the ngineer who made the survey of he schools spoke particularly of the hazard of the Israel Putnam school nd recommended the installation of prinklers in the attic of the building f this had been done there is no loubt but what the fire would have 'een eXtinguished before much dam ge had been done. While the city will be compensated for 6 large part f the losses sustained, there is no 1ay 10 provide against the loss of se of the building. On the other and if it had been sprinkled the light water damage could have been epaired within week, probably 'ithout Interruption of the classes. Il consideration of the crowded con- ition of our schools this feature is secondary only to the matter of
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